Roman Festival Apulum 2025: reenactment, Danube traditions and a total spectacle

For three days, between August 15 and 17th 2025, Alba Iulia lived as if it were two millennia ago! The Roman Apulum Festival 2025 brought history back to life in the heart of the former Roman fort Apulum. Thousands of visitors breathed the air of Antiquity and witnessed unforgettable moments.

The Legionnaires’ parade and the Emperor’s Oath – a Grand opening

The festival began with the parade of Roman and barbarian troops, an impressive show of colors, armor, and battle cries. Immediately after, the audience witnessed a unique moment: the Annual Oath of Allegiance to the Emperor – introduced into the program at the suggestion of an expert from the #RomansWineDanube (#RWD) project. This powerful ritual added authenticity and emotion, showcasing the loyalty and discipline of the Roman legions.

Living workshops and hands-On experiences

The festival turned Alba Iulia into a vast “living history school.” Children and adults discovered writing on wax tablets, the secrets of Roman mosaics, and ancient medicine. Fashion shows of Romans and barbarians drew admiring looks, while the slave market reenactment impressed through its drama and intensity.

Battles and gladiators for the audience

No festival would be complete without the great clash between Romans and barbarians – a fight full of energy, strategy, and spectacle, met with loud ovations. In the evening, the gladiators’ arena became the highlight: spectacular duels, weapons gleaming in torchlight, and an audience that lived every moment as if watching a historical epic.

#RomansWineDanube Partners – Guests of honor

This year’s edition had a strong international dimension: reenactment groups from #RomansWineDanube partners joined the festival in Alba Iulia, bringing ancient traditions and historical colors from other Danube regions. Their presence showed how the shared heritage of the Roman Empire still connects communities along the river today.

Traditions, dances and ancient flavors

The festival was not only about battles and rituals. Ancient dances, thematic music, and dishes inspired by Roman recipes enriched the experience, offering visitors a multisensory journey into the world of two thousand years ago.

An edition to remember

Roman Festival Apulum 2025 was more than a celebration of the past – it was also an excellent opportunity to promote the #RomansWineDanube project, which builds cultural and touristic bridges along the Danube through wine, history, and traditions.

Through its scale and visibility, the Roman Festival Apulum directly contributes to achieving one of the key results of the #RomansWineDanube project – the joint promotion of Roman heritage and Danube traditions through Roman festivals.