Spring Fair of Crafts – Forgotten Techniques, Revived Mastery, Festival
Thursday, May 28 – Sunday, May 31
Small Main Street, "Rayko Daskalov" Street

The Spring Crafts Fair in Plovdiv is an annual event that brings together artisans and craftsmen from various fields, showcasing their handmade products, traditional crafts, as well as unique works of art and decorative items. The fair is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to explore Bulgaria’s rich cultural heritage and purchase original gifts and souvenirs.
Part of the magic of the traditional Spring Crafts Fair, dedicated to Bulgarian traditions, handmade artistry, and creative spirit, will also be a series of free workshops held over three consecutive days. These workshops are open to children and anyone eager to challenge and develop their skills.
Forgotten Techniques, Revived Mastery is one of the main highlights of the Crafts Fair. In a world where everything moves fast, time slows down along Plovdiv’s Main Street, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to experience traditional crafts brought back to life before their eyes in improvised workshops. The masters Dimitar Hristov, Svetlozar Yordanov, Rositsa Kirilova, Kerstin Claudia Marinov, Nafie Kosin, and Velika Stoeva — guardians of tradition — breathe new life into forgotten techniques and crafts. Visitors will have the chance to see demonstrations of working with a hand-operated woodworking lathe; an antique leather gathering machine; lace-making with fork lace and tatting techniques; the journey from raw wool to finished product; spinning; and dyeing with natural materials. Here, every tool carries memory, every movement holds knowledge, and every handmade piece has a soul.

Programme

28 May
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Crafts Fair – demonstrations and bazaar of handmade artisan products.
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Free workshop “Touch a Craft” – pottery wheel workshop with master craftsman Ivaylo Gospodinov.

29 May
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Crafts Fair – demonstrations and bazaar of handmade artisan products.
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – “Forgotten Techniques, Revived Mastery” – demonstrations of: working with a hand-operated woodworking lathe; working with an antique leather gathering machine; fork lace and tatting lace-making; the journey from raw wool to finished product; spinning; and dyeing with natural materials.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Prize quiz “Forgotten Techniques – Fork Lace and Tatting”.
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Free workshop “Touch a Craft” – artistic ceramics workshop with master craftswoman Ventsislava Panova.
5:00 p.m. – Parade from Plovdiv Municipality to Roman Stadium Square.
5:30 p.m. – Official opening ceremony – Roman Stadium Square.

30 May
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Crafts Fair – demonstrations and bazaar of handmade artisan products.
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – “Forgotten Techniques, Revived Mastery” – demonstrations of: working with a hand-operated woodworking lathe; working with an antique leather gathering machine; fork lace and tatting lace-making; the journey from raw wool to finished product; spinning; and dyeing with natural materials.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Prize quiz “Forgotten Techniques – Woodcarving and Leathercraft”.
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Free workshop “Touch a Craft” – stone pit jewelry workshop with master craftsman Kiril Miladinov.

31 May
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Crafts Fair – demonstrations and bazaar of handmade artisan products.
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – “Forgotten Techniques, Revived Mastery” – demonstrations of: working with a hand-operated woodworking lathe; working with an antique leather gathering machine; fork lace and tatting lace-making; the journey from raw wool to finished product; spinning; and dyeing with natural materials.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Prize quiz “Forgotten Techniques – Weaving and Natural Dyeing”.
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Free workshop “Touch a Craft” – felting workshop with master craftswoman Zhanna Ivanova.

The event is supported by the Municipality of Plovdiv and is part of the city's Cultural Calendar for 2026. 

More information and details about the program: facebook.com