Romania marks 100 years since the Great Union of 1918 this year, and both the central and local administrations have been organizing various events to celebrate this great historical moment. Among them, fairs that cost tens of thousands of RON and even festivals that cost RON 0.5 million, local Digi24 reported.

The money for the Great Union Centennial events came from both the government budget and the budget of local authorities. The County Councils alone spent at least RON 17 million (EUR 3.65 million) on such events this year.

The county of Timis, in Western Romania, allocated the largest budget – almost RON 2.5 million (over EUR 530,000), followed by the county of Calarasi – RON 2.4 million (EUR 516,000), and Bistrita Nasaud county – nearly RON 1.6 million (EUR 344,000).

At the opposite end, Cluj county allocated only RON 30,000 (some EUR 6,500), Neamt county – over RON 21,000 (EUR 4,500), Iasi county – RON 10,000 (EUR 2,100), Dolj county – over RON 9,000 (some EUR 1,900), and Arges – RON 3,000 (some EUR 645).

One of the most expensive Great Union Centennial events was the Hora Mare Festival in Calarasi, for which the Calarasi County Council allocated a budget of RON 0.5 million (EUR 107,000), according to Digi24. The festival, which reached its 26th edition this year, also included a “Romanian Night” dedicated to the Great Union Centennial.

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Irina Marica, irina.marica@romania-insider.com