The international festival of masquerade games “Surva” in Pernik is the most authoritative event in Bulgaria and Europe of traditional folk games and customs with masks. He popularized variants of an ancient ritual that have reached today, part of the Bulgarian folklore tradition. With its competition program, the festival is a meeting of more than 10 000 survakars, kukers, babugers, jamalars and many others. Thousands of tradition bearers from all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria and guests from Europe, Asia and Africa participate in the festival competition every year. Participants come to Pernik for the emotion, the fun, to share the magic of “Surva”, to feel renewed, to wish each other health and luck. The festival has been organized by the Municipality of Pernik since 1966. It has had international status since 1985. In 1995, Pernik was accepted as a member of the Federation of European Carnival Cities. On June 26, 2009, during a solemn session of the Municipal Council in Pernik, FEKG President Henry van der Kroon declared Pernik the European Capital of Survakar and Kuker traditions. In 2014, Pernik and the “Surva” festival were included in the National Geographic magazine’s ranking of the World’s top winter destinations . Since 2008, the International Festival of Masquerade Games has been held annually on the last Saturday and Sunday of January. Its most attractive highlight is the two-day competitive parade of masquerade groups from the country and abroad.
Surva Festival
