Croatia Events

Musical Festival “Golden Strings of Slavonia” - Pozega

The three-day event “Golden Strings of Slavonia” that takes place every third weekend of September at the baroque square of the Holy Trinity in the centre of Pozega is witnessed by around thirty thousand spectators. Every year, on the first day, there is a magnificient “Pozega Grape Picking” with a procession of pickers and folklore exhibitors that displays the centuries-old tradition of grape cultivation and quality wine making in the “Vallis Aurea” (i.e. the Golden Valley)., as this area was named by the Romans due to the natural bounty it is endowed with. Besides festival evenings, there is a selection of the prettiest Šokica, the most authentic folk costume, as well as the interesting “Midnight Concert for Lovers” at the Tekija spring in Pozega, noted since Turkish times. With regard for the tambura as an original Slavonian and Croatian instrument, all of the creativity is directed at sustaining the authenticity with the purpose to promote this kind of music domestically and abroad

Every year, in September, the festival is visited by many guests not only from our country but also abroad. The International Folklore Festival is held each year in Zagreb. It is the greatest European manifestation of its kind. Croatia ranks topmost among european countries by virtue of its picturesque, varied, abundant and characteristic folklore. Folk associations and groups from Croatia that cultivate and display the folk traditions of their home land participate in the Festival, as well as folk associations of Croats who live outside of Croatia and foreign folk ensembles. The traditional folk dances include knightly games (the Sinj “alka”, the Korcula “moreska” - an ancient knightly dance form Korcula that evokes the struggle of the populace with African pirates, the Blato “kumpanija”), as well as picturesque collective dances (the Susak, Pag and Krk “tanec”). The most significant accompanying festivities are associat- ed with fishing, the so-called “fishing nights” that are held in many locations. 
 
Sinjska Alka takes precedence among the traditional Croatian folk games. This heroic game is held every year on the Great Madonna holiday. It represents the victory of the dwellers of Sinj over the Turks.

Djakovo - every year, the Djakovacki Vezovi festival takes place. It is attended by many folk groups from Slavonia.

Vinkovci - the abundant and picturesque tradition and folk heritage is revealed in full glory every year by the Vinkovacke Jeseni (Vinkovci Autumn) festival.

Brodsko Kolo - For more than thirty years, the original folk lore festival “Brodsko Kolo” has been held in Slavonski Brod. The “Brodsko Kolo” festival is a permanent form of nurturing the traditional culture and lively popular creativity, a powerful incentive of the conscious preservation and development of the inherited cultural treasure. Some forty folk associations of the Brod-Posavina county participate in the festival. A significant musical manifestation in Slavonski Brod - the Festival of Patriotic Tamburitza Song, is an occasion for new bands and vocal soloist to affirm themselves, beside renowned ones. It also affords the opportunity to all interested authors of texts with a patriotic slant and composers. The festival takes place in May.

Kanfanar (Istria)

The holiday of St. Jacob falls on the 25th of July, and the “Jakovlje” - a folk festival, is held on the 27th of July. It is an ocassion to hear original Istrian music produced by traditional instruments - the “mih” bagpipe and “rozenice” flutes.

Bale (Istria)

The “Balanjska Night” falls on the first Satruday of October. Visitors can enjoy the festivities and the folk dancing in costumes.