As Morski wrties on the 16th of June, 2019, with the traditional raising of the festival’s flag on the square in front of the cathedral of Sv. Jakov in the heart of Šibenik, and the performance of the much loved classic ”The Jungle Book” by Theater Baj Pomorski from Torun in Poland, the 59th International Children’s Festival in Šibenik was officially opened.
It’s interesting to note that back in 1963, the very first of the foreign ensemble in Šibenik was from Poland, giving the prefix ”international” to this Šibenik festival, according to the local news portal ŠibenikIN.
”Welcome to the centuries-old city of Šibenik, one of the most beautiful squares in the world, and the best festival in Croatia. This is something we look forward to every year, because in two weeks the city’s small, narrow streets, stairs and squares will be taken over by children, who will become creators and artists. Let’s hear what they have to say, because we can learn a lot from them!” said Šibenik’s mayor Željko Burić.
The festival’s story began this year with great success even before the opening itself took place. Thanks to the online registration (yes, you read it right, something actually happens online in Croatia) for the first time ever for the festival, and 99 percent of the workshop programs were completed on the very first day of registration.
Some of the workshops will be attended by world-renowned artists from Japan, Italy, and neighbouring Montenegro. Numerous theatrical performances were sold out on the first day
The film program is also very rich, and begins with the screening of the first ever Croatian children’s SciFi movie with the appearance of the film crew.
The artist’s program was enriched by Polish artists with their own graphics. Famous artist Melinda Šefčić will paint the bus station in Šibenik with the kids, as well as the children’s playground on the nearby island of Zlarin. This year, in the name of the environment, there is a distinctive ecological component to the festival, and it’s symbolic that the opening of 2019’s Šibenik Children’s Festival has coincided with World Wind Day.
For two entire weeks, the beautiful and historic Dalmatian city of Šibenik will become the playground of children’s endless creativity and imagination, reminding us all of the need to keep the child within us alive and happy.
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