Albania Preparing to Mark Summer Day

Albania will mark on Sunday, March 14, the Summer Day, a pagan festival originally celebrated in the city of Elbasan, central Albania, to mark the end of winter. Lots of cultural events will be held both in Tirana and Elbasan to mark Summer Day, an official holiday for six years now. Thousands of Albanians rush to Tirana and Elbasan on this day attending concerts, carnival parades, packing the main streets and boulevards which are usually traffic-free. The traditional cake symbolizing this festival is called Ballokume.
Celebrations in Tirana will kick off with folklore songs and dances by the Tirana Ensemble and a parade by the City Band across the capital’s main boulevard. Children will also enjoy performances by acrobats and clowns and events organized by the Municipality of Tirana. On Sunday evening, several Albanian and foreign rock bands will perform in a “Rock the Block” concert at the ex-Bllok area in the capital.
The novelty of this year’s celebrations is a parade by 30 models in the “Deshmoret e Kombit” boulevard.
Meanwhile, celebrations in the city of Elbasan, where the Summer Day originates, have already started with concerts by the “Isuf Myzyri” ensemble.
This year’s special hosts in Elbasan will be the Mariachi Imperial de America group, who will give a concert in the city center. The Mariachi music is a lyric style born in Mexico in the 19th century.