The "Autumn Shoals" festival drew thousands of residents and visitors to Mesambria Square in Nessebar from 16 to 18 October, the municipality said.

The programme had something for all ages: seafood, music and children's games.

Chef Diko Tomchev gave cooking demonstrations with fish recipes, and visitors tasted the dishes on the spot.

Families with children could play "Fishermen", "Full Bucket of Fish" and "Explorers". Mayor Nikolay Dimitrov took part in the children's fish cooking contest.

The stage featured the vocal ensemble "Surprise", the children's dance school at the "Yana Luskova 1905" community centre in Nessebar, children from the "Feda" music school, the "Mesambria" song group, and the folk groups "Bulgarka" and "Makedonka". Mariyana, Samuel and Band, and Sofia Glavopulu and Eros Band gave concerts.

The last day began with "Autumn Rhythm", a concert by the vocal group of the Nessebar children's cultural centre. A dance party with the "Ravdalina" dance group closed the programme.

Mayor Dimitrov called the festival one of the strongest in the municipality's cultural calendar. "The focus is on calm, rest, the joy of being together, seafood and a good mood," he said.

The mayor said autumn cultural, music and food events give people more reasons to visit the town. Such a programme "creates extra reasons to visit the town and widens the chances for tourism outside the traditional summer season," Dimitrov said.

We wrote about the 13th National Fish Festival "Autumn Shoals" on 13 October. The programme was announced then for 16–18 October at Mesambria Square in the Old Town, with fish recipes from chef Diko Tomchev and the children's games "Fishermen", "Full Bucket of Fish" and "Explorers".

The municipality says such events raise interest in local traditions, cultural heritage and Nessebar's seafaring identity. It adds that they also help the tourism sector and local businesses linked to it.