Lively festival summer in green Slovenia

Slovenia has many lively open-air festivals in the warmer months. Join the colourful cultural events, entertaining music shows and popular culinary festivals. Feel active Slovenia and jump onto the carousel of experiences all around the country.

Summer months in the streets of Slovenian cities and towns are ideal for enjoying summer festivals and open-air shows. Welcome in the summer at the biggest Slovenian open-air festival, the Festival Lent. Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city, lying on the banks of the Drava River, has been hosting international music stars and other top artists for more than 20 years. The festival has seen performances by Ray Charles, B.B. King and James Brown, up-and-coming young musicians, stand-up comedians, street performers and other creative artists. This year, you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on the banks of the Drava between 26 June and 11 July. The biggest international festival of street theatre, Ana Desetnica, is also eagerly awaited all around Slovenia every year. What gives the festival a magic touch is the involvement of passers-by in the shows, the participation of local associations and improvised surprises. Come and co-create magical events in as many as 10 Slovenian cities and towns.

Lend an ear to seductive melodies at the Jazz Festival Ljubljana, where 19 musicians from as many countries will be performing between 1 and 4 June. The beginnings of the oldest jazz festival in Europe go back to 1960, when it was launched in Bled, and then moved to the Slovenian capital in 1967. The festival regularly hosts the jazz elite from all around the world, which is also expected this year, when three world premieres are on the schedule.

What follows is the Schengenfest music festival, which invites you to Vinica in the Bela krajina region between 29 July and 1 August. The festival takes place by the magical Kolpa, a river of many stories on the border with Croatia. The natural environment contributes to the unbelievable harmony among the visitors camping at the nearby campsite. You can also take your tents to the emerald Soča River for Metaldays, a heavy metal music festival in Tolmin between 19 and 25 July. In addition to world-famous performers of heavy metal music, the festival is also unique for of its small size, as it is limited to only 12,000 visitors. The sounds of good music in the summer days are perfectly accompanied by excellent Slovenian beer, which is in good supply at the Pivo and Cvetje Festival. It’s going to be very lively between 16 and 19 July in Laško. The programme will have a celebratory touch, as the local brewery Pivovarna Laško is marking its 190th anniversary. The organisers are preparing the most colourful international festival ever. More than a thousand music and folklore groups will be on stage for more 50 festival events.

With a touch of history and in a bid to promote the early music scene, the Seviqc Brežice Festival takes place in numerous venues around Slovenia between June and August. For more than thirty years the festival has solidified its reputation as a cultural event of national importance and is known around the world. Every year, the programme covers the musical heritage from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century. The Okarina Etno Festival Bled also has a proud place among festival with a long tradition. International stars of world music will be gathering in the idyllic Alpine surroundings between 30 July and 9 August. Come and be inspired by folk music and the beautiful view of the mighty Alps in a duo. Also in the embrace of the mountains is the UNESCO-listed Idrija, which presents its rich heritage at the Idrija Lace Festival. Learn the basics of bobbin lace technique, choose a lace tablecloth and treat yourself to some modern jewellery made from precious Slovenian lace. Let the pleasant atmosphere also welcome you at enticing Brda, where the Cherry Festival takes place between 6 and 14 June. In addition to hiking and cycling trips, you can enjoy the cherries in various forms, from drinks and marmalades to desserts and other culinary masterpieces made by the skilful hands of the locals.

You should also go the Slovenian coast, and visit the international film festival Kino Otok – Isola Cinema, which takes place in Izola between 3 and 7 July. Enjoy the festival, which was first held in 2004, with good independent films, discussions with guests and thematic meetings. Let yourself be seduced by Slovenia’s festive summer.

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