Tbilisoba (Tbilisi City Festival) 2016

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Tbilisoba or Tbilisi City Festival is an annual October festival which celebrates the diversity and history of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. If you are planing your first trip to Georgia - consider your trip here during city festival and try local cuisine and that awesome Georgian wine. 

Tbilisoba 2016 were held on October 15-16 in the streets of ..you are right - Tbilisi. As usual I took my camera and went for a photo walk, starting Rike Park, ending at the right embankment of Mtkvari. My best finds this year was: Dzin Chao food tent and mcvadi from farmers. 

Raft in th River of Mtkvari

Raft in th River of Mtkvari

There is a tradition to ride a raft during Tbilisi City Festival. 

Colorful balloons at kid zone

Colorful balloons at kid zone

This year the kids zone were set at Rike park.

Tbilisoba was first held on October 28, 1979, and has since become an established tradition. The festival features open-air concerts of traditional music and dancing and various cultural events, centered on Old Tbilisi, the historical part of the city. Beyond celebrating the city's past and present, people from all over Georgia represent their region at the fair of the harvest and Rtveli. Awarding honorary citizenship of Tbilisi by the city government also occurs in the framework of Tbilisoba.

Aerial view of Rike park in Tbilisi

Aerial view of Rike park in Tbilisi

The festival was created at the initiative of Eduard Shevardnadze, then-the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, to honor the capital and counter attendance at religious events as part of his program to overcome "manifestations of nationalism" through introducing new "socialist traditions". The event became a celebration of the city’s 1,500-year history and had the unintended effect of engaging Georgians more intensely in their national history.The festival remained dormant during the civil unrest of the early 1990s. It was resumed in 1995 and has since been held annually, usually in the latter half of October.

Painted pumkins

Painted pumpkins

It's still few days before the Halloween night approaches, but you can grab your pumpkin here, and then  learn How To Carve a Pumpkin and Make Stunning Halloween Photos

Mcvadi being prepared

Mcvadi being prepared

Tap Wine

Tap Wine

Streets of Tbilisi during Tbilisoba

Streets of Tbilisi during Tbilisoba

mcvadi at Tbilisoba's farmers market

mcvadi at Tbilisoba's farmers market

The Bottom Line

One of the best ways to discover Tbilisi and Georgia in short amount of time, best from the farmers in the heart of Tbilisi. Don't miss you chance!