Experience the Sights, Sounds, & Flavors of Bulgaria on 9.30.18!

"Holy Trinity" Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church will host its 2nd Annual Bulgarian Ethnic Harvest Festival on September 30th, 2018 from 10AM-7PM. Our first festival, held in October of 2017, was met with a very enthusiastic and encouraging response, exceeding our expectations for attendance and garnering local media attention.

The parishioners of “Holy Trinity” are working very hard to make this year's festival an even greater success! Our ultimate goal is to establish our Bulgarian festival as one of the area’s preeminent annual cultural events that attracts an impressive number of attendees from the metropolitan region and well beyond.

The festival will benefit “Holy Trinity” Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, a remarkable and celebrated landmark of great cultural and historical significance. Founded in 1907, “Holy Trinity” has the distinction of being the first and oldest Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church established outside of Bulgaria. Proceeds will be used to complete key church renovations, restore the Church Hall, and ensure the continued preservation of this noteworthy institution.

We are proud to share our rich heritage with the community! The Festival will feature mouthwatering, authentic Bulgarian food, including “spanachnik” (layers of buttered filo dough filled with Bulgarian feta and spinach), “karnacheta” (grilled Bulgarian sausages seasoned with signature blend of spices), “shopska salata” (Bulgarian specialty salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and bell peppers topped with crumbled Bulgarian feta), “baklava” (layered filo dough with walnuts and cinnamon in a honey-vanilla syrup), and much more!

The Bulgarian Festival will feature live folk music by the popular and renowned NYC-based Bulgarian folk ensemble “Bulgarika,” performances by the folk dance groups “Zhiv Ogun” (affiliated with the Bulgarian School in St. Louis, “Bulgarian Language”) and “Bulgarian Spirit,” and many opportunities for attendees to learn the dances themselves.

A truly family-friendly event, the Festival will feature inflatables, carnival games and prizes, and other activities for children of all ages. There will also be an assortment of imported Bulgarian souvenirs and religious items available for purchase at the “Pazar” (marketplace). This year, we will also be offering festival attendees the opportunity to see our Church’s beautiful Orthodox icons and stained glass windows during a guided church tour, as well as to learn about various Bulgarian cultural and religious traditions and symbols.

Admission to the Bulgarian Festival is free. With authentic food, music, and dancing, as well as games and activities for all age groups, there will be hours of fun for everyone. For one day, come immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of Bulgaria! Nazdrave! Cheers!

For additional information, please visit www.bulfest.org.

Important Details & Links:

Official Festival Website: www.bulfest.org

When: Sunday, September 30th, 2018 from 10AM-7PM

Where: “Holy Trinity” Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church (1300 Grand Avenue, Madison, IL 62060)

Facebook Event: rebrand.ly/bulfestevent

Facebook Fan Page: rebrand.ly/holytrinitybulfest

To Volunteer or Donate:

Volunteer: sign-up at www.bulfest.org or at rebrand.ly/bulfestvolunteer

Donations on festival website: in the "Sponsorship" section on www.bulfest.org

Facebook Fundraiser: rebrand.ly/bulfestFBfundraiser

GoFundMe Fundraiser: www.gofundme/bulfest2018

To Get in Touch:

General e-mail: info@bulfest.org | Sponsorship e-mail: sponsorship@bulfest.org

Contact form at www.bulfest.org

Press Contact: Dimitrina Kutriansky (Church Board President) | Phone: (618) 978-7377