The 13th national fish festival, "Autumn Passages", will run from 16 to 18 October on Mesambria Square in Old Nessebar, Nessebar council, which organises it, said. The square will host concerts, fish dishes, children's games and a cooking contest for three days.

The square was also the centre of the festival in past years.

Mayor Nikolay Dimitrov said the council counts on festivals like this to attract tourists and make the season longer. "Our aim is to show, with a rich cultural programme and food events, that our town offers unique experiences outside the summer months too," he said.

On all three days, local producers will sell Black Sea fish products at stalls. Restaurant owners will serve delicacies, pastry chefs will bring cakes and sweets, and guests can also try a choice of wines.

Three contestants from the music talent show "The Voice of Bulgaria" will perform: Mariyana Dobreva, Samuel Manuelyan and Sofia Glavopulu. The vocal group of the Nessebar Regional Children's Centre and amateur groups from the "Yana Laskova" community centre (chitalishte) in Nessebar and the "Gotse Delchev" centre in Ravda will also take part.

The festival opens on Friday, 16 October, with music from 12:00. At 17:30, the children's vocal group "Surprise", the children's dance school at the "Yana Laskova 1905" chitalishte in Nessebar and children from the "Feda" music school will give a concert. At 19:00, Mariyana Dobreva, Samuel Manuelyan and Band will sing.

On Saturday, 17 October, chef Diko Tomchev, who is a guest at the festival again, will cook fish recipes in front of the audience at 10:00. At 10:30, the youngest children will play "Fishermen", and at 11:00 the children's fish cooking contest with chef Tomchev begins. At 12:30, everyone can try his fish dish.

At 13:30, groups from the "Yana Laskova 1905" chitalishte will give a concert: the choir "Mesambria" and the folk dance groups "Balgarka" and "Makedonka". At 16:00, older children will play "Explorers", and at 19:00 Sofia Glavopulu and Eros Band take the stage.

On Sunday, 18 October, Diko Tomchev will show fish recipes again at 10:00, and at 12:30 there is a tasting of his dish. In between, at 10:30, the youngest children will play "Bucket Full of Fish".

At 13:00, the vocal group of the Nessebar Regional Children's Centre will give the concert "Autumn Rhythm", and at 14:00 older children will play "Fish Experts". The festival ends at 15:00 with a horo dance party with the dance group "Ravdalina".