Six editions, sixteen riddles each. Lots of laughter, lots of rain and sunshine, lots of new stories. If we had to sum up the “Plovdiv Awake” project in a few words, we’d probably choose exactly these.
There are games that gradually take on a life of their own. For us, Plovdiv Awake is one of those. It’s one of our favorite urban quest games because it was precisely with its first large-scale edition in the fall of 2022 that we realized we could show residents and visitors of Plovdiv a different side of the city - through stories, riddles, and curiosity. That’s when one of our missions was born - to encourage people not just to walk past beautiful places, but to actually notice them.
This summer, with the support of the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation, we had the opportunity to present the game in its best version yet. The six events - two each in May, June, and August - showed us that when an idea is approached with care and love, people can feel it.
More Than Just a Game
Over the course of the game’s six editions 33 teams with more than 150 players took part, bringing smiles, enthusiasm, and a desire to discover little-known stories about Plovdiv.
What impressed us most was how many different kinds of people the game brought together. Along the route, you could meet families with children, groups of friends, people from other cities, our regular players, and brand-new participants experiencing urban quest games for the first time. Most teams consisted of four or five people. There was a competitive spirit in everyone.
That’s exactly one of the best aspects of events like this - people who’ve never met before start competing, helping each other, discussing riddles, laughing together, some of them even teaming up or, in the end, exchanging recommendations for future games.
The Rain Couldn’t Dampen Our Curiosity
The May edition had a big surprise in store for us. The weather was quite rainy and it certainly didn’t look like the perfect day for a 3-hour walk around Plovdiv. We’ll admit we were worried that people might just give up, but not only did they not give up - they threw themselves into the adventure with such enthusiasm that we quickly realized just how strong their competitive spirit is. For us, that was a huge compliment. When someone sticks around until the very last riddle - not because they paid for it, but simply because they want to see where the story is going - it means we’ve managed to create something special.
A Game That Continues to Evolve
Although Plovdiv Awake has been around for several years now, we’ve never stopped improving it. Over time, we’ve changed some of the riddles, brought different people onto the team so our loved ones could experience the game from the other side, added new props, and constantly listened carefully to what the participants had to say. In one of the challenges, we even learn new things from the participants themselves every time.
After each final round, we received feedback from the teams. They told us they liked the rhymes in the riddles, that they’d discovered places they’d passed by dozens of times without knowing their stories, that they’d learned new facts about the city and the people who lived here, and that the competitive atmosphere had surprised them. Others admitted to us that the best part was helping each other out with the other teams during the game.
We, of course, had a good laugh at a few particularly funny moments related to navigating the route and the names the participants had chosen for their teams.
Why the Support of the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation Is So Important
A project like this would be hard to pull off without the right partners.
The financial support from the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation allowed us to bring Plovdiv Awake to life exactly as we wanted it to be.
We were able to prepare new props, assemble the right team, provide small gifts and certificates for all participants, and prepare special awards for the top-performing teams over the three months.
Beyond the material support, what remains most valuable to us is the trust. Being part of initiatives that enrich Plovdiv’s cultural life gives us confidence that urban quest games can be not only entertainment but also a tool that inspires people to take a greater interest in the city’s history, notable figures, and heritage.
The Best Feeling
Sometimes, after sleepless nights, long kilometers of field research, hours in front of the screen, and exhaustion, we ask ourselves, “Is it worth it?” And every time the game is over, we get the same answer.
It’s worth it when you see teams coming back again and again.
It’s worth it when brand-new participants experience their first game and, after the finish line, ask when the next one will be.
It’s worth it when families, friends, and strangers start to see Plovdiv through a slightly different lens.
That’s when we say to ourselves: “This is why we do it.”
This Isn’t the End
Although the six editions have come to a close, Plovdiv Awake is far from having said its last word. The game continues with even better props, new ideas we’ve gathered from the participants, and all the lessons we’ve learned together.
For us, this project wasn’t just a series of events. It was proof that when you combine history, curiosity, play, and a love for the city, you create an experience that people remember long after the final riddle.
And if, during these summer games, even one person has started to look at Plovdiv with slightly more awake eyes (haha, pun intended), then we’ve achieved our goal.
We’d like to thank the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation for their trust, all the participants for their enthusiasm and smiles, and everyone who has been a part of Plovdiv Awake over the years.
Until the next adventure!
The six editions of the game were made possible with the support of the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation.