On June 14, the 47th MacGahan Festival took place in New Lexington, Ohio, honoring the life and legacy of American journalist Januarius MacGahan (1844–1878). As a correspondent for the British newspaper The Daily News, MacGahan exposed the brutal suppression of the April Uprising in Bulgaria in 1876, profoundly shifting public opinion in Britain and across Europe in favor of the Bulgarian cause for liberation.

The festival, organized annually by the American-Bulgarian MacGahan Foundation, brings together members of the Bulgarian and American communities from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The program includes the traditional laying of wreaths and flowers at MacGahan’s grave in the local cemetery and at his monument in the city center—crafted by renowned Bulgarian sculptor Lyubomir Dalchev.

Guests at the event were welcomed by Professor Ivan Ivanov from the Association of Bulgarians in Cincinnati and Consul Boyko Hadjiyski on behalf of the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Chicago. "One honest, compassionate, and courageous American journalist changed the course of history for the Bulgarian nation with his pen and talent, and earned a place in our history books alongside the heroes of the April Uprising. An American from New Lexington, Ohio," said Consul Hadjiyski in his address.

Mayor Trent Thompson of New Lexington also took part in the ceremony, officially proclaiming June 14, 2025, as “Januarius MacGahan Festival Day” and presenting the signed proclamation to representatives of the MacGahan Foundation.

The festival concluded with the announcement of the winners of the annual essay contest on MacGahan’s life and legacy. This year’s honorees included two students from Perry County, Ohio—of which New Lexington is the county seat—and two students from the Bertolt Brecht Language High School in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria. The Bulgarian students introduced themselves through video messages in English, sharing how MacGahan’s story continues to inspire them. George Adams, president of the MacGahan Foundation, read the American students' essays, which were warmly received by the audience.