"Balkan Embrace" Festival

At the invitation of the Mayor of Bansko, Mr. Stoycho Banenski, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Bulgaria, Milan Ravić, had the honor of officially closing the 2nd "Balkan Embrace" Folklore Workshops Festival on October 18. This year, the event brought together over 400 members of folklore ensembles from Serbia and Bulgaria in Bansko.

Expressing his gratitude to the Municipality of Bansko and the "Folklore Workshops" organizers, as well as to the festival participants, for their commitment to deepening cultural cooperation and friendly ties between Serbia and Bulgaria—and their respective citizens—the Ambassador noted that Bansko is gradually establishing itself as an important hub for bilateral cooperation in the field of culture.

As evidence of this, he pointed to the consistent, ongoing nature of these events, the impressive number of participants, and the diverse range of folklore ensembles that gather in Bansko multiple times throughout the year.

In this regard, he expressed hope that, in line with the organizers' stated plans, the festival—specifically within the category of "veteran" (senior) folklore performers—will expand in scope next year to include ensembles from Greece, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.