Brilliant things to do in Zagreb in November
Your guide to the best happenings, events and things to do this November
There are some great happenings to warm you up in Zagreb this month. Zagreb's Film Festival is a world-class event with heaps of indie screenings, Q&A's with actors and directors, as well as short films and workshops to get involved with. Music is similarly high-profile with a crop of indie talent visiting the capital. Advent kicks off at the end of the month, mustering a level of yuletide-mania to rival Prague, Vienna, and Munich. Get your month off to a good start by reading our list of amazing things to do in Zagreb this November.
RECOMMENDED: more great things to do in Zagreb.
Alexander Calder: The Magic of a Sculptural Movement
A treat for your inner child (or your actual child), this exhibition focuses on the work of American Modernist Alexander Calder – also known as the man who invented the hanging mobile. Calder was the most playful of the great 20th century sculptors, obsessed with movement and theatricality. His mobiles seem to have a life of their own, and watching them as they spin and cast shadows on the walls is joy incarnate.
The Line of Beauty: The Trail of Inspiration
A century of Croatian graphic art, from the vaults of the National Library's Graphic Collection.
Up Close and Personal: War in Croatia
Over 100 images taken during Croatia's War Of Independence are presented in Up Close and Personal: War in Croatia, the first official exhibition at the new Image Of War Photography Museum. The exhibition holds not only the work of professional Croatian, Serb and world-renowned photographers such as Peter Turnley, Dragoljub Zamurović, Ron Haviv, Christopher Morris, Romeo Ibrišević and Matko Biljak, but also photos donated by the public. Alongside the photographs are the testimonies of those who were caught up in the conflict. The exhibition depicts not only the actual conflict and those who took part, but also the aftermath and the people who existed within that environment. Photographs of disturbed and injured participants in the war stand next to those of the distraught and grieving, plus those of children who make a playground in the scorched earth, destruction and rubble.
Zagreb Night Run
10-kilometre night run that takes you through the autumnal streets of Zagreb. Now in its eighth year, the run welcomes local and international participants, with the race setting off at 7pm from the pretty city centre park Zrinjevac. Pre-registration is required.
Zagreb Film Festival
Croatia’s capital plays host to a week of non-stop, high-quality films in one of the city’s biggest cultural events, culminating in the award of the prestigious Golden Prams to filmmakers. There’s really something for everyone here, with current art-house productions, documentaries, retrospectives, and after-show DJ events. Kino Tuškanac , Dokukino KIC, Museum of Contemporary Art and Lauba are just some of the venues where the festival will be held.
Mimika Orchestra
Mimika Orchestra are an extensive ensemble of expert Zagreb-based musicians who combine jazz and classical influences with Balkan folklore. They are an astonishing band in the live arena and present a unique sound that you could not find anywhere else in the world. Their latest album, the fascinating and accomplished 'Divinities Of The Earth And The Waters' is their third and was released in 2018 to justly rave reviews.
Annihilator
Formed in 1984 and still fronted by founding guitarist (and now vocalist) Jeff Waters, Annihilator are one of Canada's biggest ever metal bands and the biggest from within the thrash sub-genre. They have released sixteen studio albums to date with their seventeenth promised at some point in 2019, the band undertaking a huge European tour in winter in support of its promotion.
Mick Harvey & J.P. Shilo with Steve Shelley & Glenn Lewis
For anyone with an interest in outsider music or alternative rock, this concert is simply a must. Australian multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey has been a vital contributor to alternative rock since the mid-'70s, when he was a founding member of legendary bad boys The Birthday Party, alongside Nick Cave. Harvey followed his friend into later band, The Bad Seeds and stayed for 22 years, departing in 2009 to end what had been a 36 year long collaboration. In later years, Mick Harvey's other great collaboration has been with English artist PJ Harvey (no relation). He appeared as a musician on her 'To Bring You My Love' (1995), 'Is This Desire?' (1998) and 'The Hope Six Demolition Project' (2015) albums and he played on and co-produced her 'Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea' (2000) and 'Let England Shake' (2011) albums. He has also toured extensively as a member of PJ Harvey's stunning live band. Having released several solo albums, including 'The Fall And Rise Of Edgar Bourchier And The Horrors Of War' (2018), this concert sees him present a double-header containing two seperate sections. One will see a performance by close collaborator J.P. Shilo (Hungry Ghosts / Rowland S. Howard / The Blackeyed Susans) while the other section of the show will see Harvey draw from his solo material. Joining the pair on stage will be Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and Glenn Lewis (Cambodian Space Project) on bass.
Brit Floyd
Highly acclaimed UK-based Pink Floyd tribute act celebrates 40 years of the Floyd's most famous concept album 'The Wall' by performing the rock opera in its entirety. A semi-autobiographical rock opera by founding Pink Floyd member Roger Waters, The Wall is one of the biggest selling albums of all time and explores at times harrowing themes such as self-imposed isolation, bullying, mental illness and even fascism, albeit viewed through the eyes of a rather precious and privileged global rock star. Though under-credited, a large amount of the album's success and longevity should be attributed to its producer, Bob Ezrin, who also worked extensively with Alice Cooper and produced Croatian duo 2Cellos 2013 album 'In2ition'. The show will feature impressive production and will also feature classic Floyd songs from albums like 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Dark Side of the Moon'.
Interliber
Interliber is the largest literary event in Croatia and is a platform for the promotion of books, writers, reading, science, knowledge and teaching tools. It brings together the most important publishers and book stores in the country and is attended by avid readers and members of a wide variety of teaching faculties. This is the event's 42nd occurrence.