So... Banskie turns two 🐝

In this week’s Buzz:

• Where is the best bakery in Bansko for an authentic banitsa?

• Bansko Buzz turns two on Tuesday!

• Banderitsa 1 & 2 lifts to operate during the Bansko Jazz Festival

• Giant locusts appear across Bulgaria

• Learn the flavours: craft beer night at local wine bar

• Bansko Jazz Festival full event programme (10 days of jazz)

• Hidden Worlds photography exhibition in the park

• Emergency alerts late at night and thunderstorms across the region

Two years and 105 issues of Bansko news, events, and insights. Thank you for reading and being part of it.

In two days, on Tuesday 28th, Bansko Buzz turns two (and so does Banskie, our mascot).

It’s been a bit of a ride: sometimes the newsletter is published a little later than planned on a Sunday due to the addition of some last-minute news or because the email marketing system kept crashing just as I was about to hit send, which has meant some weeks I didn’t even know if I would make it! 😂 

But every week I enjoy sitting down and going through what’s been happening over the last week in Bansko, and trying to include all of the relevant information and events that you want to know about.

If you want to read any of the past issues that have been sent, then head to this page (it’s the full archive, including the bits that never made it to the main website).

And, thank you for being subscribed. Whether you’ve been here from the start or this is your first time reading the Buzz on a Sunday, I appreciate you opening and reading the parts of the newsletter that you like the most.

Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 133 New Posts, 💬 430 Comments, 👍️ 2,278 Reactions

Where is the best bakery for an authentic banitsa?
Alexis wants to find the best bakery in town that sells the most authentic banitsa. See where people suggested.

Anyone faced a bed bug problem in Bansko?
Liza seems to have a bed bug problem where she’s staying and wants to know if anyone can recommend a local exterminator.

How do we find our account number for Electrohold?
Michael wants to know if he has the correct form and how to get an account number for his apartment from the electric company (Electrohold), since he’s exiting the rental system at his complex.

These street dogs were chasing us on our bikes!
Yetti posted that she was out with her children riding their bikes on Drama Street (Bojurland area) and some street dogs started being aggressive and chasing them. Yetti complained to the local municipality and posted the outcome here.

Bansko & Beyond

Banderitsa 1 & 2 to operate over Jazz Festival dates
The chair lifts Banderitsa 1 & 2 will operate over the dates of the Bansko Jazz Festival (starting this Friday): 31 July to 9 August. The price will be 41€ for a round-trip gondola ticket and Banderitsa 1 & 2 lifts, and 24€ for the two lifts if you already have a gondola ticket. (Keep in mind that on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd, pilots taking part in the paragliding competition will be using these lifts too.) Read more.

Bansko is a city of music over summer, says local mayor
Bansko’s mayor, Stoycho Banenski, spoke to the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency on the closing night of the Bansko Rock Fest (tonight), highlighting that Bansko is a music town over the summer and is “…the result of a consistent policy to develop various music genres and create high-quality events.” Read more. [Translation required]. Watch a video from Saturday night here.

Together for a safe summer
This week the local municipality, alongside local sports clubs, came together to remind young people that summer should be fun, but it’s also important to enjoy things safely. The seminars involved how to be responsible when gathering in the evening, safety during sports and outdoor activities, and traffic rules when out on two wheels. Read more.

Bansko is the focus of Balkan media
Last month, journalists from across the Balkans (including Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia) came to experience what the town of Bansko has to offer. This resulted in several articles, news stories, and videos about the small mountain town. Read more.

Other news stories
Here are a handful of other news stories you may find interesting:

• Bulgaria leads EU in annual fuel price increase

• Bansko remembers Nikola Vaptsarov on 84th anniversary

• Giant locusts appear across Bulgaria

• Todorka Vertical gathered over 300 running enthusiasts [Translation required]

Events Next Week

Nomad Girls Dinner
Tomorrow (Monday 27th), from 7.30pm at Lovna Sreshta on Pirin Street, meet other women to talk about wellness, safety, loneliness, burnout, relationships, work, and everything else. It isn’t just for nomads either: if you have a love of travelling, then feel free to join (female-only event). More info.

Exhibitions at The Tourist Information Center
These run most days from 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 6pm at the Tourist Information Center near the old tree. The Way of The Wave designer felt products exhibition (by Veronika Mavrikova) continues on Monday and Tuesday. Then, from Friday (31st) to Tuesday 4th, Sashka Rupchina shows off her The Way of the Heart energy paintings exhibition.

