Famous for its healing mineral springs and the richness of historical and natural landmarks, Kyustendil is also a center of scientific activity related to fruit growing. It is known that in this region the best Bulgarian cherries, apples, as well as many different fruit and vegetables are produced.

Abundant with fruit and colors, autumn in Kyustendil is always beautiful and the "Festival of Fertility", which has been held there for years, combines together autumn’s generous gifts with the endless creative imagination of craftsmen and artists.

Everyone who comes to this holiday is amazed by the ingeniously arranged stands, the variety of apples and natural products. The event is organized by the Municipality of Kyustendil and the Institute of Fruit Growing in the city. It usually lasts for four days, but during this year's thirteenth edition, the days are two – October 3 and 4. Only producers and traders from Kyustendil region are invited, in order to avoid large concentration of people, typical for the previous years. "This is an occasion to pay more attention to the children, the parents, to all the people from our region," says Dimitrina Ukalska, head of the "Culture" department in the municipality.

She told us more details about the long-awaited event:

"The holiday is really colorful. It is a legacy of the First Fruit Growing National Competition, held back in 1896 in our city. The festival has been held annually since 2008, always in late September – early October. This year, as usual, it will begin with a bazaar of products of artisans and farmers. There will also be an exhibition of artistically arranged stands, which is of a competitive nature. In search of beauty and diversity, every year we change the looks of this exhibition. In 2019, the participants had to place their products on straw and now we are provoking their imagination with the ladder as a mandatory part of the arrangement. The opening of the festival is on October 3 at 12 o'clock. Immediately after that the traditional presentation of apple varieties by the Institute of Agriculture starts.

The focus this time is on 10 varieties that are highly adaptable to changes in weather conditions. What always causes great interest is the stand of the Institute of Agriculture, where we expect to see over 100 varieties of apples. A competition for the biggest apple, a culinary demonstration, a music program in which local dance and singing groups participate are also to take place."

On Sunday there will be competitive games with fruit and vegetables, as well as outdoor training in sports areas, as well as in sports clubs.

"Festival of Fertility" has many friends in Bulgaria and abroad. This also applies to the other big events in Kyustendil. Each of them has its own character and celebrates one of the seasons – "Kyustendil Spring", "Cherry Festival", "Kyustendil Summer". After the cancellation or reduced implementation of a number of initiatives, the upcoming feast has raised the hopes of organizers and participants for some beauty and autumn warmth before the uncertain future and the long winter.

English: Alexander Markov