Time Out Croatia news

Wherever tourism is booming, you’ll surely find a whole host of people selling souvenirs. Often, these little trinkets are cheap junk peddled on unsuspecting tourists. However, in this sea of kitsch, there are those who handcraft unique pieces as a labour of love, and that’s exactly what the Valuable Hands of Zagreb Souvenir Producers aims to promote.From today, May 16, until Sunday May 19, ten local producers of art pieces, decorative household items, jewellery and more will be manning the stands at central Cvjetni trg, for an event that elevates the craft from the cheap. Organised in tandem by the Zagreb Association of Craftsmen and Zagreb Souvenir Producers, the goal of the fair is to highlight and celebrate those who combine their artistic talents with a mastery of their craftsmanship.For example, one souvenir producer – Nocturno – is unique for both its aesthetic and the materials used in producing their pieces. Inspired by steampunk, these one-of-a-kind pieces combine old recycled computer parts and unused gears with classic woodworking techniques to create necklaces, earrings and more, while another produces backpacks and bags made of silk, flax and wool, all adorned with famous Zagreb motifs.There will also be a series of workshops on Saturday (May 18) from noon, where visitors can learn how to make educational toys, silk-painting or play with dough to make cakes and figurines.The fair will be open from 10am to 8pm and is free to enter.Where: Cvjetni trgWhen: May 16-1

From this week, you can explore the Istrian resort of Poreč and its surroundings on two wheels thanks to a series of free guided cycle tours. You can bring your own mountain bike or rent one on-site. Cyclists can choose from a number of trails, through picturesque countryside or tarmac roads, along routes between 20km and 45km long, from five starting points. As well as coastal Poreč, you can set off from Funtana, Tar-Vabriga, Kaštelir or Vižinada. Sights include the observatory at Višnjan, Baredine cave and the Dušan Džamonja sculpture park. The tours are free but you should bring your own water and snacks. Mountain bikes, helmets and other equipment can be rented on-site. Riders must be at least 14 years of age and in reasonable shape. An emergency vehicle will be on hand, just in case. Tours take place every weekday, Mondays through Fridays, until June 28. Reserve your place at least 12 hours in advance on +385 91 604 1713 or through bikecenterporec@gmail.com. See here for more information.

Having come so close to winning Eurovision this weekend, Croatia’s Baby Lasagna has just been confirmed to appear on the opening day of EXIT, the major music festival in the region. Topping the televoting chart well above eventual overall winner Switzerland, the Umag singer came home to a hero’s welcome, performing live to a packed main square in Zagreb. Now Baby Lasagna will be appearing at EXIT, the award-winning event that attracts 200,000 music lovers to the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, northern Serbia. First set up in 2000, EXIT has previously hosted headliners such as Massive Attack, Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys. This year’s line-up also features Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, Black Eyed Peas and Carl Cox. The festival runs from July 10-14, with Baby Lasagna a last-minute entry for the opening Wednesday, an extra day with only the main stage in operation. Ticket prices for each of the main festival days (July 11-14) are an affordable €39 plus booking fee, or it’s €95 for all five days, again as well as a booking fee.

Dutch platinum seller Afrojack, Oz producer/singer Alison Wonderland and dubstep DJ Subtronics are among the top acts just announced for the ULTRA Europe Music Festival in Split over the weekend of July 12-14. Hot on the heels of the initial star names confirmed for the event – Adam Beyer, Boris Brejcha and Martin Garrix – another dozen music masters have cleared their busy summer schedule for this tenth-anniversary celebration of ULTRA Europe. Along with the three already mentioned, added to the bill are Parisian superstar DJ Snake, hot Dutch duo W&W, Dharma Worldwide boss KSHMR, Grammy-nominated melodic bass duo SLANDER and Israeli psytrance act Vini Vici.  Look out, too, for the masked trio of Black Tiger Sex Machine, Italian techno powerhouse Deborah De Luca and Grammy-nominated UK duo CamelPhat. More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the festival, hosted at the Park Mladeži. In addition to the main event, ULTRA Europe is organising a seven-day cruise and island-hopping odyssey, stopping off at old towns, pristine beaches and secluded swimming stops. The package includes VIP tickets for all ULTRA Europe and Destination ULTRA events.  Tier 2 tickets for ULTRA Europe in Split are nearly sold out, with three-day general admission priced at €179, three-day VIP at €389 and one-day VIP at €199. Dearer Tier 3 tickets will be made available soon. ULTRA Europe, Park Mladeži, Split. July 12-14. Tier 2 tickets on sale here.

This weekend in Zagreb offers retro aficionados, design enthusiasts and eco-conscious shoppers three great pop-up opportunities to get their hands on all kinds of alternative and offbeat items. All three are in and around the centre of town, easily accessible by public transport. BRAVO Buvljak – Preradovićeva 34 Operating under the slogan 'Migrating clothes from good to even better hands', the organisers behind the second pop-up BRAVO flea market/garage sale are big believers in circular fashion, where the minimisation of waste is the goal. This Saturday, May 11, at Preradovićeva 34, buyers can find a smattering of springtime clothes offerings (and some other wares too) from 11am to 4pm. Among the collections of clothing items will be high street brands as well as other more classic secondhand items, with the guiding principle being that someone’s forgotten wardrobe fixtures can be another’s golden find. Ful Kul Buvljak – Boogaloo, Vukovarska 68 At the Boogaloo club on May 11, from 10am to 5pm, shoppers can find a whole range of items on sale at cut-rate prices, accompanied by music from DJ Tomi Phantasma at the decks. Here, huge collections of vinyl records, offbeat and secondhand clothing, trinkets, unique dice sets, old books and much more are ready to be browsed in a leisurely atmosphere. This is a recurring event, and its longstanding popularity is proven by the delight its return was met with in 2019 after a years-long hiatus. Five years later, it’s still going strong –

