Traditional events

EVENTS

Traditional events, customs and happenings in Slovenian Istria.
In Slovenian Istria you can attend numerous events, concerts, comic performances, festivals commemorating local patron saints, entertainment and gala events. Let us introduce to you some traditional festivals:

Saltpans Feast

Saltpans Feast takes place at the end of April (the last weekend in April). A new season od salt-taking begins on St. George's Day. We offer you a salt-evening, salt-dinner, a trip to the Piran Fair and a visit to the Saltpans Museum, an afternoon in the spa (salt, fango), St. George procession in Piran and of course a visit to the Saltpans, live music and more.

Internautica

In the first weeks of May, an international boat and nautical equipment fair Internautica takes place in Portorož. It offers the visitors over 8000 square metres of indoor and 20.000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, featuring the exhibits of over 200 companies from Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Germany, as well as other countries, and over 200 vessels at 150 exclusive moorings. The event is accompanied with yachting regattas, a meeting of old-time vehicles, seminars and conferences, as well as with an equisite culinary and enological offer. Do not miss the exhibition of over 100 most prominent trademarks from the nautical and sports world. Every year, the Internautica Fair is visited by more than 10.000 people.

Piran Musical Evenings

The International Festival of Chamber Music entitled Piran Musical Evenings traditionally takes place every summer, in July and August, at the cross-shaped arcade of St. Francis Church in the very heart of the old town of Piran. It is a pleasure for the lovers of chamber music and those who like to attend classical concerts of various performers. You can, for example, listen to Solisti Piranesi Chamber Orchestra, conducted by maestro Primož Novšak, featuring the excellent violinist Anja Bukovec. The festival is organized by Avditorij Portorož.

MIFF Folklore Festival

Since 2003, folklore group Val from Piran has been organizing the MIFF Folkolore Festival. The aim of the festival is to present to the public Mediterranean dances, music, singing and culture. You can enjoy the performances of folklore groups from Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece etc. The festival is an excellent opportunity to establish friendly relations between Mediterranean countries. The festival takes place in the first half of July, usually between the 10th and 16th July, in Piran, on Tartini Square and 1st May Square as well as in Izola and Koper.

Slovenia Open Tenis Tournament

Every year, Slovenia Tennis Association with the help of various sponsors organizes the International Women's Tennis Tournament WTA in Portorož. The tournament takes place in the second half of September on the central stadium with 1600 seats and two side-courts with 300 seats. The tournament is important to establish the position of the players on the WTA list. The competitors are usually women ranking around the 30th place on WTA list.

Tartini Festival

Tartini festival is the international festival of chamber music, dedicated to the memory of the life and spirit of Giuseppe Tartini, a famous classical composer, who was born in Piran. An impressive number of top-quality artistic events contributes to the rich cultural heritage, invariably receiving excellent reviews from international experts. Every year at the end of summer, Slovenian Istria welcomes renowned musicians from all over the world and offers artistic pleasures for every taste – the audience comprising musical experts and lovers of classical music as well as passers-by.

Persimmon Fruit Feast

Persimmon Fruit Feast is a traditional event, organized in November by Solinar Tourist Association from Strunjan. Delicious fruit is exhibited and offered for purchase fresh or in the form of culinary masterpieces. Experts prepare lectures on various subjects, artists put their work on show and prepare a variety of entertaining and cultural events, whereas caterers offer a delicious assortment of typical regional dishes.

The Sea-and-Sun Melodies Festival

This long-running festival at the Slovenian coast differs a great deal from typical music festivals. It is an event where summertime music gives you a taste of the sea and the sun. The organisers and the performers strive to give their performance a wave of special energy, which makes this festival so unique and results in the climax of summer events at the Slovenian Coast.

Festival of the Roses

Istrabenz Life Class Hotels organize the Festival of the Roses called 'Porto Rož'. This is a celebration of roses which in the 13th century gave the name to the best known Slovenian summer tourist resort. The festival takes place in the Grand Hotel Palace, around the hotel and in local inns surrounding the hotels in the centre of Portorož.

Days of the European Cultural Heritage

The basic guidelines of the Days of the European Cultural Heritage are to encourage the public interest in the protection of our cultural heritage as well as to present to the public the idea about a common European space and a common cultural heritage. Today, this event is organised by 48 members of European countries, their number increasing every year. The aim of the Cultural and Natural Heritage Lovers Association 'Anbot' from Piran is to cultivate and promote the cultural heriatge as well as to inform the public about its meaning and importance.

The World Day of Tourism

27th September is the World Day of Tourism. Every year, the General Assembly of the World Tourist Association (WTO) selects a special topic for this day. Every year, many local, regional, and national institutions in Slovenia as well as different associations and schools mark this special day by organizing various tourist events and discussions about tourism.

Maritime Baptism

Neptune's Maritime Baptism continues the sailors' tradition to baptize those members of the ship's crew who had crossed the equator for the first time. This event takes place in September in the town of Piran on the main pier.

Antiques' Fair

Every year, on the fourth Saturday of the month the 'Anbot' Association in Piran organizes a fair of antiques and home crafts. The fair takes place in Župančičeva Street in Piran. It opens at 8 o'clock in the morning and closes at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. Members of the 'Anbot' Association invite you to visit the fair and find some interesting things for your collection as well as taste the local dishes.

Slovenian Film Festival

Slovenian Film Festival is a cultural and business event, a meeting place for filmmakers, film enthusiasts, experts and business partners. This is a four-day annual event with the screening of full-length films, documentaries and short films. It features press conferences, expert and business meetings and concludes with the presentation of Vesna Awards. Vesna symbolizes the strength of the heroine from a legendary film with this title, directed in 1955 by František Čap. This Czech film director presents one of the pillars of Slovenian cinematic history and is a bright example of European cultural connectedness and opennes of the Slovenian film production. The festival brings together the new approach of the younger generation with the tradition of the great names of Slovenian cinematic history, which has always been a part of European cinematic community.

With the Stars Under the Stars – Miss Alpe Adria Contest

This traditional contest is organized by the Misson Agency on 14th August. It takes place on Tartini Square in the centre Piran and is accompanied by numerous appearances of popular musicians and majestic fireworks.

The Golden Drum

The Golden Drum is an annual international advertising festival which takes place in October in Portorož.

The Merry December, The New Year's Eve and the New Year's Afternoon

Every year, the town of Portorož organizes many events for children (Santa Claus Concert, puppet shows, etc.) and for those young at heart (Christmas and New Year's Concert). There is a wide selection of gifts at the stalls. The guests can enjoy the New Year's Eve with music, culinary masterpieces and fireworks in Portorož as well as the New Year's Afternoon at Tartini Square in Piran.

Ex-Tempore Piran

Coast Gallery Piran have been hosting the international painting ex-tempore since 1965 and the international ceramics ex-tempore since 1999. In the beginning of September you can look at the works of art which are exhibited on Tartini Square, in the cross-shaped arcade of the Minorite Monastery and in the Gasspar gallery in Piran as well as in the salt warehouse Monfort in Portorož.