XXVI Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk 2023"

The forum will be held in compliance with all precautionary measures in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health.

The festival has an excellent quality certificate, issued by European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF.

LIVE TV broadcast on the Internet of all concerts

Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk 2023" is held within the scope of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" – The World is television. Musical Feаsts are held in different European cities and countries during the whole year under the aegis of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF.

Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" comprise forthy five musical festivals. Main event of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" is No 1 Festival in Europe for the traditional folklore arts – Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk" in Bulgaria.

Every year from 9 000 to 15 000 musicians, singers and dancers take part in it.

Simultaneously with Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk" in Veliko Tarnovo is held the National Championship of Folklore Arts "Euro Folk". The participants in Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk" can apply for participation in the National Championship of Folklore Arts "Euro Folk". The awards of the National Championship of Folklore Arts "Euro Folk" are specified in the regulation of the Championship.

Typical feature of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" is that all of the performances are recorded with professional audio and television technics and the best of them are repeatedly broadcasted by more than 20 cable televisions in Bulgaria, by the satelite televisions "T.TV.I.", "Rodina TV" and "Heros TV", as well as by the World Internet Television "EuroFolkTV" at tv.eurofolk.com. All this activities realize the main purpose of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" – The world is television - to popularize the traditional folk arts through the enormous possibilities of mass media.

Veliko Tarnovo: Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. The old part of the city is situated on the three hills Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora rising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian Еmperors and the Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cathedral, as well as a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls. Trapezitsa is known for its many churches and as the former main residence of the nobility. In the Middle Ages, the city was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School, painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School and literature.

Veliko Tarnovo is an important administrative, economic, educational, and cultural centre of Bulgaria.

Participants in the festival:

Participants are ensembles from Russia, Indonesia, India, Poland, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Slovenia, Montenegro, Italy, Sweden, Moldova, Armenia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary...

Preliminary Program:

Awards:

Participants obtain object awards, deeds and honored signs, diplomas for laureates, discoveries, for a sufficient contribution at preserving and popularizing of the traditional folklore arts, a diploma for participation.

Participation fee: (for participants and accompanying persons)

• Period 1:  12 - 15 May - 3 HB (3 nights on Half Board)
  • Economy  2*/3* - 3 HB - 117 Euro
  • Standard        3* - 3 HB - 144 Euro
• Period 2:  11 - 15 May - 4 HB (4 nights on Half Board)
  • Economy  2*/3* - 4 HB - 156 Euro
  • Standard        3* - 4 HB - 192 Euro

At every 25 participants one is welcome to join in for free /25+1/.

(paying goes in several month payments till departure time)

Accommodation:

The participation fee includes:

• Accommodation in 1/3 and 1/4 rooms, half-board (breakfast and dinner), (supplement for lunch 8-12 Euro)
• Organization expenses
• Free place on every 25-th member /25 +1/
• Degrees*
• Invitation letter**

The participation fee does not include:

• Additional day in some of the hotels: it costs 39/48 Euro per person
• Additional payment for Luxory Hotel 4**** - Standart + 12 Euro per day per person
• Facultative tours - tour of Veliko Tarnovo (Visit to "Tsarevets" Fortress - Tsars Castle and Ethnological Museum), Sofia, Kazanlak, Gabrovo (Ethnografic complex "Etara"), Shipka, Russe, Bucharest
• Transport, parking, insurance...
• Transport from airports /Sofia - 235 km., Burgas - 220 km., Varna - 210 km., Bucharest - 200 km., Istanbul - 490 km.; railway - Gorna Oryahovitsa - 11 km./

General Conditions: