Municipalities today

The 32nd edition of the Bulgarian Plum Festival opens in Troyan. Until September 22, Troyan and the nearby village of Oreshak will host concerts, tastings, games, creative workshops, and a laser show. More than 200 artisans have registered to participate.

Beyond plum production, the festival also showcases the traditions, lifestyle, and culture of the Troyan region, commented Troyan’s mayor, Donka Mihaylova, for BNR.

“This festival embodies the typical Troyan spirit – respect for tradition, pride in the plum and the plum rakia that has made Troyan famous everywhere, and the distinct Troyan sense of humor. During the festival we will show what our craftsmen create, present the folklore of our region, highlight the energy of young people, and display everything that a Troyan person carries within. The festival grows more vibrant each year, attracting more people from all over the country. It has even been included in the list of the best festivals in Europe.”

The festival begins with a festive parade of participants along Troyan’s central street, ending at “Vazrazhdane” Square.

“The opening has a special color. People from all settlements in our municipality come to show their sense of humor. The lighting of the cauldron – the brightest symbol of our festival – is a highlight. The person we name as the ‘chief master’ will light it, and their name remains a secret until the last moment. It is always a respected citizen of Troyan, valued and loved by the people,” Mihaylova emphasized.

This year, the plum harvest is smaller due to a late snowfall that damaged the orchards, but, as the mayor noted, there will always be enough for the cauldron and the rakia.

Festival guests will be able to taste plum marmalade as well as the famous Troyan wedding wheat – recognized as the best snack to pair with plum rakia in the region.

On Troyan’s pedestrian bridge, a large-scale art installation will be displayed, made with over 10 kilometers of yarn woven into it.

The festival also runs in parallel at the National Exhibition of Crafts in Oreshak. There, visitors can join an educational sensory event dedicated to the use of herbs in cooking and rakia, as well as the secrets of natural dyes.

Another highlight is an interactive augmented reality game called “Plums for Prizes” through the Go Troyan mobile app. Participants will explore various locations to find virtual characters, each bringing a different number of points.

Organizers promise all festival visitors a colorful and flavorful experience.

Listen to the mayor of Troyan here: https://bnr.bg/post/102213201