Cambridge hosts biggest Bulgarian festival in the UK to date
More than 2,000 people gathered at Nuns Way Pavilion on Sunday (29 June) for the third annual Cambridge Sings and Dances Bulgarian festival.
This celebration of Bulgarian culture, community, and tradition is now officially recognised as the largest Bulgarian festival ever held in the UK.
It featured more than six hours of continuous programming, more than 40 stalls, and 20 performing groups, including children’s singing and dance ensembles.
The event was officially opened by a line-up of distinguished guests.
His Excellency Tihomir Stoychev, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United Kingdom, highlighted Bulgaria’s ancient history as one of the oldest countries in Europe.
He praised the Bulgarian community in Cambridge for preserving and sharing its heritage and also commended Little Bulgaria UK CIO for its tireless work promoting Bulgarian culture.
Cllr Diana Pounds, the newly-elected mayor of Cambridge, extended a warm welcome to all.
She expressed her delight at the festival’s arts and crafts bazaar, calling it “inspiring” and in line with her and her husband’s vision to promote craft and creativity throughout the city.
Paul Bristow, mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, greeted the audience in Bulgarian, much to everyone’s surprise and joy.
He fondly recalled his previous visit to Plovdiv and Karlovo, describing Bulgaria as a country full of warmth, tradition and hospitality.
A defining moment of the day was the grand flag procession, where a 40-metre-long Bulgarian flag was carried under the sounds of traditional ‘Dunavsko horo’ music.
Leading the march were the ambassador, the mayor of Cambridge, representatives of Little Bulgaria UK, members of the charitable Order of St George, and other dignitaries, joined by hundreds of festival-goers dancing and waving flags.
Mihail Stoyanov, chair of the Little Bulgaria UK charity, said: “It’s a celebration not only of Bulgarian culture but of how much we can achieve together when communities come together.”
