site.btaRivers of Sofia Festival Kicks Off

The 2023 edition of the Rivers of Sofia Festival started on Thursday and will continue until September 3 near Perlovska River in Sofia’s South Park. The event's message is that the capital has real, living rivers running through it that have the potential to bring joy to the city and be a full part of it, organizer and The Collective Foundation Founder Martin Yankov said on August 25.

This year's festival will feature several stages adapted to the river's natural habitat. Ethno band 4etno, artist Ivan Shopov, The Science, street musicians JamBure and others will perform.

The festival’s goal is to draw citizens' and the Sofia Municipality's attention to the possible future of the capital's rivers, to the problems they have and the solutions for improving their condition, Yankov explained.

Rivers of Sofia’s programme includes more than 40 events during the three days. On the first night Inside joke Stand up comedy will entertain guests on the river from the water stage, and on Sunday the programme will end with a short film. During the three days of the festival, visitors will also enjoy circus, science and art workshops, yoga, a handmade bazaar and a team competition with questions about botany, ecology, geography and, of course, rivers, The Collective said. 

In addition to the traditionally inspiring cultural programme, art installations and interventions in space, this year's edition will offer a special interactive lesson on activism and urban planning. It is supported by the Bureau of the European Parliament in Bulgaria.