Festivals

Every August, the town of Berd in the mountainous Tavush region holds a festival showcasing the best of its honey and berries, made into homemade products, crafts, and delectable dishes, pastries, sweets, and drinks.  This sweet festival attracts visitors from across the country and abroad, alike. 

Celebrating independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 following the Soviet coup d'état attempt, also known as the August Coup, Independence Day is celebrated with a number of different events around the country, including military displays and political awards events. At varying years, a military parade is held in Republic Square in Yerevan, the capital.

A national tradition and one of the five main holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Grape Blessing Day is a Christian holiday dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The grape blessing is performed after the final liturgy and every present member receives blessed grape to take home. It is a tradition for Armenians not to eat grape that has not been blessed. 

This festival celebrates the dolma, one of Armenia's most beloved traditional dish, and takes place in a different place in the country each year. Dolma is stuffed grape leaves with a variety of fillings, most typically rice, vegetables, and minced meat. At the Dolma Festival, renowned cooks and home cooks alike prepare their signature dolma and participate in a tasting competition. Nearly 60 different types of dolma was presented at the 5th festival. 

Armenia celebrates International Jazz Day in Yerevan where jazz fans and groups across Armenia as well as international artists gather at the Cascade Complex to put on an open-air concert.