Welcome home – in Ljubljana, on July 1

20 years have passed since Slovenia became an independent and internationally recognized country. Among the celebrations to mark the anniversary, there is one dedicated especially to Slovenians living abroad. We are going to meet with our countrymen, otherwise many kilometers, countries, or even continents separating them from our homeland.

Under the initiative of the Office for Slovenians abroad, on July 1, 2011, Ljubljana will welcome us to what all Slovenians, living home or abroad, are proud of. The streets and town squares of the old city centre will once again come to life. Packed with stalls ran by various organizations and societies, and offering a wide range of Slovenian culinary delicacies, with musical performances, folklore and theatrical groups that preserve and develop Slovenian culture, often extending beyond Slovenian geographical borders.

On this day, Ljubljana will exist only for these meetings and celebrations of Slovenian culture, as well as for the stories and songs, thoughts and dreams, from near or far. Between the hours of 10 and 20 the squares Mestni trg and Pogačarjev trg will, among others, stage the Carniolan rock band Bališ, the group BK evolution from Venetian Slovenia, singing choirs from across Slovenia, or formed by Slovenians living abroad, the performers from the Venetian theatre, the Wind orchestra Bežigrad with a majorette performance etc.

The celebration, intended for the enjoyment of each and every Slovenian, will have its grand finale on the central square, Prešerenov trg, under the title: Welcome home. After the introductory speeches, a multimedia performance of Slovenian folk music in modern interpretation, Sounds of Slovenia, will ensue, under artistic directorship of composer and accordion player, Janez Dovč. On this special occasion, the band, composed of many outstanding Slovenian musicians such as Anja Bukovec, Tinkara Kovač, Eva Hren, Brina Vogelnik, and Irena Preda, will perform together with the opera singer Juan Vasle, and a collaboration of choirs formed by Slovenian emigrants and Slovenians living in the neighboring countries.

A calendar of events for people with special ties to Slovenia will be regularly updated at www.slovenia.info/homecoming. You can also find a calendar of all other tourist activities—many of which have been introduced specially to honour the 20th anniversary—on the portal.

Welcome all, to renew the old friendships and create new ones. Join us in listening to the tunes that once encouraged us, and the words that gave us hope for the future, here and now. Welcome home!

In cooperation with a number of travel agents, the Slovenian Tourist Board has prepared a range of promotional packages and offers, in the hope of making it easier for people to decide on a visit to Slovenia, and making the travel more attractive.

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