“Đakovački Vezovi” is one of the oldest and largest folklore events in the region.
The 52nd edition of the “Đakovački Vezovi”, a prestigious folklore festival first held over half a century ago, was opened in Đakovo in Slavonia. The event will conclude on 8 July, reports Lokalni.hr on June 25, 2018.
“Đakovački Vezovi will last for 18 days. We have tried to simplify the programme and reduce it somewhat by excluding certain elements which we thought might not have too much connection with traditional culture and heritage,” said Marin Mandarić, Mayor of Đakovo.
A major addition to the festival is the introduction of the partner country concept. This year, the honour went to Ukraine, which made the festival a part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage initiative. “Ukraine will present its heritage from 3 to 8 July, so the programme on Saturday will be mostly devoted to them,” said Deputy Mayor Robert Francem.
The central part of the festival will start in front of the town cathedral on 6 July, with the play “Here is My Homeland”, written by Mirko Ćurić. The festival will end on 8 July with the programme “Slavonia, the Noble Land”, when the most beautiful folk costumes will be selected.
The church singing programme will be held on 29 June in front of the cathedral.
More than 60 folklore groups from Croatia, Ukraine, United States, Australia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, about thirty horsemen and about 40 carriages are expected to take part in the main festival procession on 8 July.
The festival is accompanied by several related events, such as Bonavita, Đakovački Rezovi, a classic car exhibition, concerts, Gastrofest.
“Đakovački Vezovi is a top event. I would even go so far as to say that we have entered the ranks of elite events in Croatia. I think there are no titles or prizes in Croatia which Vezovi has not won,” said Marija Burek, the director of the Đakovo Town Tourist Board.
She added that events are expected to be attended by about 100,000 visitors in total. The festival’s concert venue will host the concerts of various tamburitza bands, Jasmin Stavros, Pravila Igre, Vigor, Hladno Pivo, Radio Luxembourg, and many other acts.
Translated from Lokalni.hr (reported by Suzana Lepan Štefančić).
