National Folklore Fair “Ledenika”

During the National Folklore Fair ""Ledenika"" folklore groups and ensembles from all over the country, as well as professional performers are presented on an open stage. Craftsmen from different cities of the country, accommodated and arranged under white tents, offer their handmade wool souvenirs, embroidered national costumes, woven carpets and rugs, Bulgarian folk musical instruments, wooden icons, household ceramics, replicas of ancient Bulgarian jewelry, stone plastic, wrought iron products. In all editions of the fair, the potter's wheel of a local master - craftsman, on which everyone can personally make a pottery, arouses great interest and challenge. A separate tourist stand ""Discover Vratsa"" shows the cultural, historical and natural landmarks of the region and the prospects for the development of festival, wine, rural, eco and cultural tourism. Representatives of the Vratsa Balkan Nature Park Directorate organize thematic workshops - ""In the world of vultures"", ""The secret life of bats"", ""Unknown plants"" and others. A competition for authentic folk costumes is organized and there is a separate Haidushki corner, where guests touch the ancient and Renaissance weapons of the Bulgarian voivodes and comites, and the youngest visitors to the festival get acquainted with Bulgarian history and participate in educational games. In addition, on both days of the fair there are separate children's workshops, where children have fun, gaining more knowledge about the traditional Bulgarian costume and crafts. Demonstrations of folk wrestling are also held, in which fighters with world, European and national titles take part, and the best wrestler receives the grand prize - a live lamb and a triumphal wreath. On the second day of the festival there is a reconstruction of a traditional Northern wedding, prepared by the curators of the Department of Ethnography at the Regional History Museum - Vratsa. On the meadow in the area ""Ledenika"" are spread 45-meter mesals, arranged in 12 rows with over 1,500 clay cups and bowls made by a local master - craftsman. All visitors can take part in the wedding reenactment, as a mandatory condition is to be dressed in national costumes. In 2018, the beginning of the event was set with an engagement according to an old Bulgarian custom of the chosen couple, who got married at the Northern wedding. The concept of the National Folklore Fair ""Ledenika"" is not only preservation, development and promotion of folk traditions, in particular the restoration of the Northern wedding, but also the creation of a sustainable tourist product aimed at different target groups. The location where the festival is held is convenient for participants and audience - the area ""Ledenika"" is located 17 km. from the town of Vratsa. Transportation by bus, minibus and attraction trains is offered. There are separate parking lots for visitors with private cars. A tent camp and a separate place for visitors with campers are organized. During the event you can taste local dairy products, wine and brandy ""Vratsa violet"". The nearby restaurant offers traditional dishes for the Vratsa region. The event is free for visitors.