Varaždin also holds a reputation as a town of festivals. Although a name which seems unusual, it is based on facts. Almost every month (and even more often during summer), Varaždin hosts a quality festival that further enriches the lively and copious cultural offer of the town.
LAUGHTER WEEK of the Kerekesh Theatre
Laughter Week is the most visited, witty, and most entertaining theatre festival in Croatia. Over ten days, dozens of comedy performances take place on the stages of Varaždin and a number of surrounding towns and villages, with a beneficial effect not only enhancing the culture of Varaždin, but also on the mental health of anyone indulging in this bout of laughter.
INTERNATIONAL SOUND AND FILM MUSIC FESTIVAL
In addition to animated film, Varaždin is also, in May, a centre of outstanding film music and the magic of sound that gives film emotion, rhythm, and recognizability. The festival brings together authors, professionals, and audiences from all over the world and, as the leading and largest festival of its kind in terms of the number of submitted films, represents an excellent platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and contemporary trends. With its international significance and rich programme, it further enriches the cultural life of the city, confirming Varaždin as a destination where art is lived and celebrated.
The Varaždin International Animated Film Festival for Children and Youth is the only Croatian festival dedicated exclusively to the creativity of children and youth when it comes to animated films. During the festival, animated films by animators under 18 from all over the world compete for the VAFI award. Moreover, numerous events are organised with a partner country every year, such as workshops, lectures, accompanying screenings of animated films, and exhibitions in the historic town centre.
KVART festival is one of the largest open-air music events in northern Croatia, which has been gathering millennials and the genZ generation in the industrial setting of the old Varteks factory since 2019. Some of the most famous names on the regional scene have built their careers on its stage, and for many, KVART was their first Varaždin gig. In addition to concerts, the festival also offers a rich accompanying content, from silent parties and karaoke to workshops and creative exhibitions. KVART is not only a musical event, but also a social event that connects the community, encourages creativity and opens up a space for the exchange of ideas through its conference program.
On the last weekend in June, Varaždin’s courtyards, often private and often secretive, open their doors so that they can be filled with a diverse, creative and relaxing program of the Festival dedicated especially to them.
A whole range of old, romantic courtyards in the historic centre host concerts, workshops, fashion shows, plays, flea markets, and much more. The Courtyard Festival is held in the midst of the Summer in Varaždin, which includes a plethora of day and night events.
The Varaždin Biergarten traditionally turns the start of summer into an unforgettable beer adventure! As the most visited and most recognizable beer festival in northwestern Croatia, it offers a perfect blend of relaxation in the greenery of the Old Town, with a rich selection of more than 100 types of beer and top-quality urban music. It’s a beloved gathering that brings together friends, beer enthusiasts eager to discover new flavors, daring athletes running the Beer Mile, fans of pub quizzes and karaoke nights — and above all, lovers of great fun.
The first certified international folklore festival in northwestern Croatia brings to Varaždin and its surroundings the songs and dances of folk ensembles from almost every corner of the world. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of folkloric diversity through magnificent traditional costumes, authentic dances, and traditional instruments. COFA celebrates the world’s intangible cultural heritage while presenting Varaždin as a city that proudly preserves and nurtures its own cultural legacy.
There is widespread belief that summers inland lack excitement and fun. We can’t comment on other towns, but Varaždin certainly isn’t lacking in these areas. From early June until the beginning of Špancirfest, “small Špancirfest”, also known as the Summer in Varaždin, takes place. Concerts, open-air theatre performances, an outdoor cinema, various gastronomic events, as well as a number of other cultural and entertainment events create a real warm buzz that fills Varaždin’s summer schedule.
ŠPANCIRFEST
The king of all Varaždin and Croatian festivals, Špancirfest, has become synonymous with its hometown. In just over two decades of existence, Špancirfest has become a true institution, a festival that has no equal in Croatia in terms of its programmatic richness, length of duration, number of visitors, and immense joy.
All year round, the people of Varaždin look forward to the last ten days of August. During the festival days, the streets team with people as dozens of concerts, performances by street performers, plays, exhibitions, workshops, and countless other events in town pull in over 200,000 visitors.
As soon as we recover from Špancirfest, we are suddenly immersed in the atmosphere of the craziest film festival in Croatia. The Trash Film Festival celebrates the infinitely creative culture of serious amateur film making, with small budgets – yet great achievements. Every year, the festival revolves around a theme, as well as an accompanying programme full of music, lectures, workshops, and trash parties.
VARAŽDIN BAROQUE EVENINGS
The oldest, most famous and most significant Croatian classical music festival is the main cultural event in Varaždin in early autumn. Dedicated to baroque music – the golden age when some of the world’s greatest composers created their works, the festival is largely held in above-ground Varaždin churches and at other historical sites with good acoustics, both in Varaždin and further afield.
Even if you are not a fan of classical music, you will definitely find something appealing at this festival. Baroque evenings also have an accompanying programme called Total baroque, with non-classical concerts and other events, such as exhibitions, literary promotional events and poetry recitals.
VARAŽDIN CHRISTMAS MARKET
The Varaždin Advent Festival could also be called “Advent as it used to be”. The only problem is that there used to be no such interesting and program-filled events. However, in the sea of Advent festivals across Croatia, the Varaždin one tries to be romantic, diverse, but not overly massive. With a series of concerts and other events, winter-decorated and street-style selfie spots, and tempting smells from numerous gastropubs, Advent in Varaždin is at its core a romantic event, without unbearable crowds, tailored for intimate enjoyment and relaxation in the beauties of winter Varaždin.
Varaždin is one of the few cities in the entire world that welcomes in the new year – running. Those who take part in the race claim that there is no better feeling than running accompanied by such joy and noise. If you love running, or if you wonder why others do it – experience Varaždin’s New Year’s Eve race at least once. Those who participate in the race claim that there is no better feeling than running accompanied by joy and noise. If you are a fan of running, or are just curious about why someone does it, you should experience the Varaždin New Year’s Eve running event at least once.
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