In the beginning of September they organised the International Ethno Meetings with a superior gastronomy offer, and with the Fishermen’s Days the bar was raised even higher
After a fine carp from the fork, it is best to drink a bit of good wine, and not water, so the carp wouldn’t think it was eaten by a pig? This joke is told by many in Baranja, with a lot of truth to it. As there are a thousand reasons for a good Graševina, and even more for a delicious fish stew and grilled fish. And if you like all of the above, then the right place for you is – Kopačevo. As Wikipedia explains, the Hungarian name for the village is Kopács, it is located near Osijek and on the very edge of the Kopački Rit Nature Park, full of fruit and vegetable plantations. People have lived here already in the second millennium before the new era and dealt mostly with hunting and fishing.
During the dynamic tourism autumn of Bilje District (with villages Lug, Vardarac, Kozjak , Tikveš and Zlatna Greda), the picturesque Kopačevo, with around five hundred souls, played host to the Fishermen’s Days and friends from all over Slavonia and Baranja and beyond – neighbouring Hungary. One of the countless speakers at the opening said the traditional manifestation taking place for the 19th time needs no promotion. Narrow streets were full of cars and people, guests were many, there were no tickets, but the crowds in front of stands with domestic products, wines, cakes and paprika did not die down for two days. In the beginning of September they organised the International Ethno Meetings with a superior gastronomy offer, and with the Fishermen’s Days the bar was raised even higher.
For Danijela Mihaljević, director of the Bilje District Tourism Board, there was no rest, as there was also a fair of domestic products, a fish cooking contest, but also a bountiful entertainment programme until the early morning hours and much more. The main organiser was the Jelen Kopačevo Hunting Society, helped by KUD Arany Janos Kopačevo, Democratic Union of Croatian Hungarians Kopačevo and Kopačevo Volunteer Firefighters. The main sponsor was Bilje District, with Osijek-Baranja County, Croatian Tourism Board, Democratic Union of Croatian Hungarians, Bilje District Tourism Board and PAN.
“Fishermen’s Days in Kopačevo are a traditional manifestation of presenting the gastronomy offer of a small fishing village, who base their tradition and way of life on fishing. Bilje District prepared many entertainment programmes and performances of cultural artistic societies, especially songs, dances and folk customs of the Hungarian national minority. The basis of the manifestation is the offer of fish specialties and wine, as well as the display of numerous souvenirs, domestic food products and drinks,” said Mihaljević.
Then you all know where to go in the second half of September of 2018? Certainly to the 20th Fishermen’s Days! It will be a veritable festival of fine and healthy fish and an even better meeting of gourmet lovers and those who will become them. The tame Baranja is always there.
