On 5th and 6th August, the Bagpipes Festival will be held once again in the village of Gela. The event has over 100 years of history. Today’s goal is to help preserve the authentic Bulgarian folklore music. While in the past the festival was a place to meet the other people from the village. Every family had its own tree around which it was gathered.
The opening of the Bagpipes Festival will be at 10.30 a.m. Then the contest program will be held. The participants are divided into three age groups. Young people and children up to 14 years of age will have to perform a work of choice within 5 minutes. The next group up to 20 years must present a fast and slow melody lasting 6 minutes.
The third age group over 21 will also compete with a slow and fast melody up to 7 minutes. So far the smallest participant in the competition has been 5 years old and the oldest at 85 years. During the fest, you can also get your first lessons playing the bagpipe. However, you can buy food, drinks, and traditional Bulgarian products during the feast as well.
Awarding of the best in the competitions begins at 6 p.m. Then follows folklore concert program, which will make you dance Bulgarian folk dances, even if you do not know the steps. On August 6 at 11 a.m. starts the meeting of the local families. The fun lasts the whole day.