Chess lessons, farmers' market and a water quality warning

Novi Pazar is hosting a free chess festival on 5 May in the town's municipal park. The event, organised by the local authority with support from a regional cultural body, begins at 11:00 and runs through the afternoon.

An open lesson starts at 11:20, with prizes for all participants. At noon a grandmaster will give a simultaneous display, playing multiple opponents at once. Entry is free and the festival is open to all ages under the patronage of mayor Georgi Georgiev.

Shumen's farmers' and craft market will set up along the pedestrian stretch of Slavyanski boulevard from 8 to 11 May, running daily between 10:00 and 19:00. Stalls will be positioned between the Regional Administration building and the Flower Market.

Local producers and artisans will sell fresh and traditional food, honey and bee products, dairy and meat delicacies, plus handmade souvenirs, jewellery and crafts in wood, textile and other natural materials. A parallel trade exhibition, 'Bulgarian Goods', will occupy the same zone from the Flower Market to the roundabout at Bulgaria Square (the Russian Monument), showcasing Bulgarian-made products.

Both initiatives are part of the city's festival programme marking Shumen City Day around 11 May.

Water from three public fountains in Veliki Preslav is not recommended for drinking, the Regional Health Inspectorate in Shumen has warned. Laboratory analysis found microbiological contamination at the Kyuntya fountain and the new fountain near Tunela on the Silistra–Shumen first-class road. Water from the Gornata fountain in the Kirkovo district contains elevated nitrates and should not be given to young children.

Water from the Tunela, Radula and ViK fountains, as well as the spring on the road to Dragoevo village, passed all tests. The inspectorate notes that results reflect current conditions and quality can vary with weather, as the sources receive no additional treatment (disinfection).