Tbilisoba Festival

Tbilisoba is the festival that celebrates the diversity and history of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. First held on October 28, 1979, it has become an established tradition, featuring open-air concerts of traditional music and dance and a range of cultural events centered on Old Tbilisi, the city's historic heart.

For the first time in New York, Tbilisoba was held on October 8, 2017, organized by the Georgian Cultural Center "PESVEBI" at Wolf Pond Park on Staten Island. It was an emotional, energetic, and joyful event attended by some 3,000 guests despite the rainy weather, and it has been held every year since — welcoming as many as 5,000 guests in recent years.

The inaugural festival was attended by the Consul General of Georgia, Diana Jgenti; Ari Kagan, representing politician Scott Stringer; a representative of Staten Island City Hall; and various television and radio broadcasters. The popular Georgian TV show "Skhva Rakursi, Gia Jajanidzestan Ertad" covered Tbilisoba from New York to high ratings.

A great concert brought together Georgian, American, Ukrainian, Hebrew, and Moldovan singers and dancers. Participating Georgian ensembles included Mamuli (Philadelphia), Iberielebi (New Jersey), Tovushi (New York), the Georgian Cultural Center "Dancing Crane" (New York), and Pesvebi. Live music was performed by musical director Irakli Beglarashvili, Nikoloz Eliava, Nodar Obolashvili, Giorgi Janiashvili, Irakli Sharadze, Ramaz Sagirashvili, Merab Ebralidze, and Tinatin Narimanidze, with artistic director Ivan Goderdzishvili. Guest singers included Nini Shermadini, Nini Tsiklauri, Anna Kolkhidashvili, Levan Shengelia, Kristi Shushadze, Niko Nadirashvili, Vlad Aramov, and Davit Ambrosidze.

Beyond the stage there were sports competitions in judo, football, and chess; a lottery with valuable prizes; an exhibition of paintings; and handmade items and souvenirs for sale. Georgian restaurants served traditional dishes — Mtskheta, Pirosmani, the Georgian bakery "TONE," Passage, Tamani Food, Mimino, and Natakhtari lemonade.

The festival has been co-organized with many partners over the years, including the Diana Bagrationi Foundation, VK Studios, HCS Homecare, Mount Sinai, Alliance Highline, Maia's Travel, Georgian Country Wine, GCH Logistics, the Georgian magazine "Mamuli," NVC Limo NY, TVOYO TV, and the Georgian Union.

The tradition was brought to New York to share Georgian culture with the American community and to bring Georgians together to meet, reconnect, and make new friends. Each year the hope is that more people will join — growing well beyond those first 3,000 guests. The festival has been held at Staten Island venues including Wolf Pond Park and Midland Beach, and in Brooklyn.