Croatia's annual calendar is full of an exciting range of festivals and events. The country’s rich cultural legacy is imprinted in the various events that take place in its cities and towns.
Zagreb’s International folklore festival is held each year in the month of July. It features folk and global music concerts, films and audiovisual presentations and exhibitions. There’s even an ethnographic exhibition that displays traditional Croatian jewelry.
Held in July, Rab’s Medieval Week is an event that brings to life the customs and traditions of the Middle Ages through parades and fairs where people are dressed in period costumes and the festivities continue past midnight.
The town of Zadar switches off the lights on 30th July to celebrate the festival Night of the Full Moon. The whole town takes on a party mood and people are out and celebrating dancing away the night to traditional Croatian music and feasting on fish dishes at the beachside restaurants.
Every year in the beginning of August, the little town of Sali celebrates their summer festival of Donkey Racing fest. The festival begins with a 30 piece Donkey Music Band where young men dressed up in traditional attire visit the mainland Zadar and blow into their ox horns as a symbol to invite people to come and participate in the summer games. The fun begins with a number of sporting competitions including sack races, scooter races and tug-of-war. However, the highlight of the festival is the donkey race.
Held each year in February, this carnival dates back to the 14th century and even now follows most of the original traditions and customs. A costume themed event, it is not surprising to see people dressed up in period costumes of that era and parading down the streets to the sounds of trumpets and drums.
Named after the city of Pag, this winter carnival is held in the months of January and February. The carnival is based on the act of slavery that prevailed during the time of the Turkish rule. It involves a female slave character Robinja (a man dresses up as a woman) who is accompanied by a number of characters and everyone then assembles on the main square where the main act is staged. The plot is about selling the female slave and heated discussions take place where past events are narrated. At the climax, the crowd begins to disappear and the female slave escapes.
This 100 year old annual event attracts spectators from around the world. This international carnival is a combination of the ancient Slavs folklore and bourgeois festivities. The festivities begin with the Carnival Queen Contest and the Opening Ceremony, which is followed by exhibitions, parties and parades and finally culminates in the grand Carnival Parade.