In late 2024 I traveled to a small town called Zheravna in Bulgaria, near Sliven. Since around 2008, the Zheravna Folk Costume Festival has been celebrated there every August, lasting three days and  with thousands of visitors.

 

The festival has a few special rules. First everyone must wear a traditional folk costume. While it doesn’t have to be Bulgarian, most people do choose Bulgarian outfits. Another rule is that phones and cameras are strictly prohibited, and only accredited photographers may take photos (except on the last day of the festival). Because of this most of my pictures were taken either outside the official festival area or on the final day. Unfortunately, many visitors leave before the last day, so it is usually way less crowded than the first two.

 

The photos I’m sharing here were taken back when I was just starting out with photography. They may not be perfect, but I believe they still capture the vibe and give a good impression of what the festival looks like.

 

A big thank you to Thomas for the warm hospitality!