More than 300 producers and craftsmen show their specialties at a three-day festival of the famous Elena pork ham. (The municipality of Elena is a Bulgarian mountain resort in the central Balkans, known its typical local cuisine. Its administrative center is the town of Elena.) After a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, this year from 21 to 23 October the municipality of Elena is again hosting guests from near and far for its iconic holiday, Mayor Dilyan Mlazev told BTA.

•  Tourist treasures of Elena Balkan

The locals have prepared a folk dance and music programme, fun games for children and grown-ups, food and drink tastings, lotteries and a culinary exhibition.

The pork delicacy, known as 'Elena ham' because of the region it originates from, the town of Elena, is prepared in every household in the region using family recipes which have been passed down from generation to generation. Five producers are registered with the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, says Steliyan Dimitrov, chairman of the local tourism board.

Interest in the region is growing because of the organic food and clean air, he says. This is demonstrated by the fact that all hotels and guesthouses are already booked for the holiday. Because of the thousands of guests expected by the residents of Elena during the festival days, a temporary traffic organisation has been announced on the municipality's website.

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