Welcome to the Rijeka Carnival!
As well as the influence of the Venetian and Austrian civilian carnivals the six century-old carnival tradition of this area is the foundation on which the renewed Rijeka Carnival began to create its characteristic identity back in 1982. Starting with only three domestic carnival groups and around hundred participants it has turned into an international event which today, only during the International Carnival Parade, counts over ten thousand participants from around ten world countries.
The large number of participants and observers in 1995 ensured full membership of the Federation of European Carnival Cities for the Rijeka Carnival and selected it amongst the most important in Europe. The Rijeka Carnival is part of Croatian cultural heritage, the city of Rijeka, Primorsko-goranska County and the Republic of Croatia’s strong tourist trump both within the country and abroad, it is a favourite entertainment and sporting event for citizens of all generations and interests and because of this, is included in the “top 500 European events”, as well as, in 2007, in the 24 most exotic events in the world by the Sunday Times.
The Rijeka Carnival program which starts on 17th January and lasts until Ash-Wednesday gathers more than 20,000 participants and more than 600,000 domestic and foreign visitors. Large media companies watching both nationally and abroad, the occupancy of all accommodation capacities in Rijeka and its surrounding areas and an increased consumption in catering and commercial facilities out of season, have positioned the Rijeka Carnival as the 3rd largest in the world.
Carnival madness begins its ritual with the Rijeka Carnival Queen Pageant and the handover of the town’s keys to the Master of the Carnival. Concerts, exhibitions, shows, masquerades and parties fill the days until the jewel in the crown of the carnival celebrities – the huge masked parade. Competitions in imaginativeness, humour and originality, fireworks of colours and shapes result in a parade of hundreds of allegorical floats, thousands of masks and an uncountable number of observers.
Challenging the weather and space, the Rijeka Carnival is a friendly host for every willing human who is looking for an escape from sullen everyday life in play, laughter and fun.
Be who you want to be. Come to the Rijeka Carnival!!!