Elenski but festival in Elena gathers people from Veliko Tarnovo and the vicinity for its 8th edition

For the eighth consecutive year, the so-called Elenski But fest will be held from 15 to 17.11.2019 in Elena near Veliko Tarnovo. This year’s edition will provide much fun and games, surprises and culinary temptations, competitions and folklore performances. The Municipality of Elena invites guests to get familiar with the Balkan traditions and to taste their famous delicacy. The Elenski but is a meat delicacy – salted and dried pork leg, prepared only in the area of the town of Elena. The Elenski but has a unique and specific taste and it is prepared in the conditions of the specific climatic characteristics of the Elena Balkan.

The event will feature a recreation of an old tradition from Elena that involves only men – scorching a pig over a pit, while women will be busy preparing the tables. Guests of the holiday will have the opportunity to taste the unique Elena but, as well as enjoy traditional dishes from Elena, carefully prepared by the hosts of the holiday. There will also be demonstrations of old Elena crafts, and all this will happen with an accompanying colourful folklore program. Organizers have, of course, thought for the children as well and there will be many fun activities for them like workshops, archery, horseback riding and so on. This year the festival won’t be on Dimitrov day (26.10) as the years before because of the elections but the organizers promise this will in no way affect the setting of the holiday.

Here is a guideline program of the Elena But Fest:
10.30h – Beginning of the Fest – Recreation of the Elena Tradition “Pig scorching over a pit”
11.30h – Official opening
12.30h – Folklore program
13.00 – 18.00h – Competitions, games, horseback riding, archery, creative workshops and more

Guests of the fest near Veliko Tarnovo will be able to take part in the competitions for “Big But”, “Most Delicious But”, “Most masterful cutting of but”, “Funniest Butcher Story”, “Strongest Balkan” and so on. A bunch of prizes played in a raffle await the luckier ones. Apart from chokeberry wine and plum rakia, some of the winners will leave with a whole but.