Uzana Fest is a symbol of green ideas and care for nature. The festival meets green thinking and successful ecological patterns, presented in 10 zones through eco practices, activities, healthy products, art initiatives, green challenges and music. The festival brings people closer to nature and reminds them of the relation with nature by creating a sense of harmony and connectedness. All this happens in the Uzana area on a beautiful meadow, located in the geographical heart of Bulgaria.
National
Bulgaria
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It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-07-24
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Municipality of Gabrovo Type of organisation: Public authority (European/national/regional/local) First name of representative: Tanya Last name of representative: Hristova Gender: Female Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Mayor Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 3 Vazrazhdane Square Town: Gabrovo Postal code: 5300 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 66 818 305 E-mail:t.hristova@gabrovo.bg Website:http://uzanafest.gabrovo.bg
Uzana Fest is an ecological festival uniting miscellaneous interactive activities for environmental protection. It is an exhibition of good eco-practices, successful organic products and sustainable art initiatives. А forum for responsible attitude towards nature, healthy and sustainable lifestyles, eco-innovation and green culture. А living network of socially engaged businesses, training discussions and seminars, loyal and active supporters acting as awakeners for transformation of attitudes towards nature.
With the realization of Uzana Fest, held from July 23 – 25, 2021 and July 22 – 24, 2022 Municipality of Gabrovo aims to establish the event as a national forum for responsible attitude to nature and its resources, to support the efforts of the non-governmental sector, businesses and local governance in the field of sustainable development and circular economy, to engage the general public, especially young people, in environmental protection activities.
The concept of Uzana Fest is entirely subordinated to the environmentally friendly lifestyle, spiritual harmony in line with nature, separate waste collection, zero carbon footprint, recycling and use of renewable energy resources. The main objective of the festival is the transformation of people's attitudes and behaviour, focusing on the inspiring principles of Blue Economy, building on lessons from nature and giving birth to innovations in industry.
The event provides an opportunity for a meeting of "green" thinkers and successful ecological models, presented in several different zones through eco practices, interactive activities and lectures on environmental protection, healthy organic products and sustainable art initiatives in the especially designate festival sites like - Knowledge corner, Activities, Kids center, Art zone and Yin&Yan center.
Uzana Fest is an event about music, arts, knowledge and shared emotions, which brings together people who live and think in harmony with nature.
Green
Nature
Human
Connection
Resilient
Uzana Fest was created as an environmental initiative and with its first edition it became the first festival in Bulgaria, dedicated to environmental protection, focusing on the relationship between human and nature. The aim of the event is to bring people closer to nature, to put them in the heart of the mountains, in the forest, on a beautiful wide meadow.
In 2021 the festival returned after a 5-year break, with the organization, preparation and realization of the event taken over entirely by Municipality of Gabrovo. Due to its ecological nature, Uzana Fest was also one of the leading events dedicated to the European Green Leaf Award, whose winner for 2021 was Gabrovo. The great interest in the festival and the positive attitudes of the visitors motivated the team of the Municipality to make it a traditional one and to realize it in the following years.
The festival's ecological intent was embodied in all the details of the event - from the plastic-free commercial serving areas, to the provided recycling bins, to the lectures and talks that imparted knowledge and advice on protecting biodiversity, preserving animal and plant habitats, and ways to reduce one's personal carbon footprint.
The festival is an opportunity for attendees to re-examine their relationship with nature by adopting, as an alternative to a human-centred view, one that has life at its centre.
Throughout the three festival days, people and nature lived in harmony, keeping a balanced equilibrium and proving that a secular event can be gentle, caring and full of environmental thoughts. The model of Uzana Fest can be adopted in other similar events to reduce the negative effects on nature, but also to highlight the opportunity to be aware of our surroundings and to live in harmony with nature.
Uzana Fest is an event that transforms everyday life, turning it into an emotion-filled adventure. The festival days offer different experiences tailored to the interests of different audiences. The dynamics of the activities, the connection between art and different practices, and the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle give the event a unique feeling of an experience shared with nature.
The festival offers many activities in which every visitor can find his/her value, his/her place, his/her personal experience - individually, with the family, with friends or with strangers.
In 2022, in the KNOWLEDGE zone, the topic of climate change and adaptation to it was presented in 14 lectures led by people with high competence and attitude for nature.
We talked about the protection of bees, water, air and land. We shared experience and knowledge about energy efficiency, learned more about cooling, green cities and animal species.
Kites, hand-made jewellery, wax perfumes, repellents made of essential oils, art boxes and souvenirs – these are just a small part of the products made by the visitors in the organized workshops. Craftsmen demonstrated their skills in 28 tents of the ART zone.
There were even more tents at the farmers' market, where producers from small farms and gardens offered products of unadulterated taste and quality.
UZANA FEST 2022 also had its first football tournament. 6 teams joined the competition and accepted the challenge to come up with their own eco message. The sport continued in the unique Roadgames guide adventure, in which over 50 teams competed, following a virtual map and discovering real Uzana objects.
