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When to go to Dubrovnik?
Summer is good for swimming and sunbathing; spring and autumn see
fewer visitors but if you can make one of Dubrovnik's festivals
you'll really get to experience local life. Dubrovnik
residents like a good time as much as anyone plus they have a
lively appreciation for music, dancing and celebrating their wonderful
city. Here are some of the best festivals and events
going on each year in Dubrovnik.
January
New Years Eve
Dubrovnik is one of the world's best places to ring in the
New Year. All of Dubrovnik fills Stradun and the side streets to turn
the walled town into one big outdoor party. Croatian pop stars, celebrities,
musicians and entertainers are enlisted to keep the musical beat while
stalls selling fritters, dried figs carob almonds and champagne keep
the revelers fed and watered. Not to be missed.
February
Feast of St Blaise
St Blaise is Dubrovnik's patron saint peering down on the
city from several dozen statues. On February 3 ,
all Dubrovnik turns out to celebrate his feast day. There's a morning
mass to the saint and then a procession of priests and churchgoers
file up Stradun bearing reliquaries of the saint before returning
to the church. Church bells ring and all the town parishes hoist
banners to the Saint. A banner flies from Orlando's Column and
a "Laus" (a well-wishing prayer) is said. White pigeons
are released in front of the Church of St Blaise, candles
are lit. Naturally there is a large lunch. The traditional dish
is macaroni with meat sauce and the special hrostule donuts.
Villagers from the region flock to Dubrovnik and display
their local culture in colorful costumes and folk dances. Look for
special concerts held around Dubrovnik in the week
preceding the Feast and plan to be there on February 2 when many
festivities occur.
Carnival
No sooner has the Feast of St Blaise ended than everyone
starts preparing for Carnival. The festivities culminate during the
three days preceding Ash Wednesday when masked and costumed groups
prowl the old streets singing and dancing. Masked balls are often
organized in private homes but there's always a lot of action on Stradun.
May
Dubrovnik is not to be outdone by Cannes, another city on the sea.
The Dubrovnik International Film Festival is designed
to begin when the French festival ends in May and lasts for four days.
This relatively recent festival showcases both foreign and domestic
films and gives awards at the end. For more information go to the
Dubrovnik International
Film Festival site.
July-August
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival keeps the Old Town
young every summer. Concerts of all sorts take place nearly every
night in venues around town while every place with a stage hosts a
play or two. The most prestigious is the traditional production of
Hamlet staged at Fort Lovrijenac. Heartthrob Goran Visnjic
of "ER" fame once played the brooding prince there.
See the Dubrovnik
Summer Festival website for schedules and tickets.
Related Pages
Dubrovnik Travel
Planner
Dubrovnik
Accommodation
Dubrovnik Sightseeing
Dubrovnik
Nightlife
Dubrovnik
Restaurants
Croatia: When to Go
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