Tbilisoba began in 1979 as a way for the city to celebrate its own birthday and the rich diversity of Georgia's regions. The festival's name simply means 'Tbilisi-ness' — it is a celebration of everything that makes the city and the country special. October is chosen because it falls at the end of the grape harvest, which has been a time of celebration in Georgia for thousands of years.
During the festival, the old town becomes one enormous open-air market and stage. Craftspeople from across Georgia set up stalls to sell traditional items: hand-woven carpets, painted wooden toys, jewellery, pottery, churchkhela sweets, and local wines. Every district of Georgia has its own area at the festival, showcasing its own food, music, and costumes.
Performances happen on stages throughout the city all day long: folk dancers in swirling bright costumes, polyphonic choirs, traditional instrument players, and groups performing old regional dances with incredible energy. The Kartuli, Georgia's national dance, is always a highlight — male dancers in black costumes glide across the stage on tiptoe with extraordinary grace while female dancers in flowing white dresses spin slowly beside them.
As evening falls, the festival moves into its most magical phase. The old town's carved wooden balconies are lit up with warm lights, music drifts from every alley, and families sit together at long tables sharing food. The smell of grilling meat, fresh bread, and sweet grape must fills the whole neighbourhood.