Summer Guide to Music and Dance Festivals in Croatia

Song and dance are a rich part of Croatian culture and history, and summer is a good time to be attending some of the country’s top local musical performances. From traditional folk to contemporary pop, there is something to suit every taste!

Travel plans should be made early for travel in the high season, to ensure your desired flights can be secured. When booking your accommodations in Croatia, resorts from our portfolio offer a convenient home base from which to explore many music and dance festivals located in cities all over the country. Following are some of the musical events you may want to consider experiencing during your stay.

Folk

For three days in June, the town of Slavonski Brod hosts a colourful, camaraderie-filled celebration that gathers musicians and performers from across the region for the Brodsko Kolo Festival. This annual folklore event first began in 1962 and is Croatia’s largest and oldest traditional song and dance festival. The opening performance is held at the local theatre, with the following two days hosting performances at the town’s fortress - an impressive structure built in the late 18th century.

If you happen to be visiting in the fall, consider attending the Vinkovacke Jeseni Festival, an exciting event of traditional folk dance, music and colourful costumes held every September in the city of Vinkovci.

It is here you will experience the beautiful sounds of the tamburica, a long-necked string instrument similar to a mandolin, and the gaida, a bagpipe often made of goat or sheep hide, both popular in the old-style music of south eastern Europe. This cultural festival was established in celebration of the autumn season, and the reaping of abundance after a summer of hard labour on the farms. Pop

There are several music festivals that take place throughout the country that feature pop, a popular genre of modern music in Croatia. Resorts located close to The Split Festival venue allow easy access to this popular event that features the tunes of Dalmatia.

Evenings of Dalmatian Chansons is held each year in Šibenik at the end of the summer and focuses on the chansons, a lyric-driven musical style. The festival is known for the high quality of songs, and is performed over two evenings.

The coastal city of Zadar features the pop festival called Zadarfest, as well as the Musical Evenings in St. Donatus, which are a series of classical music performances. My team has some amazing properties for your consideration in the Zadar Rivera, which set you in a tranquil spot but close to the excitement of the festival.

Classical

If the classical genre is your preference, you may want to attend the Music Biennale Zagreb, an international festival of contemporary classical music, or the Varaždin Baroque Evenings, featuring baroque style concerts in the city of Varaždin.

The Island of Cres is a lovely spot for travellers to Croatia. Resorts near this island of fine pebble beaches and nature make an ideal vacation destination. Visitors may want to take in the Osor Musical Evenings for some classical, contemporary classical and sometimes electronic beats. Concerts are held in various venues - the main concert hall, the main square and St. Peter’s church. If you want to experience this event on your holiday in Croatia, resorts in Losinj, which is connected to the southern part of Cres by a small bridge, make for great options. They can be booked conveniently through my team at Prestige Holidays.

Rock

Rock music is very popular in Croatia - although less traditional than folk, of course. A couple of festivals you may want to check out are the Urban Fest Osijek, an international festival of urban music held in Osijek in July, and Hartera, a three-day electronic music festival held in June or July of each year in Rijeka, featuring a selection of artists and performers from the region and held in a former paper factory.

John Dixon is an experienced world traveller and the Managing Director of Prestige Holidays. For over 30 years, he has been providing holidays in luxury Croatia resorts, as well as holidays in Bermuda, Sicily and many other destinations around the globe. John tries to visit each of the destinations regularly in order to ensure the quality of his properties, and stay up-to-date about the latest local news and events. He has a taste for the finer things in life and has an interest in arts, history and culture.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.