Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

A bagpipe playing contest draws thousands to Bulgaria's village of Gela

Photo: BNR Kardzhali (archive)

Bagpipe playing and the Ilinden Fair Assembly are held in the village of Gela in the heart of the Rhodope Mountain. In the 20th edition of the competition, kaba gaida performers from different folklore regions of the country are taking part. 
The program of the fair will continue until August 6 with a meeting of the clans.

Lively traditional folk dances, songs and bagpipe melodies resound in the Rhodope Mountains on the two days of the traditional fair which every year attracts thousands of people from the country and abroad, who come to enjoy the performances of the bagpipe players and the wonderful views from the Gela meadows of the Rhodope Mountains.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Three days, six stages and over 7,000 participants – Koprivshtitsa brings together the best amateurs from Bulgaria

The heart and rhythm of the Bulgarian spirit – with these words we can metaphorically define the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore. Traditionally, since the distant 1965, the event has been organized once every five years on the first weekend of..

published on 8/6/25 12:14 PM

A film tells the story of Munich-based Bulgarian ensemble ‘Lazarka’

The number of Bulgarian folk dance ensembles abroad is growing and, alongside Bulgarian schools, they are among the key centres that unite compatriots overseas and preserve their connection to their roots. Recently, some of these dance troupes returned..

published on 8/5/25 9:45 PM

The 'White Roses' Bulgarian folk choir from Pescara, Italy, is performing in Bulgaria for the first time

A Bulgarian amateur folk choir based in Italy has returned to Bulgaria for its debut performance before a home audience.  Most members of the choir, named Beli Rozi (White Roses) , have lived in the southern Italian city of Pescara for over a decade...

published on 8/2/25 11:45 AM