Gabrovo in central Bulgaria, the “Bulgarian capital of humour” as it is known, is getting ready for the oldest carnival in the country.

In the conditions of Covid-19 it will not be taking place, as is the tradition, with a street procession of puppets of celebrities and popular figures in the sphere of politics, or book and film characters. Instead the event will be taking place on the balconies in the town.

The carnival #Gabrovo2020 is open to all people who want to send photographs or videos from 11 to 18 May. There will be prizes for “most carnival terrace”, “best- masked family” etc. The focus this year will be on an online event on the date on which the procession habitually takes place – the third Saturday of the month, 16 May.