Korça is the only municipality in Albania to have a complete overview of events, which can be viewed and downloaded online. We list the annual highlights here.

April: Pottery fair, Blv. Republika by the cathedral. Display and sales of pottery.

May: Sotir International Photography Competition, Vangjush Mio Cultural Centre. Renowned photographers from Albania and abroad exhibit their works.

June 1 celebrations, Rinia Park. A festival for children, with playgrounds and activities such as painting and drawing.

June: Korça Carnival. Nowhere in Albania is carnival celebrated as much as in Korça and this summer event with a parade of local and international groups attracts thousands of visitors.

June/July: Sculptures in the Park, Rinia Park. An international sculpting symposium, which sees the resulting sculptures given to the city for exhibition in Rinia Park.

July: Lakror Pie Festival, Rinia Park. A festival set around the delicious traditional-style lakror or byrek pie. There's live music, a children's programme and lots of pie of course.

August: Beer Fest, near Rinia Park. The biggest event of the year, with tens of thousands of people enjoying beer, traditional food, beer games, music and performances. See also www.festaebirres.com.

September: Car-free day. Experience Korça without the traffic, but with a festive atmosphere.

September 29: Cultural Heritage Day, Korça and Pogradec. A celebration of local culture, with events, special exhibitions of object or heritage places, free admission to museums, and more.

Late October: Vangjush Mio Days. A festival of local and international painters, with the city as their muse and inspiration for 4 days.

December: End of year fair. Korça is decorated with twinkling lights and a winter fair with stalls selling toys, sweets, baked apples, drinks like mulled wine. There's music and exhibitions too.

Late December: Santa Parade. Babagjyshi, the Albanian Santa, rides through town in his carriage.