On 9 May 2026 at 10:00 a.m., the 20th anniversary edition of the White Stork Festival will take place in the White Stork Park in the village of Belozem.
The White Stork Festival is organized annually by the Community Center “Prosveta 1909”, the Mayor’s Office of Belozem, the Municipality of Rakovski, “Geo Milev” Primary School and the NGO Green Balkans, and is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Over the years, it has established itself as a traditional celebration dedicated to the white stork – a symbol of spring, life and the harmony between humans and nature.
This year, visitors will once again have the opportunity to enjoy a rich cultural programme, featuring performances by kindergartens, schools, community centers and amateur groups from the region. As part of the festival, the traditional award ceremony for the children’s drawing competition “The Life of a Stork”, organized by “Geo Milev” Primary School in Belozem, will also take place, dedicated to children’s creativity and their love for nature.
Guests will be able to stroll through the White Stork Park, visit the Information Centre, as well as experience local traditions, crafts and products – all part of the atmosphere that has made the festival so recognizable and beloved over the years. As in previous editions, the event will combine culture, education and nature conservation into a shared experience. Some of the activities related to the conservation of the white stork that will be presented during the festival are implemented with the support of “FUTURE – You & The Planet”.
The programme will also include representatives from the Department of Agroecology at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, who will present the results of the project “Impact of Agricultural Waste on Certain Bird Species in Agricultural Lands within Representative Habitats” (No. 07-25), funded by the Centre for Research, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Protection at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv.
This anniversary edition of the festival will be even more significant, as it coincides with the 23rd meeting of the European Stork Villages Network, which will bring to Belozem representatives of other European Stork Villages that are part of the network.
The White Stork Festival is not just a celebration – it is an expression of the connection between people and nature, which Belozem has preserved and developed for decades.
Join us on 9 May 2026 in the village of Belozem!
The White Stork Festival is organized annually by the Community Center “Prosveta 1909”, the Mayor’s Office of Belozem, the Municipality of Rakovski, “Geo Milev” Primary School and the NGO Green Balkans, and is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Over the years, it has established itself as a traditional celebration dedicated to the white stork – a symbol of spring, life and the harmony between humans and nature.
This year, visitors will once again have the opportunity to enjoy a rich cultural programme, featuring performances by kindergartens, schools, community centers and amateur groups from the region. As part of the festival, the traditional award ceremony for the children’s drawing competition “The Life of a Stork”, organized by “Geo Milev” Primary School in Belozem, will also take place, dedicated to children’s creativity and their love for nature.
Guests will be able to stroll through the White Stork Park, visit the Information Centre, as well as experience local traditions, crafts and products – all part of the atmosphere that has made the festival so recognizable and beloved over the years. As in previous editions, the event will combine culture, education and nature conservation into a shared experience. Some of the activities related to the conservation of the white stork that will be presented during the festival are implemented with the support of “FUTURE – You & The Planet”.
The programme will also include representatives from the Department of Agroecology at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, who will present the results of the project “Impact of Agricultural Waste on Certain Bird Species in Agricultural Lands within Representative Habitats” (No. 07-25), funded by the Centre for Research, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Protection at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv.
This anniversary edition of the festival will be even more significant, as it coincides with the 23rd meeting of the European Stork Villages Network, which will bring to Belozem representatives of other European Stork Villages that are part of the network.
The White Stork Festival is not just a celebration – it is an expression of the connection between people and nature, which Belozem has preserved and developed for decades.
Join us on 9 May 2026 in the village of Belozem!
