Preparations for the New Year concert in Sofia began

Preparations have begun for the New Year's Eve concert “Stage under the Stars”, which as part of the tradition will take place at Alexander Battenberg square in Sofia on December 31.

The concert will be without fireworks and other effects that may cause distress to animals, but there will be a light show and performers for every taste. The festive programme will feature famous Bulgarian musicians and groups. Doni and Neti, the band "Ostava", Ibriyama and his orchestra are just some of the musicians with whom the people in the square will welcome the New Year.

Twelve employees of the Emergency Aid and Prevention Directorate and 200 police officers will take care of the public order during the concert. Traffic on boulevard “Tsar Osvoboditel” will be restricted from 16 o'clock on the 31st of December.

Members of the public in an inadequate condition and unaccompanied minors will not be allowed at the concert.

"There will be a light show and no fireworks. I urge everyone to refrain from using fireworks, because they can be disturbing for dogs, small children, people with disabilities. I think there is no need for such emotions on the festive night," said Nadezhda Bacheva, deputy mayor of Sofia Municipality.

"I hope people have listened to our music hits because they will have to sing them with us. Be very careful with alcohol, you know how bad it is to the human brain. Be healthy and listen to more good music," urged Svilen Noev from the band "Ostava".

"People who are visibly intoxicated will not be admitted to the concert. Those with pyrotechnics and glass cups will not be admitted," stressed Krasimir Dimitrov, director of the Emergency Aid and Prevention Directorate at Sofia Municipality.

"People carrying prohibited items and objects will not be allowed to the concert. I mean pyrotechnics, firearms, cold weapons, glass bottles, perfumes in glass packaging," said Chief Insp. Ivan Georgiev, head of the Mass Events Sector at Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

Those wishing to visit the concert can enter after 19:00 through the six checkpoints. The concert starts at 21:30. Public transport will provide extended hours service.