Aiming to increase awareness for the importance of women’s reproductive health, the association SVE za NJU ('All for Her') is once again organising a fundraising race at Zagreb’s Bundek park. Taking place on May 11, the public health initiative 'To nisu samo ženske stvari' ('It’s not just women’s stuff') will offer participants two race distances – 800m and 4km – open to women, men, and children. All money raised will go to the association, which uses the funds for continuing its work, including covering expenses so that affected women can receive psychological support.The run is part of a campaign inspired by World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8), and the organisers have goals wider than simply raising funds. They aim to highlight the importance of regular health check-ups in promoting the crucial role that prevention plays in beating the disease, as well as challenging the idea that the issue is something that only impacts women. In their call for participants, the organisers expressed their desire to see men run the race as their support is important, both in mainstreaming the public health campaign and in practice, where emotional support for women impacted by the diagnosis can go a long way. Where: Bundek park, ZagrebWhen: Saturday, May 11, from 10am For more details, see here.

From August 23-25, three days of Jazz in the Vineyard bring top musicians from around the world to Međimurje for a boutique festival in a unique natural setting. Now in its fourth year, having already attracted 1,500 visitors over the previous three, the event takes place at the very top of Mađerka hill, cascading vineyards around it and a breathtaking view that takes in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia. Bruno Mesarić The music on offer this year is equally striking. Headlining is Yaremi Kordos & Evolution Cuban Jazz, who performed with the Buena Vista Social Club. They are joined on the bill by jazz pianist Borna Pehar. This acclaimed young Croatian will be promoting his first album and plays here with an international band made up of musicians from four countries. Other acts come from Brazil, Belgium, Hungary and Poland, as well as the young members of Jazz Ravne from Slovenia. In addition to the concerts, musicians will be sharing their knowledge at several masterclasses, while visitors can view the exhibition, Portraits – Music in the Picture, in co-operation with a festival from Slovenia, Jazz Ravne. In between shows, DJs such as Ozren Kanceljak and William Collins and others will be keeping the rhythm going. The spotlight will also be given to the festival’s artistic director, a celebrated guitarist and winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award, Ratko Zjača. Bruno Mesarić The surrounding municipality of Štrigova in northern Croatia is deep in wine country, as yet unblemis

A knock-out performance by Croatia’s Baby Lasagna has qualified the singer for the grand Eurovision final in Malmö this Saturday. Wearing a traditional waistcoat and lace to chime with his song’s theme of rural abandonment, the Umag-born artist gave a stirring rendition of his catchy number, Rim Tim Tagi Dim. Despite its absurd title, the tune has serious issues at heart, of how young people are leaving the countryside for a better life. Although a late entry back in January, Rim Tim Tagi Dim won the public vote at Croatia’s national song contest, Dora, by a landslide. Cat-loving Baby Lasagna is now the hot favourite to win the whole event, which is taking place in Sweden exactly half a century after Abba famously won Eurovision. Baby Lasagna is none other than Marko Purišić, who previously appeared at Dora 2019 as a member of the Balkan rock band Manntra. Going solo in 2023, Purišić changed his stage name for reasons unclear. He was one of ten acts selected from the first semi-final in Malmö, with ten more still to qualify. Such is the excitement building around Baby Lasagna that Croatia’s first-ever public viewing party for Eurovision is being set up in Zagreb, at Trg Europe from 8pm this Saturday.

This weekend, the annual Vinistra trade fair marks 30 years of showcasing Istria’s successfully revived wine industry. Featuring more than 120 winegrowers and makers, this three-day event takes place at the Žatica sports hall in Poreč, where oenophiles can sample the best tipples the region has to offer – and meet the producers who create them. As regularly acknowledged by the experts at Decanter magazine, Istria's wines have garnered global acclaim in recent years, the Benvenuti brothers of Motovun claiming three gold medals alone at the most recent awards ceremony. Starting from Friday, May 10, and wrapping up on Sunday, Vinistra also includes a gourmet zone for top-quality Istrian products such as olive oil, grappa, prosciutto, honey and chocolate. Vinistra, Žatica sports hall, Vukovarska 3, 52440 Poreč. May 10-12. Tickets available here.

A Croatian from the town of Tomislavgrad has gone full Viking, building his own ship and setting up an axe-throwing club. Stipe ‘Flick’ Pleić, aka Ragnar Kavurson, also makes swords, jewellery and other handicraft in the style of his revered Vikings. These objects are on display at an exhibition set up at his house in Herzegovina, just over the border from Croatia. Pleić takes his prize axes to fairs across Bosnia-Herzegovina and practises his throwing with his fellow Norse-inspired friends. He also surprised swimmers and anglers when he sailed his replica Viking ship across Buško, a large artificial lake close to Tomislavgrad. Although some of the third series of Netflix hit show Vikings was filmed in Dubrovnik, there is only scant evidence of the actual presence of original Vikings in this part of the world 1,000 years ago.