site.btaValley of the Thracian Kings Festivities Will Present Kazanlak Region's Rich Cultural and Historical Heritage

The festivities in the Valley of the Thracian Kings were established 19 years ago with the aim to promote the Thracian culture and all the cultural and historical finds made over the years on the territory of the Kazanlak Municipality, Kaznlak Deputy Mayor Serbra Kaseva said in an BTA interview. They continue to be organized annually to this day, and their idea is for residents and guests of the town to learn more about the rich heritage that the ancient Thracians have left in the region.

This year, the programme of the festivities includes both established events and new ones. In April, the new archaeological complex "The Valley of the Thracian Kings" was inaugurated, which will welcome tourists during the festive days with its special programme for young and old, she said.

Part of the festivities in the Valley of the Thracian Kings for another year are performances by the State Opera in Stara Zagora.

The official opening of the festivities will be on August 31 near the Thracian tomb in Tyulbe Park with the performance "Mysteries of the Thracians - Orpheus" by the local Municipal Theatre, a light and fire show.  

Another traditional event in the programme is the Jazz Festival, which starts on the 5th and continues until the 7th of September on the stage next to the Thracian Tomb.

Two other interesting events will take place in Tyulbe Park, one of which is being organised for the first time in the Valley of the Thracian Kings - the culinary exhibition of bakery products titled "The Mystical Power of Bread", which will be attended by actors from the municipal community centres. The programme also includes evenings of Thracian wine and wine culture. The boutique exhibition will feature wines from different regions of the country as well as delicacies and drinks from the Thracian lowlands.

The programme of the festivities includes a total of 12 exhibitions, including children's exhibitions, which will take place at various locations in the municipality, Srebra Kaseva said. There will also be book presentations, craft bazaars and many other initiatives to pique the interest of the public. The programme also includes sports events, among which is the cycling and running race for the Kazanlak Municipality Cup, organised by the cycling club "Lyastovitsa - 1905". Another sporting initiative entitled "Thracian Games of Challenges" has been organised jointly with the local Eagle's Nest Tourist Society. This is an interesting new event in which anyone who wishes can participate, Kaseva said.

The Deputy Mayor also said that a memorandum of cooperation will be signed between Kazanlak and the Iranian city of Kashan during the festivities. Special guests will be the Mayor of Kashan, representatives of the municipal council of Kashan, as well as the Iranian Ambassador to Bulgaria.

For the 15th consecutive year, the scientific conference "Problems and Studies of Thracian Culture", which annually gathers prominent scientists and thracologists from all over the country, will take place.This year it will once again be attended by famous names in the field, including Prof. Mitko Madjarov, Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, Prof. Vanya Lozanova, Assoc. Prof. Emil Neykov, among others.