At the Meat and Burger Festival in Leskovac, Serbia

Hello everyone and hello for the first time to all members of the #FestivalMania community.I will write to you about the largest barbecue and gastronomy festival in the Balkans! When I arrived in Leskovac, I knew that the Barbecue Festival was taking place. The event is organized every year at the end of August or the beginning of September and lasts for seven days. The central place of the event is the main town square and the surrounding streets. This year I decided to come and see what everything looks like.By the way, I live near Leskovac, about 40 km away, and the city is located in the south of Serbia.At the entrance to the city center I saw stands and a stage set up. The organizers have prepared a space for restaurateurs and visitors. The caterers were preparing barbecue at the stands. The smell of meat was everywhere. I could see burgers, kebabs, sausages and other dishes. People were shopping and waiting in line. I approached a stall and ordered a burger. I sat down at the table and ate while visitors kept passing by.What attracted the most attention were the piglets and lambs on the spit.

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One part of the event was dedicated to a competition. I saw how the caterers competed in the preparation of meat. Next to them stood a jury that evaluated the taste, technique and serving. After the announcement, the winners received recognition and prizes. I watched as all the participants carefully followed the competition, and the visitors applauded.What attracted me the most was the event when they made a large-sized burger. A team of chefs prepared the meat, placed it on a huge grill and grilled it. When they were finished, they measured the burger. The organizers announced that it was a record and registered it. After measuring, they cut the burger and distributed it to the visitors. I got my share and tried it.

In addition to the food, there was a cultural and entertainment program on stage. I saw a folklore ensemble, musical groups and singers. People stood in front of the stage and watched the performances. Some danced, others just watched. In addition, a play for children was organized at one place. Parents stood on the sidelines while the children participated.During the walk I also saw fairs of wine, brandy, craft products and agricultural goods. At the stands, exhibitors offered visitors to try their products. I approached one of the stands and tried the homemade brandy. On the second one, I saw handicrafts made of wood and leather.

Just as Leskovačka is the best burger in this city, so are the best pepper specialties. Vendors have brought peppers prepared in various ways and fruit jams to their stalls.

What finally caught my attention were the sweets for children and us older ones too. When I was a child, only those sweets were sold. I went back to my childhood.
Especially this honey heart that we bought and gave to the girl I love.

There are magnets that we put on the fridge with the inscription of this event, fairy tales and toys for children. I also saw display cases full of meat products.

As I toured the stands, I thought about how much the event meant to the city. Every café and restaurant was full. People were buying food and drinks, souvenirs and handicrafts. Tourists were asking about accommodation and the sights of Leskovac.As I headed home, I thought about everything I had seen. The barbecue is not only an event with food, but also with competitions, fairs, concerts and gatherings. I know that I will come again in the coming years, because I realized that this event has become part of the identity of Leskovac and has been going on for decades.