There's a busy schedule of festivals too. During the first half of January, the Winter Festival of Symphony Music allows the Philharmonic Orchestra to flex its muscles; international virtuosi participate in the prestigious Festival of Chamber Music , held in the courtyard of the Ethnographic Museum in June every odd-numbered year (native ensembles play on until September, and during even-numbered years); and Trakiisko Lyato (Thracian Summer) in August features pop and classical music, as well as folk dancing ensembles from as far away as Egypt, performing in the spectacular surroundings of the Roman theatre - which is also used for staging opera and drama in May and September (coinciding with the fairs).

Although students organize their own discos (including Greek, Turkish and Macedonian events for their respective contingents), the venues change so often that they're strictly by word of mouth and not readily accessible to visitors. A few discos huddle together on ul. Lady Strangford, immediately west of pl. Dzumaya, including the maritime-themed Dive and the Latin-style Karamba , all drawing a trendy, youthful crowd, though there's little to choose between them. Other venues in town include Caligula on Knyaz AleksandA?r I and Morris , north of the river. Over the summer there are also three discos in a building near the rowing lake ( grebnata baza ) in Loven Park, 5km west of the centre, which is a popular hangout. You can get there on bus #5 or #15 but will need to take a taxi back.