Tbilisoba 2016: Celebrating the rich history of Georgia’s capital

The streets of Georgia’s capital will come alive this weekend when the city marks Tbilisoba – an annual festival celebrating the vibrant history and cultural diversity of Tbilisi.

People from all over the country and further abroad are expected to enjoy the two-day Tbilisoba festival, which this year will showcase iconic street professions of the 19th Century. The event will also host several outdoor concerts of traditional music and dancing, flea markets and a whole raft of other cultural events. Visitors can also sample traditional wine and food.

This year is the 36th celebration and it’s the largest annual event held in Georgia’s capital.

The festival was first marked in October 1979 and soon became one of the country's most colourful and spectacular celebrations. Marked as a public holiday, Tbilisoba traditionally attracted thousands of people and hosted all sorts of events from mid-morning until late in the evening.

At Tbilisoba 2016 actors dressed as 19th Century city dwellers will stage re-enactments of historical scenes. Photo from the Tbilisi Development Fund's press office.

Festivities will take place this weekend – on October 15 and 16 – and activities will take place all over the city but primarily in Old Tbilisi, in the historical part of the city.

This afternoon Tbilisi City Hall released the program of this year's Tbilisoba festival.

Organisers urged visitors not to miss a special re-enactment of historical scenes in the Leghvtakhevi ravine, in Tbilisi's historic Abanotubani bath district.

The scenes will show actors dress and perform as banner painters, blacksmiths and noble families of the 19th Century. Their presence will give the ravine's walking paths a traditional Old Town look that was one normal but was now long past. 

Actors will re-enactment Old Town scenes and street professions in the Leghvtakhevi ravine in the historic Abanotubani bath district. Photo from Tbilservice Group.

Other Tbilisoba events will be staged at the newly renovated Aghmashenebeli Ave, which reopened last month to an excited crowd of locals and visitors.

Some of the events taking place on Aghmashenebeli Ave include a photo exhibition by Error Images photo agency, a theatrical project highlighting the city's history and local musical and dancing performers.

Other activities will take place at Rike Park, Wine Rise and Metekhi Bridge – all located near Old Town on the embankment of Mtkvari River.

Furthermore, visitors can also venture up to Mtatsminda Park and enjoy the activities hosted up there.

Tbilisoba is celebrated on changing dates every year but always in autumn. 

This year’s Tbilisoba will celebrate the newly renovated Aghmashenebeli Ave, also known as New Tiflis. Photo from the Tbilisi Development Fund's press office.

Tbilisoba traditionally celebrated the rich history of Georgia’s capital and showcased a range of dance styles and music. This year is no exception and the festivities will host performances by range of bands and artists, from folk groups to modern DJs who will entertain crowds from Europe Square to New Tiflis.

Among the performers are the Georgian Brass Band, Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz, LoudSpeakers and Tbilisi Big Band.

A celebration of national dresses plays an important part in annual Tbilisoba events. Photo by Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

In line with recent Tbilisoba festivals, Tbilisi City Hall announced seven city residents will be awarded the Tbilisi Caretaker Award.

The prize was awarded to individuals who use their profession to contribute to development and everyday life of the capital city, said city authorities.

Those honoured this weekend include a doctor working at the Tbilisi Emergency Service, restaurateurs working on preserving historical creations, kindergarten and art school directors, a bibliographer employed at a city library and a Tbilisi Metro engineer.

The prize was first established in 2014 by Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania.