From 23 to 26 May, 2024, Bukhara will host the annual Silk and Spices Festival. The goal of this festival is to preserve existing cultural heritage in Uzbekistan, with all its specific characteristics and artistic skills, as well as to support local artisans and their crafts, in fields such as gold embroidery, hand weaving, wood carving, carpet weaving, construction, and other fine arts.
The festival program includes performances from traditional bands from different regions of Uzbekistan, traditional games and sports, master classes, tasting sessions featuring plov at Palov Sayli, and a fashion show from young Uzbek designers. A beautiful parade will open the festival and take you back to the Bukhara of centuries ago, when caravans loaded with silk and spices traveled from China to Europe, through mountain passes and empty deserts, stopping only in blooming valleys.
Don’t miss the parade on the first morning of the festival, or the various masterclasses in madrassas and other tourist spots around Bukhara. For sports lovers, the demonstrations at the Ark Fortress are a must, and the evening programs of shows and performances are a great way to rewind after a busy day. Silk and Spices is also a great place to buy souvenirs, as the finest artisans from around Uzbekistan will be at the festival.
The Silk and Spices Festival is organized by Hakimiyat (City Hall) of the Bukhara Region, the Bukhara Regional Branch of Uzbektourism National Company and the Khunarmand Artisans’ Association.
Learn more about the festival here.
