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

Bagpipes and authentic Rhodope folk music to kick off the local Ilinden Fair in the village of Gela

A fifteen-hour programme of authentic Rhodope music will resound in the Ilinden meadows from today until Sunday on the occasion of the traditional local Ilinden Fair in the village of Gela. Thousands of visitors are expected to come to see the bagpipes, the craftsmen's alley and the competition for the longest playing of the traditional Rhodope instrument.

 
The singer Vanya Vakova and the Evridika Orchestra will perform on the first evening. On Saturday, dozens of bagpipers from all over the country will compete, and the two winners will be challenged to break the Guinness Book record for the longest bagpipe playing. The festival closes with a concert of various formations and free bagpipe lessons.

 
There will also be a reunion of hundreds of descendants of local families and a presentation of Rhodope cuisine delicacies and organic food from Bulgarian family farms.



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

Read. For Real: Bulgaria marks Reading Day

Bulgaria celebrates National Reading Day on the third Friday of November. The Reading Foundation is leading the initiative under the motto: “Read. For Real”. According to the OECD's PISA 2022 study, 53% of 15-year-old students in Bulgaria have..

published on 11/21/25 7:55 AM

Career Fair supports young people in exploring future professions

On November 21–22, 2025, the 11th edition of the Career Fair   will take place at the John Atanasov Hall in Sofia Tech Park. The forum aims to support early career orientation for young people in Bulgaria and is organized by the Bulgarian Global..

published on 11/21/25 7:35 AM

The еuro causes concerns among Bulgarians, but attracts foreigners

From fear and doubts to joy and support – Bulgarians react differently to the upcoming introduction of the euro on January 1, 2026. For some, it is a logical step towards Bulgaria’s integration into the EU with promises of stability..

published on 11/20/25 2:45 PM