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FOLKLORE FESTIVALS
Georgian folklore festivals
Folklore holidays and festivals
The spiritual and cultural life of Georgia is rich and diverse.
The country always hosts interesting festivals, cultural events, theater performances and concerts.
We present you the places where you can spend an unforgettable time and plunge into the cultural life of the country with a real Georgian flavor.
Art Gene Folklore Festival (June-July)
The annual folklore festival “Art Gene” takes place in different regions and finishes traditionally in Tbilisi.
In the fairy-tale atmosphere of the festival, one can enjoy traditional Georgian singing, cheerful national dances, get acquainted with local martial arts, take part in various master classes and buy handicrafts as souvenirs.
The nine-day extravaganza, with a different theme each year, ends with a grand gala concert at the Ethnographic Museum in Tbilisi.
“Tbilisoba” – Tbilisi City Day (October)
The bright celebration of the city day is held every year on the first weekend of October.
For tourists, Tbilisoba is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions of the country and, of course, enjoy a bright and unforgettable spectacle.
Every year the event is held with more and more scope, attracting travelers from different countries.
Guests are given a unique opportunity to see folk dances, hear the famous Georgian choral singing and buy some priceless souvenirs made by local craftsmen.
Folklore Days in Batumi (August)
The festival is traditionally held throughout August – from the last weekend of July to the last weekend of August.
The unique Georgian folklore attracts high interest of foreign guests.
Free concerts were held daily from 20:00 on Batumi Boulevard near the Alphabet Tower.
The festival is organized by the State Folklore Center of Georgia with the support of the National Tourism Administration.
The event is held within the framework of the state project Check in Georgia.
Svanetoba Folklore Festival in Mestia (July)
The best way to get acquainted with the centuries-old traditions of the Svans is to visit the folklore festival “Svanetoba”, which is held on the last weekend of July.
The festival is held to familiarize guests with the centuries-old traditions of the highland region.
Visitors of the festival are traditionally waiting for a diverse cultural, entertainment and gastronomic program.
Gastronomic exhibitions with dishes of Svan national cuisine, which are not known to the general public, are organized.
Racha Agro Festival in Oni (August)
The annual Agro-Festival, which takes place at the end of August, offers guests colorful cuisine, wine and sweets from the Racha-Lechkhumi region. Visitors will have the opportunity to taste and purchase local organic production: wine, honey, ham, nuts, dairy and meat products, dried fruits, apples, raspberry vinegar and much more.
The program of the Agro-Festival includes entertainment, educational and cultural events, as well as concerts with the participation of local folklore groups.
Adjara folk festival “Shuamtoba” (August)
The ancient Adjarian folk festival “Shuamtoba” is celebrated in the high-mountain village of Beshumi (Adjara) on the first weekend of August.
It is during this period that the population leaves the valleys for the mountains, to the alpine pastures, where the inhabitants of mountain villages graze their cattle.
According to tradition, horse races and competitions in various sports are organized on this day, guests of the festival are treated to traditional dishes, folklore and pop ensembles perform.
Tushetoba Folk Festival in Omalo (August)
The traditional holiday, “Tushetoba” (Shepherd’s Day), is held every year in July-August in one of the most picturesque regions of Georgia – Tusheti, in the high-mountain village of Omalo.
It is a spectacular open-air festival with the presentation of works of local and invited craftsmen.
There are traditional folk competitions in archery, horse racing, tug of war, lifting heavy sacks and stones, and burka jumping.
Shatiloba Folk Festival in Shatili (August-September)
In late August – early September, one of the most beautiful high mountainous regions of Georgia – Khevsureti – celebrates the folk festival “Shatiloba”, which is accompanied by a large-scale festival.
Various cultural and sporting events take place: horse races, demonstration of Georgian martial arts, fire show, concerts with participation of folklore ensembles and many others.
On this day in Shatili, Khevsur beer is brewed and traditional local treats are prepared.
Gastronomic Festivals
Georgian Cheese Festival in Tbilisi (July)
The Georgian Cheese Festival is held in Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda Park in the second half of July.
Visitors can taste cheese products and take part in master classes.
Cheese in wine, in chacha, in beer, with honey, with nuts, with bitter and sweet peppers and market novelties, about which the guests of the festival will learn directly on the spot.
In addition to companies, the festival will feature representatives of the capital’s and regional cheese stores.
Ice Cream Festival in Tbilisi (July)
The traditional ice cream festival is held in mid-July, in the middle of the hot Tbilisi summer, in Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda Park.
Every year the interest in the event grows.
Within the framework of the festival, the participating companies organize numerous prize drawings, which do not leave the guests of the event without gifts.
Guests can try both traditional varieties of refreshing dessert and new, original flavor combinations.
Animators and a costume show await the youngest audience.
Fruit Festival in Mtskheta (September)
The National Tourism Agency of Georgia organizes the Fruit Festival in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of the country.
Guests of the festival can enjoy the best Georgian fruits and sweets.
And also get a huge charge of positive energy.
The festival in Mtskheta is only the first stage of such festivals all over the country.
Similar events are held in different parts of the country every weekend until mid-September.
Bread Festival in Tbilisi (October)
The festival gives bakeries and other producers of bakery products an opportunity to present their products.
The event is held in the open festive space of the Tbilisi Botanical Garden.
At the bread festival one can taste and buy favorite products.
The idea of the festival was born from the fact that the collections of the Tbilisi Botanical Garden contain ancient and rare samples of Georgian grain crops, including almost endangered varieties.
Chocolate Festival in Tbilisi (November)
The Chocolate Festival is held at the National Botanical Garden in Tbilisi in the first decade of November.
Participants of the festival are both local producers and imported chocolate companies.
Guests of the festival will be offered bar and hot chocolate, chocolate fountain, tea, coffee, mulled wine, hot buns and other delicacies.
In addition, the festival will be decorated with a Christmas tree and Santa Claus.
The free event is held in the Botanical Garden’s outdoor festive space, Event Square.
Wine festivals
Young Wine Festival in Tbilisi (May)
The New Wine Festival is held in Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda Park.
Every year more and more new family wineries and wine companies join the event.
By this time the wine from the fall harvest, which was wintered in clay vessels – “Kvevri”, is ripened.
More than fifty varieties can be tasted and immediately bought, you can find out how and where they were made and what they are combined with.
Besides wine, of course, cheeses, hot bread, smoky kebab are presented at the festival and all this is flavored with humorous toasts, national dances and martial arts performances.
Telavi Wine Festival (October)
The annual Telavino festival on the first weekend of October is dedicated to the end of the grape harvest – “Rtveli”.
Traditionally, it opens the Days of Georgian Wine – “Gvinobistvo”, which lasts for another 2 weeks.
In the pavilions located in the center of Telavi, up to 100 different types of wine, chacha and brandy produced by large and small cellars are presented.
Residents and guests of the city after tasting wine at the wine fair can enjoy ethnographic expositions and folklore and musical performances, as well as visit the exhibition and sale of products with a common wine theme.
Chacha Festival in Telavi (November)
The Chacha Festival takes place on the first weekend of November in the heart of the Kakheti region – in the city of Telavi.
Georgian companies producing chacha take part in the event.
The festival includes small theatrical performances that bring to life the Kakheti region of the XVIII century – its ethnography, rituals, as well as Kakhetian peasants and the process of distilling chacha according to the traditions of different parts of Kakheti.
The festival program also includes performances of Kakhetian folklore groups, performance of traditional Kakhetian polyphony, recitation of impromptu poems and much more.