Lavender festival in Bulgaria draws visitors from around the world

Fields of blooming lavender and a programme combining music, crafts and traditional rituals will set the scene for the International Lavender Festival in the southern Bulgarian town of Chirpan from June 19 to 21. Held under the patronage of the Tourism Ministry, the event will also take place in the nearby villages of Sredno Gradishte and Rupkite.

The opening programme includes a parade and a ceremony on Saedinenie Square, followed by a concert by the Vidin Sinfonietta featuring singers Orlin Goranov and Margarita Hranova, with performances by children's ensembles from the region. The programme includes performances spanning different musical genres, tastings and photo sessions among the lavender fields. Visitors will also be able to observe a traditional ritual harvest and create 360-degree video recordings in the plantations. A market of crafts, farm produce and artworks will run throughout the three-day event in the town centre.

Weekend mornings will begin with sunrise paneurhythmy sessions, a form of meditative dance created by Bulgarian spiritual teacher Peter Deunov, held in the lavender fields.

Participants from Ecuador, China, India, Vietnam and Armenia will present elements of their national cultures and folklore during the festival, adding an international dimension to an event that has become one of the highlights of the region's summer calendar.

Editor: Diana Tsankova