The town of Strakonice is situated in the heart of the Prachen Region - the country always famous for bagpipe playing. The "Prachensky" ensemble with its bagpipe band took up the regional traditions in 1949. This ensemble had held the South Bohemia Festival of Songs and Dances since 1955 and organised the first meeting of Czech and Slovak bagpipers in 1956. Then on the occasion of the 600-year anniversary of foundation of Strakonice in 1967 the first International Bagpipe Festival took place. This was the beginning of a very nice tradition of regular meeting of bagpipers from all over the world.

The festivals had been held every third year in August and since 1992 it has been every second year. The festival is organised by Municipal Culture Centre accredited by the Town of Strakonice and in co-operation with Folk Art Association of the Czech Republic. The festival has become more prestigious by being registered among such organisations as CIOFF and IOV which are part of UNESCO - the folk art and traditions. The festival is accompanied by various events, for example The Old Bohemian Fair or the exhibition of bagpipes in the Museum of the Central Otava Basin.

The participants come from all over the world - especially from the Czech Republic but also from France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Great Britain, Turkey or Georgia for example.