July the 5th, 2025 – Thompson is set to have his record breaking concert in mere days. Here’s how you can avoid the dizzying Zagreb crowds on July the 5th.
The asphalt’s sizzling, your navigation app is in meltdown mode hunting for a parking spot, and the only “chilled” refreshments in sight are barely lukewarm water or a warm beer. The air is thick with sweat and excitement, and you’ve got more uninvited company underfoot than a tramvaj at rush hour. But if you’re from the east of Croatia, you’re used to a whole other rhythm to summer. As Gloria writes, the above description, therefore, does not appeal to the true hedonist.
Ako ne znaš šta je vino, nek’ ti kaže dika – let them tell you all about wine
Enter Slavonia and Baranja: the antidote to the summer frenzy.
Osijek moves at a slower, easier, much smoother pace. Summer in Slavonia and Baranja doesn’t thunder under spotlights but hums under shady canopies. And on the crazy weekend of July 4 and 5, the King Tomislav park is hosting the second, doubled-up Evening of Wine & Art. This is Osijek’s go-to answer to the question of where to go when you’ve just about had enough.
With the tunes of Fluentes, the Dino Dvornik Tribute Band, Vanja & Nešvil Funk, plus art installations, exhibitions, performances, the best of local food, and fine wines from Slavonian and Danube winemakers — you’ll drift from stand‑still stress to wine‑sipping nirvana.
No traffic jams. No porta‑potty queues. No sweaty mosh‑pit front rows — just you, a song, and the perfect pour. And if you’re stumbling over what “summer wine” means, “let the old dika tell you.” Though there hasn’t been an ice harvest this year for that super chilled wine, the crisp, top‑notch Graševina is perfectly refreshing. To cool down after a night in the park, take the plunge at Osijek’s famous Copacabana beach — whether it’s in the sandy Drava river bed or the newly renovated pools.
A meni tako dođe, nakon čaše vina, da vas pitam – jeste bili i na Vezovima – After a glass of wine, the question will inevitably arise: have you been to Đakovački Vezovi
In Đakovo, tradition takes center stage at its 59th edition. Everyone’s welcome as long as you’re hungry and curious to learn about it all. On Friday, July 4, the city becomes a folklore showcase: horse carriages, tambura bands, lavish costumes that look Photoshopped — except they were embroidered by grandma 50 years ago. Expect a parade, arts fair, gold‑thread embroidery, Lipizzaner horses, and lots and lots of local food — all sans wristbands, tap‑to‑enter nonsense, or security directing your two‑meter shuffle.
A Grand Finale Worthy of Thompson-Level Drama
On Sunday morning, witness a joyful and festive international costume parade against the backdrop of one of Europe’s most stunning cathedrals. And the lineup? Over seventeen days of festival magic you’ll see highlights like the legends that are Slavonske Lole on Friday and Cubismo on Saturday, while Miroslav Škoro is heading the grand finale on Sunday.
All in all, weekends in the east may bring small crowds — around wine stands and tambura stages — but your biggest stress? Maybe losing the last glass of cold rosé or agonizing over whether to pick fiš or perkelt for your main course.
So, if you’re unsure on how to escape the crazy Zagreb crowds on July the 5th – head on east, you’ll be just fine.
