People from All Over Bulgaria Gathered in Topolovgrad for the Imperial Eagle Festival

Hundreds of people from across the country joined the celebration of nature, culture, and traditions organized by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Municipality of Topolovgrad.
The Imperial Eagle Festival, held on October 18 in Topolovgrad, brought together farmers, artists, and community groups from Sakar, the Eastern Rhodopes, and Strandzha. The event aims to raise awareness about the conservation of one of Bulgaria’s most endangered bird species – the Imperial Eagle – and to promote sustainable farming and tourism in the region.

From 10 AM the town square of Topolovgrad came alive with people eager to explore the farmers’ market and the works of local artisans. This year’s exhibition featured over 60 producers and numerous craftsmen, offering visitors the chance to enjoy authentic dishes from Sakar made with organic, locally sourced ingredients.

The festival also offered a rich educational and family-friendly program, including film screenings and a lecture about the Imperial Eagle, the premiere of the children’s book “Betty and Letty: A Story of Two Tortoises and a Box”, and the art exhibition “Kings” by Demita Cherneva, showcasing watercolor portraits of emblematic and rare birds of prey. Guests also took part in excursions to the Paleokastro rock sanctuary, birdwatching walks, and many other activities.

More than ten community cultural groups (chitalishta) participated in the lively folklore program, which concluded with performances by Lili Licheva, a young singer from Topolovgrad, and a concert by the beloved Bulgarian artist Stefan Valdobrev.


The Imperial Eagle Festival is organized by the BSPB and the Municipality of Topolovgrad and supported through the project “Green Belt of Southeastern Bulgaria”, funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme (ELSP), managed by the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) – a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and leading international conservation organizations.
Both the University of Cambridge and the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme are supported by Arcadia, a charitable fund of Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing.