Celebrations for Unification Day

TOGETHER WITH

In this week’s Buzz:

• An abundance of events (large & small) this weekend

• Am I right to be annoyed with my neighbour’s AC unit placement?

• Unification Day weekend with celebrations on Saturday

• Pirin Street road closure on Saturday for Bike Fest

• Dual circulation of currencies set to be used in January

• My view on the nightlife post in the FB group and what the real story is

Three evenings of traditional food, folklore music, and celebrations

This coming weekend, Unique Bansko brings its culinary exhibition to town, featuring traditional food, folklore music, a bagpipes & Kukeri parade, and activities for the children.

On Friday (5th), there will be popcorn and ice cream making for children (6pm), and Banski Starcheta will be playing on the main stage in the town square (from 8pm).

On Saturday (6th), there will be a traditional procession from 5.30pm in the square/Pirin Street with bagpipes and dancing by the Kukeri. Followed by a range of different traditional dishes by local cooperatives from 7pm in the square, alongside folklore dancing.

On Sunday (7th) from 5pm to 8pm, there will be a culinary exhibition by several local mehanas and taverns in Bansko.

It looks like it’s going to be a busy weekend in Bansko for the holiday weekend, and the final weekend of events for the summer 2025 calendar.

Book Your Ski Chalet in Bansko

Book your chalet in Bansko for this winter season. We have three great chalets located in the centre of town (Snow Pine, River Pine & Ginchini). Visit our website to check availability and create your own package tailored to your requirements and budget.

Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 84 New Posts, 💬 285 Comments, 👍️ 896 Reactions

Looking for an Accountant for My VAT-Registered Company
Kristina asked if anyone knew of an accountant who could help her with her VAT-registered company’s accounts. There were quite a few suggestions.

This AC Unit Shouldn’t Be Here, Right?
Andrew asked for people’s opinions on a neighbour attaching the outdoor AC fan unit to his outside wall and whether he had a right to be annoyed. See what people had to say.

Where Can I Buy a Cheap Ironing Board?
A few of us were confused by Samantha’s question, as it does seem quite difficult to only find expensive ones. See the suggested places.

Does My Car Insurance Cover Me When I Travel Outside of Bulgaria?
Simon was curious about how insurance on a Bulgarian-registered car works and wondered if he needed extra insurance to drive in the Schengen area or even when driving the car in the UK. See what information people had for him.

(The above posts are publicly accessible. You don’t need a Facebook account to view them.)

Local/Municipality News

New Vegan Store Opens in Town
A new vegan store called Experimental Station Rainbow 12 (yup, weird name) has opened in town near the market (bottom end of town, close to Eagles Nest). It looks interesting and it’ll be worth the visit, even if only to pop in and take a look at what they have. More info.

Unification Day (National Holiday)
On Saturday, Bulgaria celebrates Unification Day. In 1885, 140 years ago, the two parts of Bulgaria united to form a stable nation: the Principality of Berlin and Eastern Rumelia in the south (where Bansko is located), which had been separated for seven years by the Treaty of Berlin. Read more. All government offices will be closed on Monday, and some shops may have alternative hours. The weekend is expected to be busy in both Bansko and throughout the country.

Pirin Street Road Closure
On Saturday (6th), local police will close Pirin Street above Motikita from around 8.30/9am for the Bike Fest. It’s expected to be closed most of the day. If you’re thinking of heading up that way, it might be best to make alternative arrangements.

Mayor Addresses The Issue of Noisy Cars & Bikes Late at Night
The local mayor in Bansko, Stoycho Banenski, issued a statement earlier this week after the municipality had received numerous complaints about cars, bikes, and ATVs making excessive noise at early and late hours, causing some upset among people. He asked people to report such incidents and stated that the municipality is considering imposing penalties on the individuals concerned. Read more.

Bansko Opera Fest Well Attended
While the numbers attending the Bansko Opera Fest this weekend weren’t groundbreaking, it was well-attended. The three nights were all quite different and offered some variety. It was also interesting to see some familiar faces performing in the Aladdin musical. The municipality had their drone up again and took some reasonably nice photos from above. Read more.

Dual Circulation of Currencies Set to Be Used in January
As of January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will start using the Euro as its main currency. During this month, all electronic payments must be transacted in Euros. However, businesses can accept cash payments in either Euros or Lev (in January only), with prices mandated to be displayed in both currencies until the end of June 2026. I’m sure people will get confused, though, so don’t be surprised if the rules are one way and businesses do something different. Read more.

Recommended Businesses

New to Bansko? Skip the tourist traps and join Nick for Bansko Like a Local tour. An insider’s guide to the best bars, restaurants/mehanas and hidden gems. Learn more.

Travelling out of your home country this year? Get travel insurance designed by travellers. True Traveller: one policy to cover all of your activities. Learn more.

Shop on Amazon & get packages delivered to Bansko with GGBG. Regular transport from the UK, Germany and the USA to Bulgaria. See website for info.

👉️ Want to see your ad in the Bansko Buzz?
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Events Next Week

Unique Bansko Culinary Exhibition (Main Event)
Three evenings of celebrations in the town square from 6pm on Friday (5th), 5.30pm on Saturday (6th), and 5pm on Sunday (7th). More info (scroll down for English).

Three Mountains Rock Festival
This rock festival will take place at The White Stage on Friday (5th), Saturday (6th), and Sunday (7th). The event is ticketed with various prices for one, two or three days. (The White Stage is on the road to Banya near Piri Pool). More info.

Bankso Bike Fest
Taking place over three days (June 6th to 8th), with different timings and locations throughout town. From biking up to Vihren Hut from Motikita on Saturday to heading out towards Eleshnitsa on a gourmet tour, there will be different groups (and ages) taking part in this festival. More info [Translation required.]

The Gatsby Party at Star Bar Basecamp
On Saturday (6th), starting at 9pm, Star Bar Basecamp will have their annual Gatsby party. The dress code is Gatsby-inspired, and they hope people who attend will be ready for “…an unforgettable and exciting experience”. More info.

There are other events scheduled for this week/weekend in the events list here.

Photo of the Week

As the mountains awaken from a restful night.

Tag @banskobuzz to get your photo in the Buzz.

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