The aesthetics of the festival and the quality of the experience were enhanced by the possibility of continuous contact with nature. All implemented activities can happen in any territory of the world – the only ingredients we need is imagination and a love of nature.
Everyone who wanted to spend 3 days in nature had equal opportunities to participate. Uzana Fest 2022 was attended by about 10 000 people.
The festival does not set limits but provides opportunities for all stakeholders to get involved. Wide access to the festival was also guaranteed by the fact that it was free, there was no entry ticket. Information about the event was published and disseminated through all possible communication channels of the organizers, a special website (uzanafest.gabrovo.bg) was also created, where up-to-date and important information about the festival was published. To facilitate access to the festival town and for carbon emissions reduction, ecological buses were organised, with ramps for people with physical disabilities. Parking areas were provided, so that cars did not encroach on the festival area, but to be close enough to make it convenient to get around on foot.
Immediate access to the festival town was secured via a beautiful mountain road. There were also quite a few people who chose to move by bicycles, as well as those who preferred to make a short mountain hike. For the camping enthusiasts, a tent camp area was set up, which was populated by over 180 tents.
Various attractions, workshops and practices provided the opportunity for every visitor to get involved according to their interests and views.
Proof of the active involvement of civil society was the huge interest in the festival, the thousands of visitors and the hundreds of good reviews shared with the organizers.
The festival is welcoming to all who wish to spend 3 days in harmony with nature. The deepest meaning is the opportunity to show that the union between man and nature is possible, that man can return to his original essence and feel at home when he is in the mountains, walking barefoot on the meadow or just drinking tea from forest herbs. And all this can happen without harm to flora and fauna, but in harmony. And the greatest value of the festival is the people - the speakers, the ecologists, the craftsmen, the trainers, the demonstrators, the farmers, the chefs, the dancers, the musicians, the visitors, the guests and the participants.
Citizens who were part of the festival had various opportunities to get involved in environmental initiatives. The varied palette of activities provided them with a way to find their eco-experience tailored to their personal interests, skills and competencies.
Visitors were directly involved in various environmental practices from the moment they entered the festival town. No matter in which of the zones they chose to participate, they were given the opportunity for new knowledge, exchange of experience and empathy.
As a result, the civic participation fully met the goals of the project – living in harmony with nature. The territory of the festival remained preserved, the waste was recycled, and the acquired new knowledge can be applied at any moment of everyday life.
Uzana Fest is a good example of how an event can combine sustainable environmental policies with a quality experience for participating exhibitors and visitors. The collaboration of all stakeholders in the development and implementation was easily achieved because the festival discussed the topics of the global problems of pollution and climate change, offered knowledge and solutions to deal with them. Involving diverse communities and empowering people with knowledge and skills raises awareness of global issues and offers a non-standard approach to tackling them.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations and institutions at the local and regional level, which are directly related to environmental issues, took part in the festival. Students from a Norwegian university also got involved and shared their experience with their peers. All of them took an active part in the lectures, discussions and organized inspiring presentations on various environmental topics - climate change, sustainable energy, biodiversity, soil protection, healthy lifestyle.
Stakeholders not only shared knowledge and experience, but were also able to receive feedback from citizens, as well as create new partnerships and expand their knowledge in other environmental sectors.
The main emphasis and focus of the festival was on acquiring knowledge and awakening people's sensitivity to the relationship with nature. Speakers and audience shared a territory and considered the importance of Man in the context of preservation and restoration of the surrounding environment.
The main areas of knowledge were focused on climate change and environmental protection. The lecture area presented topics such as "Climate and forests", "Climate and energy efficiency - do buildings provide a comfortable and healthy living environment; what is an energy community and how to use energy from renewable sources'; "The Conservation of Bees"; "Conservation of protected species of birds"; "Green Cities and Soil Health".
The rest of the area was designated for various experiences and workshops, opportunities were presented to use recyclable products, create accessories, cosmetics, clothing, etc. only with natural materials, a healthy lifestyle through various practices and organic foods.
The three festival days met people from different social groups, professions and ages who had the opportunity to interact, exchange and share. Start-ups, young entrepreneurs and small producers freely contacted each other, upgraded their knowledge and combined their capabilities.
A survey held in 2022 showed that the profile of the festival visitors is nature oriented.
Uzana Fest gathered more than 10 000 participants and guests united by green ideas. The concept and organization of the event were entirely subordinated to the environmentally friendly way of life, spiritual harmony and harmony with nature,separate waste collection, zero carbon footprint, recycling, renewable energy sources. For three days the mountain was home to green ideas and practices and showed us that we need to stop a little, turn a bit inward and work to achieve harmony with nature.
17 were the official lectures and presentations. Countless-informal meetings to share experiences,advice,exchange ideas and common future plans. There were also different types of yoga,paneurthymia,dances,meditation,breathing and gong practices.
