TIRANA, Aug. 6 – “Thanks God for Beer, Women and Korà§a.” That’s the slogan organizers have chosen for the ninth edition of the Korà§a Beer Fest, the country’s biggest festival of this kind, held each summer in the southeastern city of Korà§a, known for its serenades and nicknamed the “Paris of Albania.”
Thousands of Albanian and foreign visitors are expected to pack the streets of Korà§a during the five-day festival scheduled to be held from August 12 to 16.
In addition to a wide range of Albanian and foreign beers, this year’s festival will also bring a series of entertainment and cultural events.
“We now offer tourists not only the beer festival, but also five interesting days in the city of Korà§a. 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.
Within 5 days, over 100,000 people visit the festival. The large number of visitors is mostly due to basic festival principles: free entrance, an exceptional music program, and a wide range of foreign and domestic beer brands.
In the 2013 edition, Guns N’ Roses’ lead guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal performed in Korà§a as part of the festival.
Back in 2010, the Albanian Tourism Association handed the Korà§a beer fest the Albanian Tourism Award for promoting tourism in the largest Southeast Albanian city in Korà§a.
Korà§a is also host to the first beer brewed in Albania, the Birra Korà§a. The local brewery produces a Blonde Ale Pilsner and a Dark Pilsner.
Beer Fest, which marks the climax of the tourist season in Korà§a, brings together Albanian and foreign breweries.
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 Korà§a beer festival to an unconditional success. Beer Fest has become, in this manner, a fixed date in calendars, drawing national and international attention.
Korà§a – The Paris of Albania
The historical town of Korà§a, 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 Korà§a. 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. Korà§a 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.
Korà§a 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. Korà§a is also known as the city of festivals, with the Beer and Carnival festivals, as the most popular events.
