The participants in the 12^th edition of the National Fair of Bulgarian Folk Art in Koprivshtitsa are over 6,500, it became clear at the press conference the day before the star of the large-scale forum. On August 5, 6 and 7, on the six stages in the picturesque area of ​​Vojvodenets, contemporary artists the folklore tradition from all over Bulgaria will perform. And in specially designated places in the museums, on the squares and streets of the town, over 150 artisans, participants in the accompanying program, will show their beautiful laces, musical instruments, carpets, ceramics, copper items, jewelry, costumes.

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• Koprivshtitsa – museum town where heroes and history come to life

This is the biggest folklore festival in Bulgaria, it takes place every five years, and it was started in 1965. The current, 12th edition in a row, was supposed to take place in 2020, but it was postponed twice because the Covid-19 pandemic. The main organizers are the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Koprivshtitsa, the District Administration of the Sofia Region, as well as the scientists from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore with the Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, who participate in the preliminary selection and in the six evaluation teams in the competition part.   

At a meeting with journalists before the start of the forum, the organizers reminded that since December 2016 the National Fair of Bulgarian Folk Art in Koprivshtitsa has been entered in the UNESCO Register of Good Practices for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. ‎

"It cost us a lot of effort, but we do everything with enthusiasm and desire, because we are convinced that the traditions must continue”, Boyka Dyulgiarova, mayor of Koprivshtitsa, told Radio Bulgaria. “On the meadows of Vojvodenets, in addition to the stages full of participants, there will be many craftsmen. And on Saturday, many performers will be at the Living Museum of the open-air stage in the city, where they will present their songs, dances and customs. In the evening, after the presentation of the foreign groups, there will be nestinari fire dances on “April 20” Square.‎”

The visitinggroups that will take part in this edition are three - "Chubritsa" from the Netherlands, Balkan Orchestra - Brussels (Belgium) and an ensemble led by Vlada Tomova, which unites performers from the USA, Italy, Greece, Portugal, France, Japan and Argentina. 

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Kunka Nedeleva, director of the museums in Koprivshtitsa, chairperson of the Koprivshtitsa Fair's Art Commission, is also responsible for the concerts of the foreign ensembles, which are on August 6 at 8 p.m. on the summer stage in front of the Old School and on August 7 - at Vojvodеnets. Mrs. Nedeleva is one of the heartiest defenders of traditions in her city. Here are the emotions with which she awaits the start of the festival:

"What does the fair in Koprivshtitsa mean for me? It is a fiery element of feelings, emotions, voices, dances and uneven rhythms. How to put it... I will quote an old woman who I think spoke the truth about the fair. Left without strength and breath on the steep path to the Voivodenets locality at the previous meeting, she exclaimed: "Hey, Koprivshtice, we saw you! Now we can die!" What more can we say than that. Come, fill your senses, experience it and ‎feel the emotion of this incredible event.”

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We add a little more information to this emotional invitation. The official opening is with a morning concert on August 6, which is expected to be attended by senior government and political figures.

Among the performers in the concert are some of the Living Human Treasures, entered in the register of intangible cultural heritage UNESCO's program "Living Human Treasures" and its Bulgarian part "Living Human Treasures - Bulgaria" - the bagpipe band from the town of Devin, Ensemble for Bulgarian folklore "Gamza" from the village of Gamzovo, Kalush group from the village of Zlatia, Montana, the rural chain dance in the Pernik region, etc. The Men's Singing Group from the village of Dorkovo, Pazardzhik will also participate, whose performance you will hear now.

On August 7^th is the final concert, when we will hear and see some of the best participants awarded by the jury.

Let us remind you that footage from the fair can be seen on the website of Radio Bulgaria, as well as on our Facebook page 

Photos: Veneta Nikolova, Albena Bezovska

English version: Rositsa Petkova