The National Folklore Festival in Koprivshtitsa takes place once every five years. Its 11^th edition will be this year August 7 - 9. But this time it will be a special occasion – it is 50 years since the start of the festival which has, through the years, asserted itself as the biggest of all Bulgarian authentic folklore forums.

From the very outset, the idea of the festival, founded by folklore expert Rayna Katsarova-Koukoudova, composer Petko Staynov and others, has been to bring together only amateur singers, instrumentalists, dancers, story-tellers. The choice of venue is no coincidence either. Koprivshitsa is a museum town that has kept alive the memory of important events from the National Revival period in the country’s history, preserving its beautiful architecture from the same period – houses, churches, schools… It is the birth place of many prominent Bulgarians – poets, revolutionaries, writers. Koprivshtitsa is 110 kms. to the East of the capital Sofia. The main stages for the festival are put up in a locality called Voyvodenets which is in close proximity to the town. The Bulgarian National Radio Golden Fund audio archives have preserved recordings from the very first festival in Koprivshtitsa in 1965. Listen to one of them:

The National Folklore Festival in Koprivshtitsa is competitive. The selection of amateur performers takes place after preliminary auditions held regionally. The winners in this first round then demonstrate their musical skills at Voyvodenets. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Culture in conjunction with Koprivshtitsa municipality. Iskra Shipeva from the festival’s organizing committee says the organization of the festival is a serious challenge.

“For the second time, parallel with the singing and dancing contests, we are having an “Arts and Crafts Street”,” she says. “Artisans from different parts of the country will be able to demonstrate how different works of traditional arts and crafts are made. In the town’s centre we are organizing evening concerts by ensembles from abroad performing traditional Bulgarian music. We have formations coming from Belgium, France, Holland, from Dubai, Slovakia and many other countries. Right after them, we have planned nestinarski or fire-walking dances.

The preliminary round of the contest programme ended at the end of June and we are now waiting for our regional coordinators to give us the standings. Then the Ministry of Culture will draw up the programme for Voyvodenets where there will be seven stages. The best performers of folklore music will be evaluated by prestigious commissions that include prominent names in the sphere of folklore. The event is under the patronage of UNESCO Director- General Irina Bokova. As of August 1, there will be other events on the sidelines of the festival. In the fragrant fields, out in the open, Koprivshtitsa will be welcoming its guests. The festival is something unique; it is difficult to find the words to describe it. That is why we invite everyone who treasures tradition to come and hear the unparalleled Bulgarian folklore.”

The organizers have come up with a designated set of rules which they will provide their guests with. And they have omitted nothing – currency exchange offices, medical staff near the stages and in the town, transportation to Voyvodenets for the elderly participants, temporary bus terminals and parking space. This year the festival will bring together some 16,000 amateur performers who will be put up in tents. The most eager guests made sure of their accommodation 18 months ago; even then hotels were booked solid for the duration of the festival. Still, there is a chance of finding guest houses in Koprivshtitsa or the towns and villages nearby even now.

English version: Milena Daynova