The 31st edition of the traditional colorful festive parade began Bulgarian plum festival in Troyan, BTA reported. Citizens and guests of the city, community groups, representatives of the local government, sports and cultural institutions from the municipality took part in the procession.
Among the official guests who joined the procession were the director general of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency Kiril Valchev, the deputy director of BTA Evgenia Drumeva and the director of the Bulgarian National Radio Milen Mitev. A few hours before, the General Director of BTA Kiril Valchev officially opened the National Press Club of BTA in Troyan, making the Agency's media centers in the country and abroad 41.
The Municipality of Troyan and the Troyan community center “Nauka– 1870”, and the preparations continued for weeks. Traditionally, the procession started from the town's Small Market, this time led by a “plummobile”, passing along the main shopping street. For the marchers, there were pre-prepared funny surprises organized by the local community centers and tastings of plum specialties and brandy.
On the central square “Revival“ the participants in the procession were greeted with bread, salt and the traditional Trojan plum brandy for the holiday, after which the mayor of the city, Donka Mihailova, officially opened the festival.
She defined the Bulgarian Plum Festival as the most sincere and exciting Trojan holiday, bringing together all the wonderful sense of humor of Trojans, their love for each other and their desire to celebrate.
„These days we open our homes to all we love, to guests both near and far, to be together, to drink a glass of Trojan plum brandy. These days, Troyan opens its doors to our guests, who help keep the local business alive and developing, said Mihailova.
She recalled that 31 years ago the festival started from the meadows of the National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts in Oreshak to move to Troyan and become one of the best festivals in Europe.
„We began to dream of a Bulgarian brandy festival, to which we would invite guests from the Balkans, and for it to grow into a Balkan plum festival. We really want you to experience the joy of the holiday in the coming days, which we prepared with a lot of love and desire for you to feel good, she said. The mayor did not fail to express his special gratitude to all participants in the organization of the event and media partners of the festival – The Bulgarian Telegraph Agency and the Bulgarian National Radio.
At the end of the official opening, the self-made people from the People's Community Center “Izgrev - 1926” in the village of Beli Osam they performed the anthem of the festival.
Tonight guests can watch a festive concert of the Trojan folk ensemble “Traiana“ and performance of the “Jarava“ formation.
The festival program will continue for the next three days, with the traditional ritual of lighting the brandy cauldron scheduled for tomorrow. During the day, there will be an open stage for improvised ensembles, various thematic competitions and art activities for children and adults. Tomorrow is also the official opening of the plum festival at the National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts in Oreshak, BTA reminds.