An abundance of events in a magical town
This year’s Advent Poreč offers a variety of events for visitors of all ages and the enchanting Christmas and New Year’s lights and decorations will transform the town’s streets into a fairy-tale setting. You will feel that holiday magic at every turn, with the irresistible aromas of delicious treats and the charming tunes overtaking the town and setting the mood for the perfect advent season. Just like every holiday season, the arrival of Santa Claus on 11 December, accompanied by stilt walkers and the sparkling of Christmas lights, will mark the beginning of the joyful advent set to last until 7 January 2024.
The Matija Gubec Square and Slobode square will be the site of numerous events, including concerts and children’s workshops, winning over your heart with their irresistible charm and warm Christmas spirit. However, the central event is certainly the newest edition of the Princess Ball, taking place on 14 December, which is sure to delight your little ones with its creative workshops and other entertaining activities. That same day, visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy more than a few amazing performances, including performances by the Cambi a cappella group, Croatian singer Marko Tolja and music diva Nina Badrić, as well as the Techno Vikings band, who will entertain you throughout the night – as a part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Valamar Riviera.
The advent programme will also feature concerts by other famous Croatian artists, including Jole, Gustafi, and Nola. You can dance the day and night away to the music of our DJ and band line-up, while the competitive visitors will have the opportunity to show off their trivia knowledge in the PUB quiz taking place on 20 December. Families will be delighted to hear that Advent Poreč also offers plenty of traditional winter activities, such as ice rink skating (equipment rental included) and the little ones will have a blast participating in free programmes designed for kids, such as joyful Christmas-themed plays and workshops.
During the advent, you will not be disappointed by the wide offer of culinary delights available at holiday stands and if you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the free tasting of numerous chocolate and Christmas delicacies taking place on 16 December as part of the Sweet Morning programme. Those looking to capture their meeting with Santa Claus on camera will have the opportunity to do just that on 14, 18, and 26 December, as well as on 2 January, at the photopoint in Santa’s House.
The adventure-seeking visitors will be able to show off their skills at the Advent Race, taking place on 23 December, and in the evening hours of that same day, Žatika Sports Centre will be playing the famous ballet The Nutcracker. This rich daily programme also includes the traditional Christmas Eve Morning gathering with the mayor, a live nativity scene, and many other events.
The Advent programme will be rounded off by the New Year’s Eve celebration on 31 December. The party for the youngest will take place at noon on Matija Gubec Square, which will also host the evening celebration starting at 21:00 with DJ David and his Funky Disco repertoire. The grand finale of the celebration will be on Slobode Square with the concert by the famous Croatian singer Petar Grašo who will perform his timeless hits in front of the gathered crowd. The party will last until the early hours of the first day of 2024.
On 1 January, there will be a repeat of the New Year's Eve programme, this time with The Night Express on Matija Gubec Square. Visitors will be able to indulge in a fun-packed musical and entertainment programme, as well as a rich culinary offer, until 7 January.
