Strumica, 26 February 2023 (MIA) - The Strumica carnival procession, including 1,200 participants in 41 groups as well as 300 guests from abroad, set off on Saturday as the carnival's king declared the beginning of the event. 

This year's carnival themes revolved around Strumica corridas, love, music, movie heroes and much more.

Strumica Mayor Kostadin Kostadinov addressed the opening of Saturday's event. 

"Today all roads lead to Strumica, because tonight Strumica is the center of the world. It makes us immensely proud, because we are all loyal to our tradition, because we all preserve the cultural legacy of this city, a legacy on the pedestal of which our Strumica carnival is placed. It is a tradition that has an ancient past of many centuries," Kostadinov said, greeting the carnival-goers from the country and abroad, the representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as government officials. 

A jury panel will have plenty of views on the best carnival costumes, and the audience will crown the best costume in an online vote. 

Strumica carnival celebrations continue on Sunday, on Forgiveness Day (Prochka) with a traditional Children's Carnival, where the young people of Strumica will parade in their costumes.

Photo: MIA