Every year, at the end of January, the evil spirits of winter are driven out of the Bulgarian town of Pernik. 

Amongst the deafening sounds of cowbells, drums, and zurnas and the smell of incense, goat hair, and grilled meat, the Survakars, Kukers, Kukovs, Starci, Babugeri, Jamalars, and Kamilari dance on a backdrop of crumbling socialist tower blocks.

These beasts parade through the town, decorated with towering headdresses made from wings and feathers resembling ASCII Art, the fur of special breeds of long-haired goats, and cow bells that are hundreds of years old and weigh hundreds of KG.

These photos were taken in January 2024 at the XXXI International Festival of Masquerade Games.