SAMOKOV MUNICIPALITY EVENTS CALENDAR 2019

CULTURE EVENTS

1 6th January Epiphany - taking the holy crest out of the waters of river, old July Demonstration and practical exercises ebru (Paper marbling) - Sarafska house traditional custom 8 3rd - 4th August Feast of mountain - Musala Hut st Official ceremony for the newborns in 2018 – giving away the special 190th Anniversary of Nikola Obrazopisov - Jubilee celebration - 21 January 9th August town symbols – Ritual hall Presentation of a documentary film and exhibition – Town History Museum 15th January - Exhibition photographs “Bulgarian volunteers / revolutionists” by Tosho 15th - 21st August Feast of Samokov municipality – concerts, exhibitions a.o. 15th February Toshev - Gallery „Prof. Vasil Zahariev“ th th 2 8th February Celebrating the victory of the Bulair battle – in front of Memorial 24 - 25 August Folklore Festival “Gift from Nature” - Govedartsi village community center “Otets Paisiy-1859”, Samokov August International Plainair in Painting - Samokov Honoring the deeds of the National hero Vassil Levski on the date of his st 19th February 31 August Rock festival BoroRock in Rila - resort birth – the Nunnery 31st August Folklore festival “Bobfest” /culinary celebration of bean dishes/ - 110 years of the birth of the painter Georgi Belstoynev – jubilee st 21st February 9 1 September Raduil village exhibition – Town History Museum 6th септември Unification Day of 3rd March National Holiday - Bulgarian liberation day of Ottoman yoke 3 22nd септември Independence Day of Bulgaria 3rd March - 125 years of the birth of Naum Hadzhimladenov – jubilee exhibition and 15th May catalogue - Gallery „Prof. Vasil Zahariev“ September Youth festival “Rhythm of the Mountain” - Samokov International Women’s Day Ceremony, awarding women with a contribu- September Art workshops “Familatlon-Samokov” - Samokov 8th March tion to the Public Life (The Ritual Hall) International symposium “Tsar Shishman Days in Samokov”, including September Pokladi - a feast of forgiveness, associated with the burning of great fires Balkan Films – Town History Museum - Samokov 10th March in the evening, marking the beginning of lent September Feast of Dzivata and Potatos 16th March Todorovden - a church holiday celebrated with horse racing Fiest “Day of Yavorov” (dedicated to the Bulgarian poet Yavorov) – Beli September 4 1-7th April Campaign dedicated to the Forest Week Iskar village st th 22th April Earth Day 10 1 October 95 Anniversary of Zafir Yonchev’s Birth - Jubilee Exhibition –Gallery 15th November “Prof. Vasil Zahariev “ 26th - 29th April Easter holidays Festival of Old Town Songs - Memorial community center “Otets Pai- Embroidered Beauty - Exhibition of local masters of Bulgarian embroidery 4th - 5th October April siy-1859” - Samokov - Sarafska house - Samokov 12th October Feast of Kompira (Feast of the potato - one of the symbols of the region) 9th May Celebration Day of Europe and Day of Victory 5 12th October Day of the Bulgarian Municipality 14th May Celebration The Liberation of Samokov from the Ottoman yoke 14th October Traditional fair dedicated to St. Petka - Belchin village 18th May International Day of Museums 20th October Official Ceremony of National Award for Arts “Zahari Zograf” – th Days of the National Enlighteners in the Town History Museum 17th May 10 November Gallery „Prof. Vasil Zahariev“ 21st - 26th Festival of amateur theaters “Theatre without borders” - Memorial Festive concert for the Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment th May October Community Center “Otets Paisiy-1859” - Samokov 24 and Culture - Zahari Zograf Square st Day of National Enlighteners - Awarding Ceremony with honorary signs th 1 November 24 May Celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2019 11 and certificates of the present-day Enlighteners - Sarafska house May Week of Arts - Borovets resort Official Celebration of the 160th Anniversary of Memorial community 1st November 6 1st June Children’s feast - Zahari Zograf Square center “Otets Paisiy-1859” - Samokov th Day of national hero Botev and those who died for the freedom of 9 November Folklore festival “Nashensko horo” - Samokov nd June 2 Bulgaria - the monument of Hristo Botev November Feast of potato - Shiroki dol village th st 15 June th 21 November Christian Family Day th 85 Anniversary of Vassil Chakarov - Jubilee exhibition with catalog 15 August Awarding Ceremony, National Photography Prize “Anastas Karastoyanov” Festival of the Rila Zelnik (culinary contest with the local specialty) - 22nd November th June - Gallery “Prof. Vasil Zahariev“ 29 village Beli Iskar 12 6th December Turning on the lights of the Christmas tree June Youth Street Art Festival - Samokov June Opening Summer Season in Borovets resort December Ice rink - Season opening 7 6th - 7th July Folklore Festival “The Magic of Rila Mountain” - Borovets resort 6th-10th December Week of the donor - Exhibition with Donations – Town History Museum Chakarovi celebrations - Honoring the deeds of the local hero Chakar Christmas exhibition of Association “St. Luca “- Gallery “Prof. Vasil 26th - 27th July 15th December Voyvoda with re-establishment of the battles - Chakarovi meadows Zahariev “ July Stork holidays - village Popovyane December Winter Tourist Season Opening - Borovets resort Celebration in the fortress Tsari Mali Grad - Belchin village, concerts and 17th-31st July Christmas` and New Year`s celebrations exhibition December SPORTS EVENTS

