Every year in the second half of March the old aristocratic town of Ruse is a host of one of the oldest international musical festivals in Bulgaria - "March Music Days" (Martenski Muzikalni Dni). It was established in 1961 as a initiative in the frames of the Bulgarian-German cultural cooperation and the contacts between the Ruse Philharmony and musical teams of Berlin Radio. Many national and international institutions like Ministry of Culture, Union of the Bulgarian Composers, Bulgarian National Radio, Bulgarian National Television, British Council, and Goethe Institute help for the organization of this festival.

     One of the most prominent dates in the history of the festival was connected with the visit of D. Shostakovich in 1965 which is one of the greatest cultural events in Bulgaria. Guests of the festival have been Bucharest Philharmony, Moscow Symphonic Orchestra, Sankt Petersburg's Philharmony, London's Junior Symphonic Orchestra and many others. Regular participants in the festival program are famous Bulgarian music teams and artists like Sofia Philharmony, Emil Tabakov, Mincho Minchev, Anna Tomova-Sintova, Vasko Vasilev, etc.

     The festival is one of the most prominent cultural events in the cultural life in Bulgaria in the last 45 years. Since 1999 the festival is a member of the Association of the Bulgarian Festivals – collective member of the European Association of the Festivals.