Rozhen National Folklore Fair Rises Again

The green fields of Rozhen, Smolyan, will fill with live again on 17^th of July 2015 under the impact of magnetic sounds of Bulgarian bagpipes and Rhodope songs. The new edition of Rozhen National Folklore Fair this year returns after nine years break. With an impressive start – 4 rays with 100 bagpipers each, will beat the record from 2012 when the perform of 333 bagpipers was written in Guinness World Records.

Rozhen National Folklore Fair

The Fair has started as a family meeting on 28^th July 1898. Since then the folklore event writes its long history and has become a national folk-art forum throughout the years. The world-famous  orchestra “100 Kaba-Bagpipes” has first performed on this “green stage”. The new-established ensemble “Rhodopa” has its start here too.  On the same Rozhen field the star of famous Bulgarian folk singer Valya Balkanska has risen. Her song “Izleyal e Delyu Haydutin” is included in Voyager music collection, continuing its trip on the board of Voyager spacecraft.

Numerous musicians, singers, storytellers, folk ensembles have performed their talent throughout the years. Some scenes from “The Time of Violence” movie (the wedding of Elitsa and Manol) – superb by its artistic value and influence – was shoot on these Rozhen fields.

This year the fair will begin with the participation  of Bulgarian “Cosmic Voices” choir, who will perform the Rhodope’s anthem “Bela sam, bela, yunache” (My skin is so white, my hero).  Valya Balkanska, her-self, will be on the stage again this year.

The Rozhen Fair makes a review of the traditional occupation of Rhodope people – the farming. An exposition of domestic animals – ram lamb, goats, cows, horses, buffaloes – will take place during the fair.  You may see and experience also bio food and drinks, horse ride attractions, culinary show, traditional crafts showing, folk games and fights.

The preparations for this year are in full progress – the organizers are expecting more then 200 000 visitors during the three-day fair on the Rozhen fields.

The President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev is the patron of this impressive folklore event, welcoming guests from all over the world.