There were 28 farmers, from whom visitors could buy organic fruits and vegetables, honey, cosmetics, pastilles, milk, cheese, jams, chutneys, meat delights. The craftsmen, besides their works, shared their skills in the many workshops-pottery, knitting, soap and candle making, sewing.
More than 60 participants-singers, musicians, dance groups, healers and magicians took the stage under the open sky. All visitors and festival participants were encouraged to reduce their waste, limit their use of natural resources and reduce their carbon footprint.
As a result of the festival, various lectures and educational games on nature conservation and healthy living were held; all garbage that was generated during the festival was collected separately-recycled and composted, the use of single-use plastic containers was reduced,the amount of CO2 emissions was reduced through the use of electric buses, bicycles and walking.
The inclusion of different participants and free access for visitors contributed to the promotion of the festival and the creation of new partnerships, some of which continue to this day through participation in various joint projects.
The innovative nature of Uzana Fest is in its approach to presenting the theme of nature conservation and the importance of human activities. Presenting inspiring lectures, interesting technological solutions, organic productions, ecological crafts and activities connecting people, the festival makes possible the mission of harmonious existence of man in nature.
There were also quite a few novelties presented in the different zones. As the goal of the event is to find new "green" ideas every year to give a platform for expression.
During the lectures, innovative global solutions for renewable energy and water purification were presented. Young start-ups shared their eco visions with small manufacturers. Some of the food during the Festival was served in edible containers - waffle cups for your morning coffee and bread bowls for your lunch.
A young start-up company shared its visions and approaches to successfully apply an innovative bio stimulant in green system care as a step towards achieving climate neutrality.
In the waste area, for the first time, two "smart" bins were placed for the separate collection of recyclable waste, equipped with sensors for filling, temperature and location. The sensors built into them transmit information in real time, which allows different types of inquiries and analysis to be made, regarding garbage collection and garbage disposal. Innovative waste containers are another technological solution aimed at the efficient treatment of urban waste and its subsequent recycling.
Physiotherapists shared an innovative Active Sitting technique to improve human health through self-diagnosis and various exercises for the musculoskeletal system and emotional stability practices.
The concept and the organization of the event were entirely subordinated to the environmentally friendly way of life, spiritual harmony and harmony with nature, separate waste collection, zero carbon footprint, recycling, renewable energy sources.
The methodology contains the inclusion of various stakeholders, providing interesting and important topics, recognized by the visitors. It was extremely important to include volunteers, organizations and institutions, entrepreneurs and producers who have a direct relation to global environmental challenges.
The concept of the festival - a variety of eco-activities were foreseen to provoke the interest and involvement of various audiences. Every element of the performance of the festival had to be in accordance with the set great goal - the connection of man with nature.
The event ensures the acquisition of new knowledge, introduction of practices and demonstration of achievements to various interested groups, participants or casual visitors. In this way, the acquisition of knowledge and experience as well as capacity building is achieved.
Each of the elements of the festival can find its place, be reproduced and further developed in other territories, as long as they are related to the preservation of the environment.
In view of its intermodality and the fact that festivals are held all over the world, Uzana Fest is an event whose approach to hosting can be multiplied in other territories. The festival demonstrates a clear approach to solving problems such as the overuse of plastic, the overconsumption of natural resources, CO2 pollution - problems that are common and for which every action for change and improvement is of great importance.
The potential for transfer of the results and lessons learned from the event is clear and possible for any other event that involves gathering of audiences, is dedicated to creativity, emphasizes on green ideas and care for the nature.
THREE global challenges were in focus:
Reduction of carbon emissions
Conservation of biological diversity
Waste reduction and recycling
Climate change is a global global challenge that is an immediate threat to our world, but we can all do something to help prevent it and build a better future. Forests,soils,sustainable cities, renewable energy sources-were just some of the topics that the festival addressed directly to its visitors. Options for energy efficiency of buildings, the creation of energy cooperatives and the optimized consumption of resources were presented as possible solutions to this problem. The local forestry presented good examples of forest care, and an innovative company presented its product-a bio-stimulant for soils, developed with all-natural ingredients.Others are related to diminishing the carbon footprint of each one of us-some people used public electric buses to get to the event, others rode bicycles or chose to use the eco trails from the city to the mountain.
The importance of bees for life in nature was presented through an interesting presentation made by Plamen Atanasov, a hobby beekeeper, who shared the curious story of the appearance of bees, the production of honey and its benefits.
Bird conservation is one of the green causes of the project. The Green Balkans Rescue Centre was among the most attractive participants. Every year, children and rescuers release treated wild birds back into the nature of Uzana.
The separate collection of waste was demonstrated through the waste management system in Gabrovo-separating recyclables and biodegradables. The former are turned into new products, and the latter into compost. In addition, the festival had strict rules on waste collection, and no plastic was allowed in the food area.
To feel oneself as part of the circuits in nature, not a pure observer, is one of the challenges and successes of the festival.
