National Folklore Festival Rozhen

Folklore Festival held in Rozhen area. The folklore festival dates back to the time before the Liberation of the Rhodope region, when this area was unfairly cut off from Bulgaria by the San Stefano Treaty and left under the governance of the Ottoman empire. The families separated by the artificially set border met in a great community reunion in August in the area of Rozhen meadows. The people expressed their joy from meeting with their relatives in songs and dances, and their sorrow from being separated with the mournful sound of the bagpipes. The tradition was preserved after 1912 – the Liberation of the Rhodope mountain.

The folklore festival is competing in popularity with the National Folklore Festival in Koprivshtitsa. The National Folklore Festival at Rozhen site is taking place every four years on the last Saturday and Sunday of August.

Amateur folklore groups – singers, instrumentalists, dancers, story tellers and groups performing rituals come from all over the country to take part. They are performing in front of both Bulgarian and foreign audience and a professional jury. The performances take place on special stages set up in the open and allow free access of tourists.

International Orpheus Youth Folk Festival

Every two years on the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of June an International Youth Folklore Festival for authentic folklore art is taking place in Smolyan, known as the “Orpheus Holidays”. The participants are children folk ensembles from all folk regions of the country – singers, instrumentalists and dancers. Since 2001 in the guest performers to the festival come also from the Balkan countries and Europe. Within the festival there are various events – revival of children folklore games, round tables. Special stages are set up in the open.

Bagpipe contestin the village of Gela

The traditional local festival takes place during Ilinden (the first weekend of August). A bag-pipe contest is organized with the participation of bagpipe players from the Rhodopes, the country and abroad. Every year hundreds of tourists come to the village attracted by the dazzling concert of the bagpipes and the spectacular panoramic views from the high hills. The village situated at the foot of the highest mount of Goliam Perelik is recorded in the early Greek scriptures as the birthplace of Orpheus and a temple to Dionisius. The village amateur ensemble, called “Manol Radichev”, which conquered the hearts of audience at the International Festival of the Highland Song in Llangollen (Wales), is the most amusing part of the show. The famous Rhodopean Cheverme (lamb on the spit) is being cooked in the open in the meadows. Free access for tourists.

International Bagpipe Festin
the village of Shiroka Luka

This is a traditional local festival during the month of July in Shiroka Luka. The festival is organized by the National School of Folklore Arts and the mayoralty of Shiroka Luka village. During the bag-pipe fest apart from enjoying the performances of the professionals the guests can also try their skills in playing the traditional musical instruments, which the students in the school learn to play.

Artisan Fair (June 26th) in Mogilitsa village

Each year this small Rhodope village celebrates traditional crafts and the authentic folklore of the area with an Artisan Fair. The event includes performances of authentic folklore amateur troupes from Smolyan region and a bazaar of artisanproducts. Mogilitsa is one of the two centers – the other being Pavelsko village – of production of baklitsi (small wooden kegs) and of chabori (wooden vessels for storage of dairy products). In the crafts demonstration center you can watch hand weaving on the traditional horizontal loom and knitting of zunki (textile braids).

May Cultural Festivities

Take place yearly in the town of Smolyan and have a rich programme of cultural events – photo-exhibitions, concerts and literature presentations. The programme of the celebrations is published on the internet site of Smolyan municipality – http:// bulgaria.domino.bg/smolyan/.