site.bta12th Balkan Rug International Festival Held in Shishkovtsi

The 12th Balkan Rug International Festival brought people from the Balkans to the village of Shishkovtsi in Kyustendil Municipality. Participants from Bulgaria, Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia took part in this year's edition from September 13 to 15.

Borislav Krumov, organizer of the exhibition "Clothes from the Region in the Beginning of the 20th Century", a highlight of the festival, told BTA that the idea is to get together on a common rug, to be together, to have fun in one place, to show each other's customs and traditions. "All Balkan peoples live on the same rug, our lives are similar, we all roast on the same fire and our mentality is one," he said.

"Every year at the festival we do thematic things. This year the highlight is the exhibition that shows the clothing of the early 20th century in the region," Krumov explained.

The festival offered a rich folklore program, culinary delights and workshops for children. The programme also included tug-of-war, arm wrestling competitions, and archery.