Top 5 Croatian Events You Cannot Miss This Year

Croatia is an amazingly historical and culturally rich world, with a long list of interesting annual events including Independence Day, Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, numerous film and food festivals and even a Truffle Day. However, we have a few favourite events in Croatia that we think you cannot miss this year.

1. Dubrovnik Summer Festival

It’s a fantasy for travelling romantics – a medieval walled city whose gorgeous forts, palaces, churches and squares are transformed (even for a short time) into a perfect setting for theatre, concerts, ballet, dance, film, comedy and opera.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is commencing this Croatian summer, between 10 July and 25 August, 2018. The festival is recognised as one of Europe’s five most distinguished cultural festivals. This is a great way to explore Croatia with its cultural and innovative riches.

If you arrive in Dubrovnik a day before the opening night, on the 9th of July, you’ll be able to enjoy the Festival’s final rehearsal – the city’s main street Stradun is usually pretty empty on the night before so you can get as close to the stage as you’d like to see the whole thing before the grand opening the next day.

Check out the Summer Festival’s official website for Program updates and make sure to like our Facebook Page – we’ll be keep you up to date with all the exciting events around Croatia and the rest of Europe.

2. Pula Film Festival

It’s time to dress up and mingle this July in Croatia. Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater, known as the Pula arena, since 1954.

Initially knowns as The Festival of Yugoslav Film, it has gone through several name and content changes over the years. Today, in addition to screenings of Croatian films, the festival also regularly offers an international program, as well as various one-off theme programs and retrospectives.

All Croatian films in the arena are screened with English subtitles.

3. The Nights of Diocletian

Split’s premier tourist attraction, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diocletian’s Palace, was built as a retirement home for Roman Emperor Diocletian some 1700 years ago. This is a popular local spot, especially in August and September during the Nights of Diocletian – the dress code is amazing: toga and Roman head pieces, fanfare music sounding from every corner of the palace and drums banging ominously on the streets.

In the week leading up to the event, Split is slowly turned into a Roman city, including daily processions of Roman legions, little Roman workshops springing up around the Old Town and many other exciting satellite events to help teach you the ways of the Romans.

Make sure you check out the event’s updates and tickets release on the website or by liking our Facebook Page – we’ll keep you up to date with all the major events in Croatia and Europe.

4. St. Martin's Day

Wine lovers and makers unite in Croatia for this delicious wine season opening!

St. Martin’s Day is a ritual of wine baptism that has been celebrated since the 17th century in the northern parts of Croatia. Wine lovers gather in the vineyards of their hosts in the middle of November. During the period of the European Autumn weather change, many adjust their diets a little to feel comfortable at lower temperatures with caloric snacks and good wine.

On St Martin’s Day the new wine is blessed …. and everyone drinks it! People prepare typical dishes of their region – and everyone eats, sings, dances and laughs until their cheeks take the colour of red wine.

5. Dubrovnik Winter Festival

If you’ve experienced the amazing Summer Festival in Croatia, it only makes sense to come back for the Winter Festival. The snow isn’t always guaranteed in Croatia in winter, however fun is inevitable.

Ice skating, Christmas Fairytale games, mulled wine, delicious food and gorgeous Christmas lights are only a few festivities awaiting during the Winter Festival in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik Winter Festival and New Year’s Eve Celebration 2018 will commence on the 2nd of December, and slowly quieten down after the 6th of January. There’s no need to stop continuing to explore Croatia, however!

The 2018 program of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival will begin with the lighting of the first Advent candle, followed by the lighting of holiday lights and a performance by Croatian pop singer Gibonni in front of the Church of St. Blaise at 9 pm. Croatian pop singer Jacques Houdek will join the festivities entertaining in December, the tenth annual ˝Cake Party˝ will be held and Dubrovnik Tourist Board will stage a ˝Christmas Fairy Tale˝ on December 16th at 11 am. This is only the very tip of the celebrative iceberg.

Check out all the useful information online and make sure to like our Facebook Page – we’ll keep you up to date with all the major events in Croatia and Europe.

If you’d like more information regarding Croatian Events, please don’t hesitate to contact our team on 1800 242 353.