The International Folk Festival – Veliko Tarnovo has ended, but the traditional forum in Varna will be unveiled in a few days, while at the end of August we will see who will receive the special Nestinarka award in the Black Sea port town of Burgas. Stay with us over the next minutes and you will hear details on several other interesting folklore events. 

 A big fest, dedicated to St. Cyril is organized each year over the last few days of July in the town of Kalofer, Central Bulgaria. The place is among the 100 tourist sites and one of its greatest attractions is the home of famous Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev. The local monastery is a well-known spiritual center and it gathers people at all major religious fests. The fest is a traditional one, but its folklore program is that various for a first year. The citizens and guests of Kalofer celebrated July 28-29 together with folk singers, famous Binka Dobreva among them.

The International Folk Festival – Veliko Tarnovo ended up on July 28. It is one of the major cultural events, taking place in the old capital. The fest has been a member of the CIOFF – the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals ever since its establishment. Mexico, Moldova, Russia, Indonesia – these are only some of the countries, whose representatives arrived in the town of Veliko Tarnovo this year. The place heard unique folklore melodies from all over the world and those were performed on different stages across the town.

The International Folklore Festival in Varna takes place traditionally through the first week of August. It was established back in 1992. More than 10,000 folk artists have taken part in its 20 editions. Varna welcomes again this year guests from Europe, Asia and Africa. 

This year’s motto of the 40th edition of the International Folk Festival in Burgas is Let’s Preserve the Inheritance of Our Predecessors and Pass It On to Our Children. The forum was established in 1965 and has rich history. The organizers expect on August 20-24 dancers and performers from Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Slovakia, France and other countries. The local Strandja Folk Ensemble has a special place in the program. 

The festive program will also visit nearly all local villages in the Burgas Municipality. Each year a singer or formation receives the special Nestinarka award, given for contribution to the preservation and popularization of Bulgarian music and dance folklore. The award is handed at the unveiling of the festival. Kalinka Zgurova, Nadka Karadjova, Yanka Rupkina, Verka SIderova, the Strandja and Thrace ensembles have all received the award through the years. We expect the jury’s decision this year.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev