At the very heart of the Central Balkan Range with a breathtaking view to the picturesque peaks of Botev and Maragidik lies the lovely town of Apriltsi. The Community Club Future 1894 (chitalishte) in the neighborhood of Ostrets recently hosted the Balkan Range Festival of the Bulgarian Song. For the sixteenth time the folklore festival featured amateur groups and soloists from both sides of the Balkan Range. The date of the event is always around 24 June, Enyovden, as an expression of the enormous diversity of herbs and the generosity of clean Balkan springs that nature has endowed the locals with. There is a legend that a magic herb grows here for a healthy way of life and able to cure various diseases.

„The Grand Prix this year went to the Community Club Hope 1925 in the village of Turkincha, Dryanovo Municipality. The special prize of the jury went to the Bogdan Krachunov vocal group from the village of Doyrentsi, Lovech region, with leader Mihail Radev. The special prize of the organizers and our community club, Future 1894 , went to the amateur groups of Revival 1908 Community Club in the village of Bulgarsko Slivovo, Svishtov Municipality. This year the festival’s level was the highest so far, and the jury had hard time judging for the best. We are Balkan Range people and we are keen on preserving folklore and the Bulgarian spirit. Sixteen years ago we decided to start an event that represents a get-together of Bulgarian traditions. I think the event is a success. We began as a regional festival and it is now national. The main organizer is Future -1894 Community Club, the oldest spiritual center in the Apriltsi valley. The Balkan Range Festival of the Bulgarian Song is always held around 24 June, Enyovden, the day of herbs. We have wonderful herbs here. At the festival we also officially open the tourist summer in Apriltsi, because the town is a resort that both Bulgarians and foreigners like a lot, so they come to visit. Look at us, the Balkan Range people – we sing, dance, have fun and try to preserve all things Bulgarian.”

This year marks the 160^th anniversary of the first Bulgarian chitalishte (community club) that was founded in Svishtov. Thanks to the dense network of community clubs in the Bulgarian ethnic territory, education and culture prospered during the National Revival (18 and 19 c.). Bulgarian chitalishte centers represent unique cultural institutions that have been accessible to all generations of Bulgarians. They open up a window to world knowledge and cultural achievements. Mrs Angelova says more about the chitalishte (Future 1894 Community Club) that she leads:

„Our chitalishte was founded in 1894 and focused on library activity, and training in music, dancing etc. We have mounted three permanent exhibitions on the premises of the center. The ethnographic one presents local craftspeople, mostly in the spheres of pottery and woodcarving. We have an arts gallery too. The folklore group Bulgari is led by Maria Kokosharova who plays the tambura (mandolin).  We perform authentic local folklore and try to preserve the legacy of our ancestors. We also run a pop music group, an amateur theater company, a group for folk dances led by Rositsa Hristova, a comedy company, training in table tennis, pottery, woodcarving etc. We try to preserve traditional local crafts. The center is a magnet for all ages. As to our festival, this year our participants were aged from 4 to 86. There was an impressive diversity of ages and styles. It is great we conveyed to little children our love for the Bulgarian folk songs and dances, and this is so wonderful!”

English version: Daniela Konstantinova