Pernik

Pernik is a town in western Bulgaria, the administrative center of Pernik district and Pernik municipality. Its population is 73,111 people, which makes it the most numerous city in Western Bulgaria after the capital Sofia and ranks it 11th in the country. The city hosts one of the largest festivals in Europe - the international masquerade mummer festival "Surva". In 2009 it was officially declared the European Carnival Capital because of this festival.