Salmanovo:
The annual watermelon festival took place in a tiny Bulgarian village on Sunday drawing thousands of visitors, both domestic and from neighbouring countries.
Around six-thousand visitors flock to Salmanovo each year to watch the traditional festival which brings people together from, among others, Bulgaria, Romania and Armenia.
The two-day festival, which is in its 23rd year, is unique to the village which survives almost exclusively on watermelon production.
One local watermelon producer, Ivailo Genov said he was very pleased that the activities attract so many people.
"People come here on holiday every year which boosts the tourism and watermelon trade in our village," he said.
A visitor to the festival, whose wife is from Salmanovo, situated around 250 kilometres (156 miles) east of the capital Sofia, said he visits every year.
"It is a very nice holiday. We meet many new people," Vasil Tenkov said. "Here is the only place in the country where we can see so many watermelons."
Competitions abound at the event, including largest watermelon, fastest watermelon eater, best decorated and various other games and friendly fights with the fruit.
On show on Sunday were elaborately carved melons decorated with a variety of fruits, flowers and cream.
Teams of two took part in a blindfolded eating competition, where participants had to feed one another pieces of watermelon as quickly as possible, to rapturous cheers from spectators.
During the festival, around 3-thousand watermelons are used for fighting, decorating and eating.
At the end of the event, visitors elect a Queen of the Festival.
Around six-thousand visitors flock to Salmanovo each year to watch the traditional festival which brings people together from, among others, Bulgaria, Romania and Armenia.
The two-day festival, which is in its 23rd year, is unique to the village which survives almost exclusively on watermelon production.
One local watermelon producer, Ivailo Genov said he was very pleased that the activities attract so many people.
"People come here on holiday every year which boosts the tourism and watermelon trade in our village," he said.
A visitor to the festival, whose wife is from Salmanovo, situated around 250 kilometres (156 miles) east of the capital Sofia, said he visits every year.
"It is a very nice holiday. We meet many new people," Vasil Tenkov said. "Here is the only place in the country where we can see so many watermelons."
Competitions abound at the event, including largest watermelon, fastest watermelon eater, best decorated and various other games and friendly fights with the fruit.
On show on Sunday were elaborately carved melons decorated with a variety of fruits, flowers and cream.
Teams of two took part in a blindfolded eating competition, where participants had to feed one another pieces of watermelon as quickly as possible, to rapturous cheers from spectators.
During the festival, around 3-thousand watermelons are used for fighting, decorating and eating.
At the end of the event, visitors elect a Queen of the Festival.
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