Jazzy Magic in Old Town Bansko
On Wednesday (29th) at 7pm, start jazz week early at Su Casa Bistro with a live saxophone performance by Alexander. French oysters available for pre-order. More info.

Glarus Craft Beer Night
On Thursday (30th) from 8pm at DiVino on Glazne Street, there will be a craft beer night featuring Glarus beers. Explore the seven different styles and what makes each one unique. Price 15€. More info.

Playing The Banjo Evening
On Thursday (30th) starting at 8pm, join Eme at Sky High Kitchen as she passionately explores the magical sounds of the banjo and transports listeners to the rolling hills of Appalachia. Entrance fee is 10€. More info.

Demonstration of Local Trade & Handcrafts
Outside the Tourist Information Center between 5pm and 7pm are demonstrations of making artistic dolls and decorations for children (Friday) and authentic Bansko cuisine (Saturday). Live folk music between 6pm and 6.30pm on Saturday only (see the singers perform here).

Main Event: Bansko Jazz Festival
On Friday (31st), the Bansko Jazz Festival returns for ten days of jazz. Young talents are in the park at 11am, and evening performances all start at 7pm on the world stage (town park) or from 8.30pm on the main stage (town square). The event is free to attend, but if you would like a seat to watch the main stage performance, tickets are available here. Jam sessions are from midnight at Ginger. Download a simple copy of the programme here (this provides you with all of the locations and timings).

Fly Bansko (paragliding competition)
On Saturday (1st) and Sunday (2nd), qualified paragliders will be competing in the Fly Bansko competition. If you’re interested in taking part, you need to have a minimum rating: IPPI level 3 or APPI 3. Participation fee is 55€. More info. [Translation required].

Hidden Worlds Photography Exhibition
From Saturday (1st), 5pm to 10pm in the park, and running every day throughout the jazz festival (until Sunday 9th), see Hidden Worlds: a photography exhibition that presents different stories, places, emotions and perspectives captured through photography. More info.

Concert by the "Gaitan" ensemble (Razlog)
On Saturday (1st) at 7.30pm in the main square in Razlog, join for a beautiful Pirin song and dance concert. Participating are a dance ensemble, folklore formation "Pirinsko troyche", male group "Kabadalii", and Yordan Nikolov. More info.

Future Event: Bansko Solidarity Academy
On Monday 3rd, Wednesday 5th, and Friday 7th of August from 1.30pm to 5pm on all days, join Sustainable for the Future Foundation for a free hybrid programme for young people who want to turn their ideas into real projects for their community. More info. [Translation required.]

Regular Weekly Events in Summer

Check with individual organisers/venues as event details may change.

• Mondays: Group fitness; Bear Functional Training at 8am

• Tuesdays: Run Club (5km); 6.30pm at Altspace (Central)

• Tuesdays: Chess club; 7.30pm at Dobrinishte Chess Club

• Wednesdays: no recommended events on this day

• Thursdays: Pool competition; Tipsy 360 at 7pm

• Thursdays: Live music; ZZ Land Play Cafe from 7pm

• Fridays: Beers at Altspace (Summit); 6pm to 8pm (BYOB)

• Fridays: Curry night; The Hub from 7pm (message to book)

• Fridays: Latin dance party; DiVino from 9.30pm

• Fridays: Karaoke at Tipsy 360; 8pm to 11pm

• Saturdays: Board games night at Treehouse Social; 7pm

• Saturdays: BSD’s Saturday Sale; 10am to 2pm

• Saturdays: BBQ Evenings; Kempinski Hotel, 7pm to 10pm

• Sundays: Free walking tour; under the old tree at 11am

Planning Further Ahead?

Here is a list of events/festivals coming up over the next few weeks.

• 14 & 15 August: In the Heart of the Balkans (folklore festival) More info. [Cyrillic]

• 20 to 23 August: Summer Biathlon Cup. More info. [Cyrillic]

• 21 & 22 August: “Feel” Bansko (sensory tour). More info. [Cyrillic]

• 21 & 22 August: Chamber Opera and Big Band Blagoevgrad.

• 27, 28 & 29 August: Bansko Opera Fest. More info.

• 28, 29 & 30 August: National Folklore Festival (Banya). More info.

Organising an event in or around Bansko? Submit it for consideration here.

Inside The Beehive🍯 

👉️ READ ABOUT THE BEEHIVE

Photo of the Week

A tree uprooted by the storm this week (across from Nestwork/Fitbox).

Follow @banskobuzz on Instagram.

Before You Go…

p.s. Just five days to get your Bansko.me email account. Come Saturday, you won’t be able to get one ever again.