This year is the 10th edition of the Festival of the national costume in Zheravna which will be held on 18, 19 and 20th of August. This year the festival is under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism.
Among the official guests of Zheravna 2017 are Boil Banov, Nikolina Angelkova, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Desislava Taneva, Prof. Nikolay Valkanov, the writer Anton Donchev and the philanthropist Dr. Milen Vrabevski, as well as the Hollywood celebrity Ben Cross.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the picturesque Balkan village will host thousands of guests who have come especially for the festival.
Founder of the festival is Hristo Dimitrov and host is the National Folklore Ensemble "Bulgare". The festival is supported by Zheravna Municipality, Kotel Municipality and dozens of donors.
The program of the jubilee edition offers to the visitors, a concert with the participation of the "Chinari" ensemble and the orchestra of Iva Papazov . The 140th anniversary of the heroic Shipka will be honored with the special performance "Oh Shipka!”. On Saturday, everybody will witness an old traditional Bulgarian wedding with a real bride and groom.
The contest for the most authentic and styled male, female and child's folk costumes will be of an interest to a serious audience. Eighteen clubs and schools for traditional Bulgarian folk dances will present an authentic dance from their region. The best dancers will be rewarded. There are more folklore battles, concerts of ensemble "Sliven", singers Albena Veskova and Rositsa Peicheva and ensemble "Ethnorthytum", fire-dancing games and the traditional "Oleliya" around the big night fire, this year with Orpheus Orchestra. Four other famous orchestras from different folklore areas will take turns for three days in order to keep up the good mood.
Everyone wishing to attend the festival must be dressed in a traditional costume. It is a must for everybody, even for the highest-ranking guests and their guards. Men may also wear old military uniforms. Folk costumes, traditional for other countries, are also allowed.
