A spectacle of colors, music, and genuine emotion marked the 22nd edition of the Black Sea Assembly “Euro Folk,” held from September 3 to 7 in Primorsko and Kiten. The festival gathered dozens of groups from Bulgaria and abroad, turning the Bulgarian Black Sea coast into a stage for Europe’s rich folklore heritage. The beginning was set with a colorful parade of participants, which drew admiration and applause from residents and guests of the resorts.

This year’s grand winner became the Dance Ensemble “Favorit” at the Community Center “Valcho Ruskovski – 1894” from the town of Ugarchin, Lovech region, led by artistic director Detelin Petrov. The ensemble deservedly won the Grand Prix – the “Golden Orpheus” Award, as their stage presence and impressive choreography provoked thunderous applause and admiration from the audience.

There were also remarkable achievements in the separate categories. The Tourist Mixed Choir “Edelweiss – Ivan Danev” from Veliko Tarnovo and the group for authentic folklore “Buynovski Glasove” from the village of Buynovo, Borino Municipality, won the First Prize “Golden Orpheus.” The folklore group “Nastroenie” at the Community Center “N. Y. Vaptsarov – 1873” from the town of Letnitsa, Lovech region, led by Krasimir Georgiev Kalinov, received First Prize in the category “Groups for Folk Songs – Processed Folklore.” The representative Polish ensemble for folk songs and dances “Wilenszczyzna” from the Vilnius region, Lithuania, led by Natalia Swistovska, took First Prize in the category “Folklore Ensemble – Processed Folklore.” In the category “Dance Ensembles – Modern Choreography,” the First Prize “Golden Orpheus” was awarded to the ensemble “Jucu Somesan” from Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

The special awards also brought strong emotions. The prize of the Tourist Agency “Event Vacation,” including a diploma for preserving folklore traditions and a gift set, was awarded to the Dance Ensemble “Favorit” from Ugarchin. The special award of the European Association of Folklore Festivals (EAFF) went to the folklore group at the Community Center “Sabuzhdane – 1927” from the village of Radievo, Haskovo region.

The Black Sea Assembly “Euro Folk” is part of the large-scale “Euro Folk” Musical Holidays, organized by the “Euro Folk Academy” under the patronage of the European Association of Folklore Festivals (EAFF). The organization is internationally recognized and has consultative relations with UNESCO in the field of intangible cultural heritage. Once again, Primorsko and Kiten turned into a stage of customs, traditions, and inspiration. Participants, dressed in colorful costumes, brought with them the spirit of their regions and proved that folklore is not the past, but a living force that unites people and makes them one.