Georgia celebrates European Days 2016

The countdown is on until Georgia celebrates Europe Days 2016.

Festivities will begin in capital Tbilisi on Sunday before spreading to the regions for a vast program of educational and entertainment events celebrating the unity of diverse cultures of the continent.

Tbilisi will mark Europe Day on May 8 however the celebrations will continue around the country until May 24.

Each year Georgia has hosted a series of events celebrating Europe and all its parts by hosting musical and theatre shows, educational activities and cultural celebrations – and this year will be no different.

Europe Day will launch on Sunday in Tbilisi's Rike Park. From midday until night, guests will be able to enjoy diverse cuisine and performing arts from European states, where tents representing each country will combine into a Euro-village in the central city park.

Visitors of last year’s Europe Day celebrations in Tbilisi. Photo by N. Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Opening at 12pm, Euro-village will invite visitors to hear national songs, enjoy shows for children and receive gifts such as books and postcards from a range of European countries.

A live concert of classical and pop music performers will then take over the festivities from 7pm.

The musical show will feature award-winning Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvilebi, Italian tenor Piero Mazzocchetti, Georgian soprano Irina Taboridze as well as local artists and bands Nina Sublatti, Eldrine and N!utone.

Meanwhile the Tbilisi State Opera will mark a parallel celebration of European Opera Days along with leading venues from 40 European countries starting May 6.

Participants celebrate Europe Day in Tbilisi in 2015. Photo by N. Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

The Theatre's three-day program of exhibitions and performances will culminate with a gala concert on May 8.

The concert - to be broadcast live in front of the venue - will show the Theatre's orchestra, choir and soloists perform works by Georgian and European classical opera composers.

Europe Day celebrations in Tbilisi will be followed by a nationwide program of events, starting May 9.

From then until May 24, cities and towns all over Georgia will enjoy lectures, meetings at regional schools and concerts to celebrate Europe’s vibrant cultures.

Organisers said Europe Days events were held "to celebrate May 9, 1950 when Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the EU, made a speech outlining a vision to unite separate European states into a single community."

Georgia has hosted the celebration for several years. Last year’s celebration was a huge success as hundreds of people gathered in Alexander Garden in central Tbilisi to mark the opening event. The 2015 celebration was part of European Week, a week-long event dedicated to highlighting Georgia’s cooperation with the EU.

More details about this year’s program of events marking Europe Days in Tbilisi and the regions can be found here.