The International Festival of Masquerade Games
Is held in Pernik in January of every even year. Organised with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, it is the finest exhibition of Eastern Europe’s ancient, deep-rooted tradition of masking.

St Trifon’s Day
This festival dates back to the ancient Thracians, and features wine growers celebrating with vine-trimming ceremonies.

Baba Marta
The arrival of spring (Baba Marta) is greeted with the exchange and wearing of red and white tasselled martenitsas; good luck charms to secure fertility in people, young animals and fruit trees.

Kukerov Den
Held on the first Sunday before Lent, koukeri, men wearing grotesque masks, perform ritual processional dances to fend off evil spirits and guarantee fertility at the arrival of the growing season.

St Lazar's Day
Village girls of marrying age perform ritual songs and dances.

Saints Constantine and Elena Day
This fire dancing festival, celebrated in small rural villages in the Strandzha Mountains, features practitioners walking barefoot on hot coals. This pagan event marks the onset of summer. It is believed the custom originated from Dionysian rites performed by ancient Thracians.

National Day of Culture and Education
This celebration sees students commemorate the development of the Cyrillic alphabet, which was introduced by Kyril and Methodius, who were both later canonised.

Kazanluk Rose Festival
Held in the Valley of Roses, this festival coincides with the beginning of rose petal picking. It features dancers and singers in folk costumes performing traditional songs and dances. In recent years, this event has been scaled back.

Pirin Sings
Held in Koprivshtitsa, the scale of this event means it is held just once every two years. Thousands of singers and dancers from all over the Pirin region come to the Predel Col area near Razlog.

Bansko Jazz Festival
This festival provides a great opportunity to visit Bansko, which at other times has a sleepy nightlife.

Rozhen Folklore Festival
This celebration features songs, dance and music in the Rhodope Mountains.

Apollonia Days Held in Sozopol, Bulgaria’s oldest coastal colony, this 10 day festival celebrates the Greek god of music and dance with jazz, rock and theatre.

Autumn festivals are held in Bansko, Blagoevgrad and Gotse Delchev. There’s a wine harvest festival in Melnik.

Jazz festivals These festivals can be enjoyed for the entire month at various venues throughout Sofia and Blagoevgrad.

New Year's Day: 1 January
National Day: 3 March
Easter: Date varies every year
Labour Day: 1 May
St George’s Day: 6 May
St Cyril and Methodius Day: 24 May
The Unification of Bulgaria: 6 September
Independence Day: 2 September
Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders: 1 November
Christmas: 24 to 26 December
New Year's Eve: 31 December