Zheravna Festival of National Costume

Name: Zheravna Festival of National Costume
Start: 2025-08-21
End: 2025-08-23
Location: Zheravna

Journey Back in Time to Bulgaria’s Roots

2026/08/20 - 2026/08/22

Every August, the beautiful village of Zheravna in eastern Bulgaria transforms into a living museum for three days during the Festival of National Costume. Only those dressed in authentic national or historical costumes are allowed entry—smartphones and plastic items are strictly prohibited, creating an atmosphere that feels as if you’ve stepped back more than a century in time.

Surrounded by historic wooden houses and green meadows, people link arms with strangers, dance, and share meals. The festival is a celebration where you can experience “living Bulgaria” with all five senses—color, sound, scent, taste, and touch.

Main Attractions

Strict Dress Code & Digital Detox

The festival’s most defining feature is its strict rule: only those in national or historical costume may enter. Modern clothing, accessories, smartphones, cameras, and plastic products are all banned, creating a fully immersive, out-of-the-ordinary experience where everyone becomes part of the tradition.

Key Events

The festival is packed with folk dance contests, costume competitions, traditional games, and folk group performances. The climax is a torch-lit procession and a massive bonfire, where thousands join hands, dance late into the night, and pay tribute to ancestors and heroes.

Costumes and Decorations

The venue is filled with hand-embroidered shirts, wool vests, colorful sashes and aprons, and silver jewelry—each costume reflecting the story of its region or family. Flower garlands, historic flags, and wooden stalls line the grounds, while the feel of handwoven fabrics and the scent of burning wood stimulate the senses.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Zheravna Festival of National Costume was born out of the rapid modernization and globalization of Bulgarian society in the 21st century. As urbanization and lifestyle changes accelerated, traditional national costumes and folk customs—once part of daily life—began to disappear. In response, the festival was launched in 2008 to revive and pass down these traditions through direct, immersive experience.

The venue, Zheravna village, is an architectural reserve with beautiful 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses and cobblestone streets, symbolizing Bulgaria’s history and culture. The entire village becomes an authentic stage, and participants wear traditional costumes, experiencing “village life from 100 years ago” without any modern conveniences.

The festival’s strict dress code and the ban on modern conveniences create a unique sense of immersion. With no smartphones, cameras, or plastic, everyone becomes part of the tradition, not just a spectator. These strict rules are not for show—they encourage Bulgarians to rediscover their roots and the true sense of community, transcending generations and regions.

In just over a decade, the Zheravna Festival of National Costume has grown into one of the largest traditional events in the Balkans, drawing over 25,000 participants and becoming a symbol of Bulgarian identity and pride—a centerpiece of the modern “tradition revival” movement.

Participant Voices

It was my first time at the festival, and I was amazed by the colorful costumes, the sound of bagpipes, and the taste of homemade bread. I also visited the Yordan Yovkov House Museum and tried Turkish coffee brewed on hot sand—it felt like traveling through time.

Fun Facts

Only those in national or historical costume are permitted to enter—jeans, T-shirts, and modern accessories are not allowed.
Smartphones, cameras, and plastic products are banned inside, making it a thorough “digital detox” space.
Zheravna village is an architectural reserve with 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses.

Festival Dates

The Zheravna Festival of National Costume is held every year from mid to late August in Zheravna village, Bulgaria. For the latest information, please check the official website.