By tradition, on Independence Day in Veliko Tarnovo, the Bulgarian tricolor flag will be raised in the "Tsarevets" fortress in the morning with a military ritual, and in the evening on "Tsar Asen Parvi" square, the solemn dawn inspection will be held, the Bulgarian National Radio reported.
A festive procession, an international festival of military bands and concerts are part of the cultural program in our old capital for Independence Day. Dozens of craftsmen are showing their art at the Samovodska Bazaar.
A group of actors from Veliko Tarnovo will recreate the events of 117 years ago in the "St. 40 Martyrs" church. A festive liturgy will be celebrated there at 7:30 a.m., and then the flags of the National Military University and public organizations will be blessed.
The military ritual of raising the national flag in the "Tsarevets" fortress will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the Bulgarian National Radio will broadcast the ceremony live.
At 11 a.m., wreaths and flowers will be laid at the Pyramid of Independence. At 11:30 a.m., the festive procession from Tsarevets to the "Mother Bulgaria" monument will begin. It will be led by the orchestras participating in the International Festival of Military Bands.
The 18th edition of the International Festival of Military Bands will include the Guards Representative Brass Band, the Festival Military Band “Maestro Nikolay Kosev“, which is composed of the formations of the National Military University and the Second Tundzha Mechanized Brigade – Stara Zagora, and the representative military bands of Greece from Thessaloniki and Turkey from Bursa.
On the holiday day, visits to the church “St. 40 Martyrs“ and the fortress “Tsarevets“ are free.
The Regional History Museum has prepared a guided tour “In the footsteps of Bulgarian statehood“, which will depart at 1 p.m. from the church museum “St. 40 Martyrs“. The route includes the church “St. Peter and Paul“, the church “St. Ivan Rilski“ and a climb to the fortress “Tsarevets“ to the pyramid of Independence.
On the square “Tsar Asen Parvi“ the representative part of the National Military University will perform a performance of formation grips with weapons, and from 19.30 the ceremonial inspection of the torch will take place.
On Independence Day in Veliko Tarnovo, do not miss the picturesque street of crafts, where the “Night of the Samovod Bazaar“ is held.