Wondering Where to Go For a Summer Holiday? Head for the Picturesque Adriatic Coast!
7 minIt is true that the sun, the sea and beaches are the formula for an ideal summer holiday. However, summer events will not only give you an opportunity to truly experience the destination and get a unique and direct insight into the local lifestyle, but will also provide the perfect backdrop for an evening full of fun and relaxation.
Below you will find some of the events scheduled to take place in the most beautiful destinations on the Adriatic coast.
CITY OF DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is a city endowed with beauty, steeped in culture and brimming with tradition. What is more, visitors will be delighted with a number of outdoor concerts and festivals, held in a historic setting right by the sea. There is a variety of events taking place in Dubrovnik throughout the year, but make sure not to miss out on the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the oldest and most famous cultural event in Croatia. It was born in 1950, with the aim of combining its Renaissance and Baroque setting with plays and music performances. The opening ceremony, scheduled for 10 July at 9 pm, will take place in front of the Church of St Blasius. It will feature a play performed by the Festival Drama Ensemble and acting and dance students of the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, the Linđo Folklore Ensemble, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra and a percussion performance by the Percussion Club.
The 72th Summer Festival attendees will be required to present an EU digital certificate as proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test result. The tickets are available online or can be purchased at the venue, two hours before the show. Lasting until 25 August, the Festival will also include the exhibition Fortune Teller (atrium of the Sponza Palace), concerts of the Croatian Radio and Television Choir (atrium of the Rector’s Palace), and performances of the Linđo Ensemble (in front of the Cathedral). Lazareti will host a percussion workshop with Ivana Kuljerić Bilić, while Fort Lovrijenac will serve as an evocative setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Pick your favourites among 63 performances taking place at 13 different venues during 47 days, and take your holiday to a whole different level!
MAKARSKA
The Makarska Summer of Culture is a summer event taking place at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain. It will feature both traditional and contemporary music and theatre performances, so get ready to hear Natali Dizdar, Crvena jabuka, Nina Badrić, Parni valjak and Mostar sevdah reunion. The stage at Kačić Square will welcome the best Croatian klapa singing groups such as Kampanel, Šufit, Rišpet, Berulia, Srdela and many others. Starting from 5 July, a series of classical concerts will feature Hana Vlaho on piano, Borna Augustinović on marimba, Stipan Popović on guitar and Kenk Kalebić on mandolin. The concerts will take place in the old Franciscan church from 9 pm. The festival will also include performances by the folklore ensemble Tampet, the Điger band and the city choir. Be sure to visit the famous fishermen’s fiesta to enjoy fish specialities, Dalmatian music and traditional games. The first one is scheduled for 8 pm on 8 July in Pliščevac.
ISLAND OF HVAR
The sunniest Croatian island is surely among top summer destinations not only because of its stunning nature and beautiful beaches, but also its cultural heritage and tourism offer. Hvar’s sunny summers see a host of sports and cultural events, such as the 60th Hvar Summer Festival. As one of the oldest summer festivals in the Adriatic aiming to preserve rich local heritage, it features a variety of music and theatre performances held at historic locations. Festival visitors will get to enjoy Streetcar Named Desire by the Marin Držić Theatre ensemble on Veneranda’s summer stage. Tihomir Hojsak on double bass and Filip Novosel on tambura will perform on 15 July, while the Trio Elogio guitar trio will hit the stage on 29 July at 9.30 pm.
The unique Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje is a great opportunity to learn more about how to grow lavender, and make lavender oil and related products. The two-day festival kicks off in the early morning of 9 July with a traditional lavender harvest, a workshop on how to build a dry-stone wall and an exhibition of lavender products. The 13th Lavender Festival will also feature photo exhibitions, lectures, workshops and an evening music programme: on Friday it will welcome Klapa Frecija and DJ DD, and on Saturday (10 July) Tonks & aSrtemia and DJ Dupli. Make sure to visit the Hvar Guide application for more information about local events, gastronomy, beaches and culture.
ISLAND OF RAB
Rab is a perfect place not only for those who appreciate nature and authentic island atmosphere, but also for music lovers. Starting on Thursday, 8 July, Rab Musical Evenings will include a series of classical music concerts held at the Church of the Holy Cross, near the Church of St John the Evangelist and at the town’s cinema. Set up by the Rab Open University as early as 1985, it features renowned musicians from Croatia and abroad. You should also make sure to visit Rabska fjera, the biggest medieval-style summer festival held in honour of King Louis the Great and St Christopher.