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1 15th January Badminton – Municipal school games – Samokov 12th - 15th June Cross country running - Borosport cup - Borovest resort 5th - 7th July Balkan offroad cup /Trophy/; National trial championship th 7 17 January Table tennis – Municipal school games – Samokov 1st - 25th July Football tournament – Samokov cup – children and juniors 24th-25th January Alpine ski – Borosport cup – men, ladies - Borovets resort 8 8th - 11th August International Moto Festival Borovets 2019 - Borovets resort 20th January World Snow Day, Borovets resort 11th August Sky run – Rila Run – Borovets resort Cross country running, second round, Memorial Mankata, Borosport st 15th August 31 January Cross country – Samokov cup - men, ladies - Borovets resort cup - Borovets resort Basketball – quarter finals Bulgaria cup – men – sports venue Arena Cross country running, third round, Memorial Batch, Borosport cup - January 1st September Samokov 9 Borovets resort January Basketball – group „А” – men - sports venue Arena Samokov 8th September Adventure Sky Run 2019 - Borovets resort January Basketball – regular season National basketball league – men - sports 21st September Ski jumping – Samokov cup – Samokov venue Arena September Motocross – European motocross championship – moto venue Rido February Winter challenge, Samokov 2 September Roller skis – Samokov cup – Samokov February Basketball- semifinals Bulgaria cup – men - sports venue Arena Samokov September Basketball – European club tournaments – sports venue Arena Samokov February Basketball – group „А” – men - sports venue Arena Samokov 3rd September Bike competition CROSS COUNTRY XC Athletics – National road running, Samokov cup in memoriam of 6th March Alpine ski – Chamkoria Junior cup - children from 6 up to 12 years of 10 6th October 3 age - Borovets resort Dragolyub Spasov – Lyuts – town square Zahari Zograf October Walking day 11th March Alpine ski – Peter Popangelov Senior cup – children from 6 up to 12 years of age - Borovets resort Orienteering – National championship - marathon; National night October 12th March Alpine ski – Champions memorial cup - children from 6 up to 12 years championship of age - Borovets resort October - De- Basketball – National basketball league - men – sports venue Arena 12th-15th March Cross country – National championship - Borovets resort cember Samokov 15th - 17th March Snowboard – Boroboard Junior cup - Borovets resort October - December Basketball – Elite group – girls, boys – sports venue Arena Samokov 17th - 18th March Cross country – Balkan cup – men, ladies - Borovets resort October - De- Basketball– Festivals Rila / – girls, boys – sports venue Arena March Basketball – group „А” – men – sports venue Arena Samokov cember Samokov March Basketball – BFB cup – boys - sports venue Arena Samokov October Football – Municipal school games – Samokov April Basketball – playoffs National basketball league – men - sports venue 4 Arena Samokov 11 November Athletics – Municipal school games – Samokov April Basketball – group „А” – men - sports venue Arena Samokov November – Samokov cup – wrestling sports hall – Samokov 5 May Basketball - playoffs National basketball league – men - sports venue November Basketball – FIBA tournaments – boys - sports venue Arena Samokov Arena Samokov Official ceremony “Athlete, coach and team of the year 2019” - sports May Challenge day December 12 venue Arena Samokov st nd 6 1 - 2 June Motocross – European championship – moto venue Rido Basketball - International tournament – girls, juniors – sports venue December June Athletics - Traditional municipal cross – town square Zahari Zograf Arena Samokov June Official season opening, Mountain bike park Borovets - Borovets resort December Basketball – FIBA tournaments – boys - sports venue Arena Samokov The dates of the events may vary during the year and are subject of changes.

6th May Popovyane village 20th July Shiroki dol, Zlokuchane villages OFFICIAL 8th June Gutsal and Madzhare villages 21st July Maritsa village 16th June Govedartsi village 27th July Rayovo village Dospei, Mala Tsarkva, Relyovo, Belchin, Gorni Okol, 17th August Beli Iskar, Dolni Okol, Raduil, Shipochan villages VILLAGES` 29th June Novo Selo villages 25th August village FEASTS: 06th July Prodanovtsi village 31st August Alino, Dragushinovo, Klisura, Kovachevtsi villages