End of Summer Wrap-up

TOGETHER WITH

In this week’s Buzz:

• How do I close my Bulgarian bank account?

• Last weekend of events in Bansko for summer

• Fines being issued for some parts where average speed cameras are in operation

• Investigation information around recent fires in Simitli region

• Pirninsko’s Clean the Mountain project returns to Bansko

• Get your own exclusive @bansko.me email account

Music, a food festival & mountain adventures in Bansko

This weekend wraps up the summer events calendar for 2025, with Unique Bansko’s culinary festival that included folk dancing, an amazing array of traditional cuisine from Bansko, and lots of music, laughter and dancing. See a video here & here.

There was also the bike fest, which took place on the same weekend as the one in Pomporovo, and saw lots of grit, determination, and tired but happy (and slightly muddy) faces at the end. See a video here.

Now that (nearly) all of the main events are over for summer 2025, we other interesting stories coming up over the next few weeks.

For now, if you’re in Bansko, the weather is staying sunny, and it’s definitely a key time to get up into the mountains and hike.

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

✍️ 75 New Posts, 💬 143 Comments, 👍️ 501 Reactions

Just Had the Yearly Technical Check on Our Car & We’re Confused
Graham posted that he’d just had his yearly technical check on his BG-registered car, and the people at the testing station told him to visit the police station for the sticker. See what people had to say and why things have changed recently.

How Do I Close My Bulgarian Bank Account?
Io posted that she’s looking for advice on how to close her Bulgarian bank account, as it isn’t a simple procedure like it is in other countries. See what advice people had.

Are There Stock Shortages in Winter?
Yorgos wants to stay in Bansko for a prolonged time this coming winter season and wondered if there are any issues with stock shortages, bus transportation, etc. See what people had to say.

Dreams Bar at Pirin Golf Has Closed Down
John posted to let us all know that Dreams Bar over at Pirin Golf has closed down. A few people would head there to play snooker.

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

Local/Municipality News

Local from Bansko wins grand prize of Fan Folk TV
Neli Mihailova, a resident of Bansko, recently participated in the Pirin Folk Festival in Sandanski. She won first place in the category of Macedonian songs. Read more.

Bansko Biathlon Club sees many medals in competition
Recently, the Roster Cup took place for those competing in the biathlon at different levels. The local biathlon club from Bansko entered 26 children out of 168 participants, 10 of whom won medals for first, second, or third place. Read more.

An investigative summary of the recent forest fires in the Kresna area
An investigation into the recent forest fires in the Kresna (Similtli) area that engulfed Bansko in smoky skies for a few days was recently published. This news article summarises the information now known and the Pirin National Park’s analysis of how much forest area was burned. Read more. [Translation required.]

Average speed check toll cameras in operation from Sunday, September 7th
Some toll cameras that have been adapted to check the average speed of drivers on certain sections of the highways around Sofia have been in a testing phase (checking speed and reporting those license plates to authorities). From today (Sunday 7th), in some sections in Sofia, those average speed checks have been made “live” and will now start to trigger the issuuance of fines. Read more.

Get Your Own Bansko Email Address

Tired of blending in with a Gmail or Yahoo email address?

With a Bansko.me email address you can finally have an email address that feels like home. Want [email protected] to give to people, or maybe [email protected]? Done.

Perfect for you if you’re a local, expat, or a digital nomad wanting to show your pride in Bansko. Whether you’re here in Bulgaria or abroad, stay connected and show off your connection to Bansko with your @bansko.me email address.

Accounts start at just €25 per year, with a limited number of lifetime deals available. Each account includes an ample amount of space, and a clean, ad-free experience. No spammy free service, just a premium address that says you belong here.

Get your own bansko.me email account.

Events Next Week

Bansko Run Club(ish)
On Tuesday (9th), Bansko Run Club is joined by Team Mihaylov. Vladislav Mihaylov is a national champion and team coach. All levels of runners are welcome. Starting at Altspace central location from 6.30pm. More info.

Pirin Ultra
Pirin Ultra is an ultramarathon for passionate trail runners or elite athletes who really want to push themselves. It takes place from Friday (12th) to Monday (15th) and there are different distances from 25km to 160km. More info.

Pirinsko’s Clean The Mountain Project
Delayed due to the forest fires over in the Kresna area the other week, Pirinsko’s Clean the Mountain project comes to Bansko this coming weekend. On Saturday (13th) from 9am to 5pm, there are a couple of places in Bansko open for volunteers to help clean up. More info.

Photo of the Week

From the unused Tzarna mogila lift area. See more photos here.

Tag @banskobuzz to get your photo in the Buzz.

If you’re enjoying the Buzz, a coffee keeps it brewing. Buy me one here.