OCOVA is a a village which lies down in a picturesque environment at the bottom of the POLANA Mountain. A poet once described it like a mother of this country laying in the heart of SLOVAKIA. Administratively it belongs to the District of Zvolen and to the region of Banska Bystrica. The village entered the history of the Slovak National Uprising trought its legendary airport. Its primary school of Matej Bel Funtik is a pioneer school in the projekt of regional education of children. The village of Ocova is still an interesting and unique place for its material and spiritual culture, an ethnologic champion, a real gem of Slovakia.
     Ocova belongs to the cultural region of Podpolanie / the country below Polana Mountain /. It has been long known as an important ethnographic locality. Among its material culture the most outstanding are folk embroideries with large-flower plant ornaments, and woodcarvings - the shepherds musical instruments, shepheards utensils and wooden gates with woodcarved ornaments. Ocova ranks among the famous localities of Podpolanie with its impressive folk music and dances.
     In their song repertoir the Wallachian music style predominates. In Ocova folk dances an important role belongs to the individuality of the dancer with large room for creative improvization.