Top 6 Tourism Festivals in Armenia in 2015

If you decided to visit Armenia this year, you are extremely lucky to not only do some fabulous sightseeing, but also be a part of glorious festivals, which you will remember for the rest of your life. Being a country that cherishes traditions, Armenia has a lot to show when it comes to culture, customs, and celebrations. Here you will find out which of the tourism festivals you must visit, and why.

Have you ever tried stuffed grape leaves? Sounds interesting, right?

1. You will get a chance to find out what tolma (dolma) is, if you visit Tolma Festival on the 16th of May. This dish is the jewel of the Armenian cuisine, and the event is organized to show different ways of preparing the tolma. Apart from tasting the food, you will be exposed to traditional dancing and singing, and can take part in various competitions. This festival is absolutely fabulous!

2.This festival is also all about food, while the Armenian cuisine has a lot to offer. If you can’t imagine your life without meat, The Barbecue Festival is a place to be! It is held in Akhtala, where the breathtaking views and fresh air will definitely tempt your appetite. Come there on September 12-13, and taste the delicious Armenian barbeque.

3. If you’re not a fan of any of the above mentioned dishes, you may be interested in visiting the Mulberry Festival. This fruit together with other fruit and berries are to be found in Goris in summer. Mulberry is also used for producing vodka, and you can see the production process, and give it a try. But be careful, the drink is pretty strong.

4. Armenia is also famous for handmade carpets, and you can see a great variety of them during the Carpet Festival on the 15th of August. You will have a unique opportunity to purchase a piece of the carpet craftsmanship, and place it in your home. Just pay a visit to a beautiful town of Dilijan, and choose a carpet you like.

5. Wine tours are becoming popular, as there are more people who enjoy high-quality home-made wine. Armenia has something to offer here as well. Areni Wine Festival attracts a lot of local citizens and tourist every year. Areni winery is one of the oldest wineries in the world, which was discovered in Armenia around 6000 years ago. The event that will take place on October 2-3, will be absolutely stunning. Not only can you taste different types of good wine, but also participate in the production process by treading grapes in a big wooden barrel. In order not to get tipsy, a wide range of national dishes will be provided as well.

6. If you consider yourself a culture lover, you should come to Armenia in October, and visit High Fest International Performing Arts Festival. Artists and performers from different countries gather together to expose their best artworks for little money, and are ready to share their vision of the world with you.
Armenia is a wonderful country that is definitely worth visiting. So why not come and not only do sightseeing, but also get more familiar with the culture, cuisine, and traditions by attending the festivals of different kinds?

Now have a look at the whole list of the festivals in Armenia in 2015:

Fish Festival. Date- April 11. Venue-Abovyan town, Kotayk region.

Tolma Festival. Date- May 16. Venue- Sardarapat Memorial, Armavir region.
Bread in Mountains Festival. Date- June 13. Venue – Erebuni Fortress in Yerevan.
Mulberry Festival. Date- July 4 (the first Saturday of July). Venue- Goris town, Syunik region.
Sheep Shearing Festival. Date- June 6. Venue- Tatev village, Syunik region.
Navasard (Old New Year in pagan Armenia). Date- August 11-12. Venue- Tsaghkhunk village, Gegharkunik region.
Carpet Festival. Date- August 15 (the second Saturday of August). Venue- Dilijan, Tavush region.
Honey and Berries Festival. Date: August 16. Venue- Berd town, Tavush region.
Barbecue Festival. Date- September 12-13. Venue- Akhtala, Lori marz.
High Fest International Performing Arts Festival. Date – Early October. Venue- Yerevan.
Wine Festival. Date- October 2-3. Venue- Rind and Areni villages, Vayots Dzor region.
Gata Festival. Date – October 10. Venue- Khachik village, Vayots Dzor region.