If you visit Rab from 25 to 27 July, you will get to hear music on every corner, enjoy the smells of traditional dishes and see a crossbow tournament. The first knights’ games, held in 1364, were brought back to life in 1995 with the founding of the Association of Rab Crossbowmen, when the medieval costumes were also restored. Visitors will also get to see how trouser belts or pomade jars used to be made, or how to decorate your hair with small flowers like they used to do in the Middle Ages.
ISLAND OF KRK
The island’s charm lies not only in its thousand-year-old monuments, museums and galleries, but also in its unique places and people. Krk is a perfect choice if you long for a relaxed, but also active and fun summer holiday. So get ready for the BeatPoint electronic music festival on Medane beach in Punat. This treat for all fans of electronic music begins on 16 July, and tickets are available at the festival’s internet site. Moreover, The 65th Summer Events that will last until 23 August will be offering a combination of music and theatre performances, exhibitions and literary events in memory of musicologist Nikola Udina Algarotti. This year’s programme is going to be a time travel through the history of music – a presentation of individual music eras (Baroque and musical genres of the 19th and 20th century) with a modern, even experimental take on the classical pieces.
The Croatian Guitar Quartet will hold a Baroque music concert on 15 July, whereas on 22 July the chamber music ensemble Harlequin Art Collective will be performing specially arranged pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach. Audiences are also in for a Sevdah music performance by famous Božo Vrećo, while Ana Rucner, Matej Meštrović and Borna Šercar will hit the stage on 18 August to perform the world’s top classics and evergreens. The tickets for music, theatre and literary events can be bought, and those for free-of-charge music events collected, at the sales point within the Decumanus Gallery. Be sure to visit the attractive open-air song and dance festival MusiCool Fest on 8 July. The programme is free of charge and will be held with strict adherence to all prescribed epidemiological measures, so a maximum of 100 seats will be available.
THE TOWN OF POREČ
The classical music festival Concerts in Euphrasiana that has been held for 59 years in the Euphrasian Basilica is a real treat for both local and foreign guests. It offers top artistic performances, while at the same time honouring the cultural heritage. The Istrian Parliament will be hosting a contemporary arts exhibition, and from 14 July you can chill out to the easy rhythm of Jazz music at Lapidarium café.
A small fishermen’s village of Vrsar near Poreč is perfect for taking a walk with Casanova and exploring the hidden gems of the old town and secret corners visited by the world’s famous lover. Straight across the Lim Channel you can enjoy the procession of Batana boats with lanterns and a dinner at Matika spacio (an authentic Rovinj tavern). They depart at 7.30 pm on 6 July from a small pier near the town’s main square, and sail by the stunning old town to Matika spacio where guests will enjoy a traditional dinner with fish specialities.
As of 17 July, the largest city of the Istria County will host the 68th Pula Film Festival, the oldest one in Croatia. It nurtures and promotes the artistic values of modern Croatian and international film. It will last for eight days, and will also feature numerous unique themed events and retrospectives. On 16 July, the Ulysses Theatre on the Brijuni Islands near Pula opens its 21st season of plays with a concert by Rade Šerbedžija & Zapadni kolodvor. At the heart of Brtonigla you can enjoy romantic and fun evenings within the Brtonigla Music Nights, held each Tuesday from 13 July to 17 August, and treat your palate to spectacular delicacies offered at the Food & Wine restaurant while listening to some great music.
RABAC
The coast of the Kvarner Bay will be home to the Street Music Festival as of 7 July, and you’re welcome to enjoy performances that will be taking place each Wednesday for two months, in four locations on Rabac’s most beautiful seaside promenade. The nearby Labin offers night sightseeing tours as of 6 July, which is a perfect opportunity to experience the town from a completely different perspective. The guided tours are free of charge, and reservations need to be made in advance.
The MOLI Festival within the Labin Art Republic will feature short theatre plays every Thursday until 29 July on the stage by the fountain on the main square. The legendary actor Tarik Filipović will perform a comedy show titled Ćiro, the Tvornica lutaka puppet theatre will cheer up the youngest with the Hedgehog’s Home show, while another play for children will be put on by the Zagreb theatre Mala Scena. All events are free of charge, and tickets will be available at the Tourist Information Centre in the Old Town of Labin. The Classical Summer that starts at 9 pm on 7 July in front of the Labin National Museum offers Baroque music performances by the Musica Viva ensemble. Rabac and Labin will also host numerous exhibitions, and sports and educational programmes.
The majority of above events will take place in the open air, with strict adherence to the prescribed epidemiological measures. So pick an event to your liking, relax and enjoy the beautiful summer on the Adriatic coast. For detailed information about the events throughout Croatia visit the website of the Croatian National Tourist Board, while an updated list of epidemiological measures in place is available on our official website.
