The five-day festival, now in its eighth edition, will bring a series of entertainment and cultural events including international artists such as Adam Clay and Emil Lassaria & Caitlyn as well as an aeronautics competition until August 17.
TIRANA, Aug. 13 – Thousands of Albanian and foreign tourists packed the streets of Kor衬 southeastern Albania, this week as the country’s biggest beer festival kicked off in the city of serenades, also known as the “Paris of Albania.”
The five-day festival, now in its eighth edition, will bring a series of entertainment and cultural events including international artists such as Adam Clay and Emil Lassaria & Caitlyn as well as an aeronautics competition until August 17.
“We now offer tourists not only the beer festival, but also five interesting days in the city of Kor衮 They can visit all museums for free even outside normal hours. Tourists will also have the opportunity to visit exhibitions and be part of an aeronautics championship,” organizers say.
Some 100,000 people are expected to visit the festival during its five days. The large number of visitors is mostly a result of the festival’s basic principles which include free entrance, an exceptional music program, and a wide range of foreign and domestic beer brands.
In last year’s edition, Guns N’ Roses’ lead guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal performed in Kor衠as part of the festival.
Back in 2010, the Albanian Tourism Association handed the Kor衠beer fest the Albanian Tourism Award for promoting tourism in the largest Southeast Albanian city in Kor衮
Kor衠is also host to the first beer brewed in Albania, the Birra Kor衮 The local brewery produces a Blonde Ale Pilsner and a Dark Pilsner.
Beer Fest, which marks the climax of the tourist season in Kor衬 brings together Albanian and foreign breweries.
Last year’s motto of the Kor衠beer fest was “In August all roads lead you to Kor衮” The concept for the beer festival began in 2007, and has since developed in all its components. Besides the festival concept and the full package it offers (infrastructure, participation, show, decorative elements, etc), organizers have used a communication and promotion strategy that has directed the Kor衠beer festival to an unconditional success. Beer Fest has become, in this manner, a fixed date in calendars, drawing national and international attention.
Kor衠- The Paris of Albania
The historical town of Kor衬 southeastern Albania, has a well-preserved historical center with cobblestone streets and many surviving villas that were built in the early 20th century, says the Western Balkans Geotourism Mapguide portal about Kor衮 From 1916 – 1920, the town was under French control and eventually it was declared an autonomous region with French support. The continental influence resulted in the construction of neoclassical villas, two famous cinemas and a tradition of photography and art appreciation. Kor衠was known at one point as the “Paris of Albania.” The town is also famous for its Orthodox churches, including the oldest surviving Orthodox church in Albania, the Church of St. Mary in the village of Mborja, 1km away.
Kor衠is home to many museums, including the National Museum of Medieval Art, the National Museum of Archaeology, the Albanian Museum of Education, the Bratko Museum and the Oriental Museum. Kor衠is also known as the city of festivals, with the Beer and Carnival festivals, as the most popular events.
