Following its tradition of opening the season with a bang, Bulgarian mountain resort town Bansko is promising that 2008/09 will be just as happening.

The November 29 festivities, organised by Bansko municipality and Ulen Ski School, will see the presence of special guests like downhill skiing stars Hanni Wenzel and Harti Weirather, Andreas Wenzel, the Italian ski racing champion Gustav Thöni, and the five-time World Cup winner Marc Girardelli.

At 12.30pm, there will be a demonstration run down the Alberto Tomba slope by National Demo Team, Ulen Ski School, Ulen Ski Club, the Wenzel brother and sister, Weirather, Thöni and Girardelli. At 4pm, the slope at the base station of Bansko's cabin lift will be home to a concert, in which will perform Bulgarian pop singers Roumunetsa and Enchev, Nora, Toma, Yassen and Denitsa from Music Idol 2. Half an hour later, the season will be officially opened.

The resort's sport calendar, as posted on Bansko's website, for 2008/2009 includes the following events:

December 16 and 17: Cappy Cup, boys' and girls' Alpine skiing
December 18 and 19: Ulen Cub, men's and women's Alpine skiing
February 7 and 8: National Championships for snowboard, all ages
February 17 to 20: National Championships, men's and women's Alpine skiing
February 28 to March 1: Alpine Skiing World Cup, women's downhill and super g
March 6 to 8: National Veterans Championships, men and women
March 26 and 27: National Championships for snowboard, all ages
March 31 to April 1: National Championships, Bansko Cup, men's and women's Alpine skiing
April 4 and 5: Pirin Cup, men's and women's Alpine skiing