Uzana Polyana Fest 10 – inspiration, charm and nature
Ecological practices, healthy lifestyle, shared knowledge, beautiful emotions, a sense of nature – all this happened at the tenth anniversary edition of Uzana Polyana Fest, 18-20 July, in the Uzana area near Gabrovo.
This year, the main focus of the festival was food – not only as physical nourishment, but also as spiritual purification and harmony. Thematic lectures, workshops, practices and demonstrations explored various aspects of nutrition – from sustainable production and ecological foods to the philosophy of food as a source of inner harmony. A look at food in its deepest sense of what keeps us alive, awake and connected.
Festival areas: Spaces for inspiration and creativity
Spaces of Knowledge and Self-Awareness – lectures, discussions and best practices in nature
conservation and healthy lifestyles brought together people with an open mind for a new kind of future – sustainable, conscious and compassionate.
We focused our efforts on the body and soul with practices that allow us to cleanse ourselves of harmful habits or relive unpleasant events from the past in a different way, through movements that rearrange our energies. Conversations about spiritual hunger in modern times and what is the missing link with simple practices that can help us escape negative states and improve our spiritual comfort.
An interactive workshop entitled ‘The connection between the food on our table and the climate.’ With the help of easy-to-understand scenarios and illustrative examples, we learned how the choice of food products – from place of origin to method of cultivation – directly affects the carbon footprint, water resources and global warming with a strong and clear message: sustainable food is not only a matter of health, but also of climate responsibility.
We were introduced to an innovative eco-game – EcoHunt in a mobile app. The game not only
educates but also engages, with a ‘one piece of waste, one mission’ approach that turns caring for nature into a fun and inspiring process.
In the world of some of the most ancient and vulnerable inhabitants of Bulgarian nature – land
turtles – we learned with love and attention little-known facts about their behaviour, habitats and endangered status, and how each of us can contribute to their conservation.
A family therapist talked about the magic of bread. How to silence the water, how to think about what to say to the bread while kneading it, how the dough will stick to us like problems at first, how it will then become soft, how we will let it rest and what we will say to it before putting it in the oven, how it will transform it, who we will give the bread to eat…
The forest pedagogy area also aroused interest with a presentation of the benefits for children and how they learn through their senses.
For the preservation of traditional Bulgarian seed varieties and the message that seeds are not just material, but cultural memory and biological wealth that we must preserve.
A conversation about wild edible plants that still thrive freely in Bulgarian meadows through a
fascinating story with many practical examples of how nature offers us an abundance of food – as long as we know where to look and how to approach it with respect. From nettles and wild onions to prickly but delicious plants, participants learned how to recognise, collect and use the gifts of the wild without harming it.
Creating healthy food through regenerative agriculture by presenting modern practices that not only preserve but also restore soil health.
A building geobiologist raised the topic of healthy indoor microclimates and presented geobiology as an approach that combines natural materials, energy harmony and attention to location, humidity, electromagnetic influences and ventilation, and transforming our homes so that they support our health instead of undermining it.
The topic ‘Waste as a resource’ presented developed solutions for converting by-products from the food industry – such as brewing malt – into high-protein crackers, biodegradable flour and even compostable tableware. In addition to the technological aspect, the technology also has a social impact in encouraging local communities and businesses to apply the principles of the circular economy and sustainable consumption.
‘How to restore the water cycle. Agriculture in dry conditions’ with examples of how sustainable production can be achieved even in arid regions through conservation practices and optimal management of soil and water resources. The message was strong and clear – sustainable agriculture is the key to a sustainable future, and protecting water and soil is crucial for food security.
Screening of the documentary film ‘The Hidden Beauty of the North Coast’, which tells the story of the Northern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria not simply as a natural landscape, but as a living, sensitive organism, filled with invisible stories, cultural layers and ecosystem significance. Additional perspectives on the role of art as a tool for environmental awareness and social change.
The lecture on the dynamic relationship between mental balance and the subtle energy system in relation to Sahaja Yoga was delivered with energy, a smile and finesse, with advice on food and the food of our land and knowledge of foods that will help us with certain medical conditions.
IN/YAN Centre – a space for inner harmony, awareness and connection with nature and oneself, with a new dimension of inner ‘ecology’ – caring for emotions, thoughts and the body with activities and experiences that heal, inspire and awaken the senses.
‘Vibrations of Light’ – an acoustic workshop with Tibetan bowls, dream drums and other
instruments, yoga practice for inner peace and a conversation about conscious presence – a journey to oneself that begins with a deep breath.
The PULSE practice ‘The Voice of the Body’ helped you hear what your body is telling you, and
the art therapy ‘Glagolitica – Whisper from the Root’ connected you with the ancient wisdom of the Bulgarian spirit.
The practical workshops ‘Embrace the Child Within You’ and ‘Self-Compassion in Parenting’
opened up a space for tenderness, forgiveness and personal transformation.
IN yoga released blockages and brought lightness to the body and mind.
Paneurhythmy – a sacred dance of harmony between man, nature and the cosmos – was followed by Yoga Flow and an art workshop for connecting with inner resources – the perfect end to a journey of self-discovery.
Art zone with workshops for eco-friendly products, jewellery and souvenirs Let’s weave ECO into our lives! Let’s live ARTistically! – this is the creative message of the festival for participating in the ‘rebirth’ of objects through creative recycling.
Farmers’ market with quality Bulgarian products, offering a selection of truly delicious and
traditional Bulgarian foods, wine and other taste challenges related to the latest trends in healthy eating, as well as aronia products, black cumin and white thistle oils, and white thistle flour – products that have proven their beneficial effects on the body.
Children’s centre with games and entertainment, including the popular ‘water wars’. The focus of the 2025 edition is on developing eco-logical thinking in children through experiences that both educate and entertain.
An original performance that immerses children in the world of music through live music and
theatre, Stop motion animation – a unique opportunity for children and their parents to create their own short film, frame by frame, Retro photo lab – old photographic techniques that combine art and science, Archery – a safe and exciting experience for young and old alike, Hike with Joelette all-terrain strollers to Mount Isopolin – a special event that opens up nature to people with different abilities, Forest laboratory – fun science among the trees – for children and parents, ‘Grandma and Grandpa’s Games’ and antique board games – a return to the simple and ingenious entertainment of the past, Yoga, survival in nature, knitting, music workshops.
Youth Zone – a colourful place for young people, filled with activities and entertainment
In addition to hosting the discussion on Gabrovo’s green strategy, the zone was also the venue for the presentation of ReFilaBot – a machine that converts recycled plastic bottles into filament for 3D printers.
Art workshop: painting on textiles and lanterns made from jars, Night hike to Markov Stol peak with the scouts, Braiding workshops, Literary meadow with the Bookworms club, Eco-quiz ‘Do you survive green?’, Workshop for bracelets with Morse code, Community rope jumping, Bug photography, Making clay products with the Master Art Club.
Stage Area – Innovative theatre play about climate change, “Are We Running Late?”, which seeks to answer the question: Are we running late and where are we rushing to? With the participation of the audience, who generate the electricity needed for the performance by riding special bikes.
Presentation of the Active Sitting method, which is a system of easy exercises and techniques that can be performed at home or at work, offering practical solutions for physical and emotional balance that are easy to apply even in the busiest schedules.
Farm games for children and adults with competitive spirit in challenging duels to solve farming tasks – an adventure with a sense of battle and techniques from the farmer’s everyday life.
With a gesture to nature– releasing of rescued wild birds.
Dog competition “Beauty and character”.
Musical evenings in two unforgettable concerts with a place for music and experience! The meadow of Uzana came alive, dancing, melodious through shared emotion in sound, senses and soul!
Forest Zone – encounters with the forest and its inhabitants A place that offered new knowledge about plants and trees, their conservation and their enormous importance in life on Earth, and a horse riding school.
Sports Zone – two tournaments – football and volleyball, as well as a rope jumping competition.
Cheers Zone – delicious food prepared according to tried and tested recipes Traditional Bulgarian cuisine was complemented by delicious vegan and vegetarian food, rich in healthy ingredients and herbs.
New initiatives and surprises in 2025
For the first time, the festival hosted a dry stone masonry competition for non-professionals – a traditional craft that has combined functionality, artistry and respect for nature for centuries. Dry stone masonry is a craft with deep roots in Bulgarian lands, in which stones are arranged without any binding material, using only their own shape, weight and mutual adhesion. This technique does not disturb the natural rhythm of the place, but complements it by incorporating an ecological and sustainable application. The craft builds qualities such as willpower, endurance, creativity, critical thinking and a deep connection with nature.
The night hike gave the prepared participants the opportunity to experience the magic of Uzana under the stars.
Uzana Polyana Fest 2025 kept its promise to be a celebration of nature, knowledge, music and
shared emotions!
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