Tbilisoba: Georgia's capital city hosts biggest festival of the year

It’s time to celebrate! The biggest of all festival celebrations of the country has started in Georgia.

The streets of Old Tbilisi are alive this weekend for a two-day event celebrating one of the country’s most colorful and spectacular festivals – Tbilisoba, the celebration of the diversity and history of Georgia's capital city.

Georgia's capital city honoured the annual Festival -Tbilisoba 2013. Photo by N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge

The event was marked with a public holiday in Georgia and the occasion featured outdoor concerts of traditional music, dancing and other cultural performances. The celebration was based in Old Tbilisi – the main historical part of the city.

Festival organisers said the celebrations, flea markets, sporting activities, exhibitions and concerts would be mainly aimed at children and families during the day, while the events taking place in the evening would entertain youth an adults.

As well as celebrating the city's past and present, people from all over Georgia represented their region at the harvest fair today. As well as trying regional delicacies, festival guests were given the opportunity to taste fresh Khinkali – a Georgian dumpling with spiced meat, herbs and onions – or Mtsvadi, a Georgian shashlik made from fresh meat on a skewer.

Georgia's capital city honoured the annual Festival -Tbilisoba 2013. Photo by N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Plentiful offerings of traditional Georgian snack Churchkhela, which was made from nuts and grape juice – will not leave revellers hungry. 

One of the most enjoyable events of the festival will be Wine Parade, and exhibition/sale of traditional Georgian wine, which will take place from 3-4pm near Metekhi Bridge, Meidani, Rike in Tbilisi.

Earlier, an awards ceremony to present honorary citizenship took place at the Tbilisi City Assembly building.

Tbilisi residents and city guests were strongly recommended to visit Rike and Europe Square any time during the weekend as the main celebrations were planed to be held there over the weekend - the 35th Tbilisoba festival.

Georgia's capital city honoured the annual Festival -Tbilisoba 2013. Photo by N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge

In the evening, from 8:30-11:30pm, rock fans will be able to enjoy a concert by popular Georgian rock bands The Jetbirds, Ara, Group Kvela and loudspeakers at Europe Square.

A large number of guests were expected to visit Tbilisi today and tomorrow so officials closed some of the streets of the historic city to vehicles. Pedestrian access was permitted.

Tbilisi City Hall said Tbilisi Metro and the aerial gondola would operate for longer hours than usual (until 1:00am) this weekend. Citizens will be able to enjoy beautiful Tbilisi views from gondola for free.

Georgia's capital city honoured the annual Festival -Tbilisoba 2013. Photo by N.Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Tbilisoba is a celebration of the city’s 1,500-year history and today, it is one of the most anticipated festivals in the Georgian calendar with locals and guests coming from all over the country to celebrate their capital city’s history. It also had the unintended effect of engaging Georgians more intensely in their national history.

Tbilisoba was first held on October 28, 1979, and since then it has become a highly anticipated annual tradition.