Rijeka Carnival 2025 in Croatia

Croatia’s New Year season kicks off with the vibrant Rijeka Carnival, the largest in the country. Since 1982, this event has drawn over 100 music bands and crowds of up to 100,000 when the weather is favorable. The carnival season, known as the “fifth season,” begins on January 17, St. Anthony’s Day, with the carnival flag raising—a tradition that moves to a new city spot each year. Festivities continue for over a month, starting with the Rijeka Carnival Queen Pageant and culminating with the Grand International Carnival Parade, held the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

Children’s Carnival Parade (February 15, 2025)

The Children’s Carnival Parade in Rijeka is a key event in the city's carnival celebrations, taking place a week before the grand International Parade. Young children, often dressed as fairytale characters or imaginative creatures, parade through Rijeka’s Korzo street, accompanied by their teachers or parents. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators and is a joyful spectacle of color and creativity. It symbolizes the future of the carnival tradition, ensuring its continuation for generations to come. The parade’s mix of fantasy and community spirit makes it a beloved occasion for both locals and visitors alike.

International Carnival Parade (March 2, 2025)

The International Carnival Parade in Rijeka is the largest annual event in the Kvarner Bay region, featuring a dazzling procession of hundreds of floats and thousands of masked participants. The parade is organized by local urban groups and associations, with festivities starting at noon in front of City Hall, where the mayor, carnival Queen, and Meštar Toni greet the parading groups. The parade usually concludes around 9 pm, but the celebration continues with the burning of the Pust at Rijeka's harbor. This ritual involves burning a puppet, symbolizing the removal of past year's troubles. The costumes and allegorical floats are a showcase of Rijeka's unique charm, representing both the city's local culture and its global appeal.

Activities

At the Rijeka Carnival, there are several unique activities. The Carnival Snowboard Session showcases snowboarders in a carnival-themed setting while Laughing Days at the Carnival adds humor to the celebrations. The Torpedo Carnival Run features participants racing in creative costumes, and the Night of Crinolines aboard the Marina offers an elegant evening by the harbor. These events bring a mix of excitement, fun, and glamour to the festivities.

History of Rijeka Carnival

About a century ago, Rijeka's carnival was one of the most vibrant in Europe, attracting European aristocracy. However, the modern version of the Rijeka Carnival began its revival in 1982 with just three performing groups: "Lako ćemo," "Pehinarski feštari," and "Halubajski zvončari." It grew steadily over the years, reaching 144 groups by 2001. While the 2008 carnival saw a reduction to 99 groups due to participant limits, it still attracted 150,000 visitors. Today, the Rijeka Carnival is one of Europe's most significant, continuing its centuries-old masking tradition.