Haskovo Municipality’s cultural calendar is quite impressive with its diversity and number of events of high class and standards, with the care shown to satisfy the spiritual and cultural requirements of all the generations and strata of Haskovo citizens. Traditionally, in January the liberation of Haskovo from the Ottomans is marked and in March – the Liberation of Bulgaria; in May, St. George’s Day (Day of Valour and Bulgarian Army) and the Day of Slav Letters and Bulgarian Culture; in June, the Remembrance Day of Botev and those fallen for the Liberation of Bulgaria; in August, the anniversary since the Uprising on St. Elijah’s and Transfiguration Days is celebrated and in September – the Unification and Independence Days. Well, Haskovo is as much concerned about the future, rather than about the past alone, so special attention is accorded to the International Children’s Day on June 1st.

The city has been the spiritual cradle of several important national competitions and festivals, enjoying wide public support and popularity.

 

    Southern Spring national poetry and fiction debut competitions are held on a yearly basis in April. Young hopefuls in the areas of poetry, fiction and critique meet in Haskovo each year to exchange ideas, converse with renowned Bulgarian writers and get familiarized with the history and culture of the city. Each of the winners is awarded a bronze figurine of Pegasus, epitomizing the Days of Literature. The idea belongs to Bulgaria’s great Ognian Funev and the statuettes themselves are being forged by sculptor Stephan Shishkov. Each one of the participants leaves the city adding to one’s experience a rich literary tradition and new contacts.

    May has its special place on the cultural line-up of the city of Haskovo. The Pretty Thrace Sings and Dances National Folk Fair has been entertaining patriotic citizens of Haskovo for almost 4 decades now. Many amateur companies from across the country as well as individual performers take part in it. People in huge numbers show interest on a yearly basis in these wonderful events of people’s wisdom and danceability, enrapturing with their authenticity and diversity. There is nothing more natural than to discover the deep roots of rich Bulgarian mentality here, rather than elsewhere, here, in the open, under the tree shadows and amidst the sunlight meadows of the Kenana Park to the sounds of the bagpipes and wooden flutes and to the rhythms of ring dances and refrains and choruses of the songs.

    In May, the much younger National Festival of Chamber Dance is also held.
    Newly established is also the National Competition for Old City Songs and Popular Tunes “With Ari’s Songs” held in June.

    In June 2006, the first ever edition of the Theatre Festival was held. Thanks to the Ivan Dimov Drama and Puppet Theatre and the Municipality of Haskovo, the art of drama reigned in the city for several days spreading from the stage of the theatre onto the Fairytale Room, to the streets, parks and night club. Along with the performances of the local theatre, Ivan Vazov National Theatre, Street Theatre, Sofia Theatre and Hristo Botev Theatre from Dimitrovgrad, Serbia held guest performances. The youngest feasted on both their local actors and the puppet theatres’ shows from Plovdiv and Pazardjik. This “outsourced” form of promoting dramatic art proved to be helpful to bringing together a number of Haskovo citizens with many Bulgarian actors. The roundtable, closing the Festival, searched to stir the visions of experts and artists.

    For centuries now, the days on the eve of the Nativity of Our Lady, September 8th have been festive weeks for the city. Since 1993, September 8th has been proclaimed the Day of Haskovo by the City Council. On September 8th, 2003 a monument Virgin Mary with Jesus to the Holy Mother of God, Protectress of the city was inaugurated with a holy-water-sprinkling ceremony officiated at by Arseny, Metropolitan of Plovdiv. The Monument has been entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the highest ever statue of The Blessed Virgin with Jesus. On September 8th, a solemn mass is read at the Our Lady Cathedral on a yearly basis. The citizens and Municipality turn the festive week into magnificent celebrations of spiritual values and cultural traditions. Undoubtedly, the Days of Haskovo are the capstones of the cultural events. They not only absorb a major part of the year budget allotted by the Municipality to culture, but are also the venue for official and creative meetings, business contacts, scientific conferences, cultural and sports events, concerts, etc.

 

On September 8th, 2005, the Day of Haskovo, the mayor of the city was presented with a chain of office, epitomizing power, for the first time ever in the city’s history. The idea was inspired by Haskovo’s twin city, Leicester, UK

Thousands of people throng at the brilliant performances of leading Bulgarian folk companies. Foreign folk companies have had guest performances on more than one occasion

Within the framework of the Days the organizers afford an opportunity to all the local companies, bands and clubs for showing their achievements in the areas of folklore, modern ballet, songs and dance. Popular Bulgarian performers hold concerts every night.

In October, Prof. Nedialka Simeonova Days of Music crown the cultural calendar of the city. The virtuoso left her indelible mark on both Bulgarian and world music culture and that is why the Days are named after her. On the sidelines of the event, a competition for young hopefuls is held. In daytime entrants are competing and at night one can enjoy the performances of famous orchestras and musicians, such as the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Sofia Soloists, the Orchestra of Bulgarian National Radio, Haskovo Philharmonic Orchestra, Veselin Ashkenazi, Mincho Minchev, etc. The citizens of Haskovo make every effort the Days to become an international event, gaining the name of most significant and worthy Bulgaria-wise.