A holiday in Bulgaria to the sounds of jazz

Few things are better than the opportunity to take full pleasure in your holiday in Bulgaria during the day and then, in the evening, turn up a little the volume of enjoyable emotions and immerse in the world of jazz music. You will be on one hand enchanted by the rhythm of the five best festivals in Bansko, Plovdiv, Varna, Smolyan and Sozopol, and on the other captivated by the sights of these places and the unforgettable atmosphere they have.

Sweeten your holiday in 2012 with amazing jazz performances and live music. We introduce you some of the most famous jazz festivals in Bulgaria that will add quality and inspirational sound to the images of your vacation. You will only need to choose the best time and place for you to plan a trip.

Bansko Jazz Festival (August 4 – 11, 2012) Apart from being a place where one can find everything needed for a pleasant and memorable vacation in Bulgaria, in the summer this charming town also hosts an event that seems to be winning more and more hearts and this is – Bansko Jazz festival.  Last year, together with Mungo Jerry, performers from more than 15 countries entertained the guests of the festival with their music. This year the 15th edition of this of the growing-in-popularity fest is to take place. The concerts are outdoors and are free.   The easy and fun atmosphere is suitable for both young and adult visitors of Bansko, who will be able to listen to good music in the open air. In case you insist on sitting on the very first rows during the events, you should book a hotel that as an addition to your tourist package offers a free access pass to seats near the stage during the performances. And until the time for the musical evenings comes, for those who love trekking, Bansko is a starting point for more than 10 main routes in the Pirin National Park. The shortest of all is with two and a half hours duration and an end point at Banderitza hut. Plovdiv Jazz Nights (October 25 – 27, 2012 ) Plovdiv is one of the most inspiring places in Bulgaria. It is a great delight to dive in its glamour for a couple of days in which, apart from seeing the sights of the town, to taste the creative atmosphere of Plovdiv Jazz Nights. Participants in the event, held here from 2005 on, are jazz musicians from different parts of the world who every year invigorate the mood of the audience. This year, jazz nights will start in the end of October. Tune yourself up to an autumn wave and get prepared for a magic adventure in the world of music and of many cultural and historical layers in the second largest city in Bulgaria. Wherever you set foot in Plovdiv you will come upon some sight, so don’t make plans, just start walking along the small steep cobblestone streets of the Old town and let the ancient history at every corner lead you. International Jazz Festival Varna (July 27 – 29, 2012) The festival was founded exactly 20 years ago, in 1992. For three days on end Bulgarian jazz musicians and guest performers from other countries are taking part in this event. It is organized by the Municipality of Varna and the “Varna Jazz Society” and provides a great opportunity for combining listening to good music with a holiday. In case the end of July does not suit your plans, then consider coming on August 11, 2012, when the summer capital of Bulgaria will host a concert of the Brazilian Grammy-nominated singer Bebel Gilberto. Before the concerts stroll in the Sea Garden and then stop by the Dolphinarium to enjoy a glimpse of the amiable dolphins there. Keep in mind that the summer working time is every day except Monday, with shows starting at 10.30 a.m., 12 noon, 3.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. If you feel like lazy, try the relatively new amusement of Varna Municipality – take a trip with the Varna City tour bus and see the beauties of the town from the comfortable seat of the vehicle.

Ethno-jazz festival Smolyan (July 26-27, 2012) The festival “JULY JAZZ SMOLYAN”, followed by “PERELIK PURE JAZZ”, on July 28, is a one of its kind event on the territory of the country. Here visitors can enjoy various styles of contemporary music with ethnic sound. The activities of event are taking place on the second highest peak in the Rhodope mountains – Perelik, among a beautiful scenery and in a energizing atmosphere. Except on jazz in the nature, embark on another adventure – a stellar one. Think of something that you want to see with the telescope in the Planetarium, which is located about 15 km away from Smolyan, at the Rozhen peak. This is the largest observatory in Bulgaria and also the place where everyday you can watch the sun with a telescope, and every Wednesday get a glimpse of the heavenly bodies during the night. If you are captivated by the idea you can arrive a day earlier for the festival, on July 25, 2012, which is right on Wednesday. Jazz nights during Apollonia, Sozopol (August 30 – September 8, 2012) To put an end to this trip to the sounds of jazz, let’s take a look at the unsurprisingly good suggestion for exciting time from the wonderful Sozopol and the Festival of Arts Apollonia. This year it will be held from August 30 to September 8 and traditionally part of programme will include talented jazz musicians. Here, in addition to the jazz performances, you will hear and see many other arts, inspired from different muses. Each year artists from all over the world meet in Sozopol and fill the festival’s schedule with a wide variety of theatre performances, classical concerts, literature evenings, exhibitions, movie shows. During the hours between the different events, if you have spare time and energy left, visit the Archaeological Museum in the town, go sightseeing around the remarkable churches and chapels in Sozopol or just stroll in the Ancient and Medieval Christian complex in one of the oldest towns on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. KITT wishes you a holiday in Bulgaria full of pleasant emotions and nice memories, and also many inspiring moments to the sounds of jazz! Booking hotels in Bulgaria