Best in Class Festivals to Join

The “race” is often a comical scene of rowdy spectators cheering riders as they try to coax and pull their stubborn donkeys to compete, or of donkeys suddenly taking off and leaving their rider on the ground behind them.

Riders dress in traditional folk costume and must have been born in Tribunj to qualify for the ride. The race, which has been held since the 1950s, is now organized by Croatian Donkey, which runs a donkey refuge on a nearby uninhabited island.

3. The Sinjska Alka, a knights' tournament in Sinj

Held the first weekend in August that includes a Sunday, the Sinjska Alka Nights' Tournament takes place in Sinj, in the Dalmatian hinterlands. During the tournament, knights, called alkari, ride their horses at full speed and attempt to hit the inside of a hanging ring with their spears.

The Sinjska Alka commemorates an event in the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War when a grossly outnumbered army of Sinj townsmen held off 60,000 invading Ottomans. Rich in history, elaborate costumes and closely observed ceremony, it is the last remaining medieval knights’ tournament in Croatia.

4. Spring procession of Ljelje / Kraljice in Gorjani

The spring procession of Ljelje / Kraljice takes place every year on Pentecost Sunday in the town of Gorjani in the northeastern Slavonia region. The young women (ljelje) of the town dress as queens (kraljice) or kings (kraljevi) and walk house to house in procession, accompanied by singers and musicians. The kings are dressed in elaborate fall hats covered with flowers and jewelry. The queens also wear elaborate costumes but wear white garlands instead of hats.

The history of the spring procession may relate to a story from the Croatian-Ottoman wars, when the women of Gorjani allegedly reclaimed their captured men from the Turks.

The festival in his honor has taken place since at least the 12th century. Tens of thousands of locals and visitors attend the festivity, the high point of which is a procession with the gilded statue of St. Blaise and relics of the saint. These are paraded around the city, accompanied by young women in elaborate folk costumes, as well as costumed flagbearers. At the end of the procession, a corps of soldiers fire powder muskets over the harbor to chase enemies away from the city.

In the evening, the entire old town of Dubrovnik takes on a party atmosphere, with music, dancing, flag-waving, feasting and an orange-throwing fight.

The Festival of Dalmatian Klapas draws performing groups from across Dalmatia to sing, compete and share the cultural heritage of Klapa. A form of a cappella singing, Klapa is homophonic, with all voices singing the same melody in harmony.

Klapa songs are usually about love or lost love, the beauty of one’s homeland or yearning for home. Once a dying tradition, Klapa has experienced a resurgence of interest among younger performers who are keeping the art form alive.

8. Zagreb International Folklore Festival

Held over five days in July, the Zagreb International Folklore Festival celebrates the rich Croatian traditions of folk singing, dancing and instrumental performance.

At least 30 groups from all regions of Croatia perform during the festival, which also features folk performers from around the world. Artists wear the traditional costumes of their region or country and offer visitors the chance to learn about and appreciate often obscure folk music.

Performances, most of which are free, are held in squares, churches, theaters and concert halls across the city, with each day being packed with events.

9. Carnival in Rijeka

Among the most important events on the Croatian festival calendar is the Rijeka Carnival, one of the biggest Carnival celebrations in Europe.

The weeks-long event always begins on January 17 and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, with the ceremonial burning of Pust, a puppet that represents all the bad things about the previous year. The weeks of Rijeka Carnival are marked by parades, private parties, masked balls and informal block parties.