Good to know
Good to Know
- Batumoba dates shift annually between May and September; confirm current-year dates before planning.
- New Year's Village (Dec 20–Jan 7) is entirely free to enter and walk through; individual food, beverage, and souvenir purchases at market stalls carry separate costs.
- Batumi Boulevard becomes especially charming during the New Year period with light decorations and open-air markets; arrive early for seating at popular viewing spots.
- Shuamtoba (August) is a true regional folk festival with horse racing and wrestling; the 3-hour drive to Beshumi is worth it for visitors seeking authentic Adjarian traditions.
- Batumi Birdwatching Festival (October) is specialized and draws international ornithologists; book accommodation early if visiting during this period.
Events
Batumoba
- Month
- May–September
- Local Name
- ბათუმობა
- Primary Location
- Memed Abashidze Avenue and Europe Square
- Typical Duration Days
- 1
- Notes
- Specific dates vary annually; 2025 held first weekend of May. Features a blend of modern and traditional cultural elements. Multiple sources note autumn 'Gandagana' follow-up festival.
- Description
- Batumi's main civic celebration and cultural festival. Typically held in early May or September (timing varies by year), the event features parades, traditional Georgian and Adjarian music and dance performances, concerts with Georgian musicians, costume performances, exhibitions, photo galleries of Batumi's history, puppet and costume plays, children's games, and local musical group concerts.
New Year Celebrations & New Year's Village
- Month
- December–January
- Local Name
- ახალი წელი
- Primary Location
- Europe Square; Batumi Boulevard
- Typical Duration Days
- 19
- Notes
- Free public celebration. Access to some venues (e.g., Batumi Boulevard gastronomic stalls) may have per-item food/beverage costs. Cable car ride (Argo Cable Car): 25 GEL round trip (~9.50 USD).
- Description
- Extended New Year festivities running December 20 to January 7, centered at Europe Square. Features a 'New Year's Village' with festive decorations, gastronomic and entrepreneurial spaces, children's entertainment, live concerts by local and international performers, traditional Georgian folk performances and music, midnight fireworks display over the Black Sea, and a Christmas concert concluding January 7. New Year's markets sell handmade gifts, traditional Georgian sweets, local wines, mulled wine, and regional food.
Shuamtoba Festival
- Month
- August
- Local Name
- შუამთობა
- Primary Location
- Beshumi village, Upper Adjara
- Typical Duration Days
- 1
- Notes
- Located outside central Batumi but remains significant to the region's cultural calendar. Access requires ~3-hour drive.
- Description
- A traditional Adjarian folk festival held in Beshumi village (Upper Adjara, ~3 hours from central Batumi) on the first weekend of August. Features horse racing and folk music, Georgian wrestling matches, traditional costumes, regional food and wine, and ethnographic displays. Historically starts at midday.
Batumi Birdwatching Festival
- Month
- October
- Local Name
- ზღვის ფრინველების ფესტივალი
- Primary Location
- Various: Chorokhi Delta, Lake Paliastomi, Batumi wetlands/forests
- Typical Duration Days
- 4
- Notes
- Timing varies by year; aligns with peak autumn birding season. Specialized event attracting international participants.
- Description
- An international four-day birdwatching festival in autumn peak season. Attracts experts, volunteers, and enthusiasts for guided field trips to wetlands and forests along the Black Sea coast. Typical program includes lectures and field trips to sites such as Chorokhi Delta and Lake Paliastomi. Now in its 12th year.
Regional Context
Batumi is located in Adjara (Ajara), a region known for vibrant public festivals celebrating local produce, heritage, folk music, dance, handicrafts, and traditional Ajarian cuisine. Annual celebrations take place in various municipalities across the region.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this signature annual events research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Batumi
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.