site.btaThousands of Lights to Illuminate Sofia’s Christmas Tree

More than 20,000 lights will illuminate Sofia’s Christmas tree this year, the Sofia Municipality press centre announced on Sunday. Mayor Vassil Terziev will switch on the lights of the tree, located on St Alexander Nevsky Square, on December 2 at 7:00 p.m.

The festive program will begin an hour earlier, at 6:00 p.m., and will include performances by the choir of the Sofia Theological Seminary of St John of Rila conducted by Nikolay Georgiev, as well as artists Poli Genova and Orlin Pavlov. Also taking the stage are the children’s vocal group Smehorancheta, led by Galya Kodzhamanova, and the Combo Ensemble of the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy, directed by Mihail Yossifov, featuring soloists Monica Velcheva and Daria Boeva. The event will be hosted by actress Vencislava Asenova. A special mailbox for letters to Santa Claus will be set up next to the tree.

The Municipality has also prepared 15 themed photo zones featuring Santa Claus, reindeer, and festive decorations. Christmas markets will be open in the City Garden, in front of the National Palace of Culture, where an ice rink will welcome winter sports enthusiasts, on Slaveykov Square, in front of the Rila Hotel, beneath the Largo dome, in Mladost Park, Geo Milev Park, and other locations.