Black Sea city of Batumi to host rural tourism festival next week

Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi is preparing to host Gandagana, a rural tourism festival, between November 22-23, the regional Adjara Tourism Department said on Thursday.

Set to run in Europe Square, the festival will showcase  traditions and culinary delights of Adjara, offering visitors the opportunity to explore  flavours of various municipalities of the region without leaving the city, the body added.

The event will feature presentations of Adjara cuisine alongside engaging folk crafts,with dishes typical of all five  municipalities of the region  prepared live in a dedicated food corner, where festival-goers will also be invited to participate in master classes and cooking competitions.

The space designated for local crafts will be designed to “evoke the authentic atmosphere” of  mountain villages of the region, “fostering an appreciation for the culture and traditions” while encouraging visitors to explore the locations, the Department said.

In addition to the culinary and craft offerings, the festival will include performances by invited bands and local folklore groups.

Gandagana festival has been organised since 2015  to promote Adjara villages and stimulate tourism in rural areas.