The two-day Cherry Festival is one of the signature summer events in Brda, located in the Slovenian Littoral region, stretching from the Italian border to the Soča River. Every June, the festival features a marketplace with local products, culinary experiences, kids' activities, art and cultural exhibits, workshops, and, of course, plenty of cherries. Five villages—Dobrovo, Medana, Kojsko, Hum, and Kozana— joined forces to organize a tribute to the Briška cherry in 2024. Every village is worth exploring for its own special charm and history. Shuttles will be running between villages during the festival weekend.
Festival Highlights
Held in Brda Municipality, every year the Cherry Festival includes many events for each and every taste. There’s a cherry hike—people led by guides conquer the Brda hill, going through villages, vineyards, and cherry orchards. There’s a cycling marathon spanning a 108-kilometer route—participants start in Ljubljana, go down an incredibly picturesque road, and finish in Dobrovo (Brda).
Also, the festival features a Wine Day. On this day, winemakers open their doors and show every visitor their cellars and their best wines. The central part of the festival is the parade of country carts, which demonstrate country life and the traditions of the Brda region. The event closes with a traditional wedding—newlyweds, dressed in traditional costumes, get married according to the ceremonies of the Brda weddings of 1920s.
2024 Program
The festival starts in Dobrovo at 10 am with the Exhibition of cherries, cherry stalls, a Tour of the chapel of St. Anthony of Padua, and Wine tasting (Brda Home of Rebula); the Dance performance (club L'UNITI) starts at 5 pm. In Medana, the program starts at noon. Guests can enjoy shopping at plenty of stalls from local suppliers (homemade lemonade, soft drinks, cherry gin, and tonic, coffee, draft beer, sellers of cherries and other Bric delicacies), DJ music, and Children's corner for the youngest, offering face painting with cherry motifs. Live music is available from 5 to 10 pm. In Kozana, the public can see the Theatrical performance and birthing for children (Zabica Brokolina, Snail Sladkosned And Magical Vililandija, performed by Mishkina theater) at 2 pm, followed by DJ Baromat and a concert by Vocal group QUINQUE vocum.
