Beginning of summer brings attractive festivals

In June 2011, a great many events will take place in Slovenia upon the occasion of Slovenia’s 20th birthday, united under the invitation “Homecoming”, together with a range of attractive and internationally renowned festivals beginning in June that give the tourist offer of Slovenia a special note. The Idrija Lace Festival, Lent Festival, Jazz Ljubljana, Festival Ljubljana, etc.

We have prepared a review of the core and most prominent June festivals that are announcing the arrival of a relaxed and dynamic summer note to Slovenian cities, with the events continuing throughout the summer.

30th Idrija Lace Festival (Idrija, 17th – 19th June 2011)

The traditional Idrija Lace Festival takes place in Idrija every summer – this year between 17th and 19th June. As an ethnological, economic, cultural, educational, and entertaining event, it grants Idrija a unique character, as the town literally breathes the lacemaking tradition during the festival.

During the Festival, you can visit the Gala Fashion Show in Idrija (Idrija Lace in Evening Creations), take part in lacemaking workshops, see exhibitions of domestic and foreign lace, taste the special local dishes of Idrija, join the state competition in lacemaking, participate in professional lectures, and relax with good music and entertainment in the late evenings. The novelty of this year`s festival will be the Gala Fashion Show of Idrija lace, where renowned fashion designers will present their evening creations with hand-made Idrija lace on the central festival event, and the viewers of the show will be able to see the collection of wedding lingerie collection with Idrija lace.

19th Festival LENT 2011 (Maribor, 24th June – 9th July 2011)

Festival Lent is the greatest international intercultural festival in Slovenia. It traditionally begins at the end of June and represents the peak of summer life in Maribor. More than 14 days of excellent festival happenings with many renowned Slovenian and foreign performers changes the banks of the Drava river into a lively cultural and sociable centre, beating with all kinds of rhythms. This multicultural festival that has its origin in the folklore festival Folkart has received several awards, among them 40 awards from The International Festival and Events Association (IFEA).

A variety of more than 400 performances on 30 locations and stages, and half a million of visitors make Festival Lent one of the biggest festivals in Europe. Expect a variety of concerts of classical, jazz, popular and ethno music, evenings with singers – songwriters, chanson evenings, theatre and dance performances, drama and puppet theatres, creative workshops for children, sport performances and much more. The International Folklore Festival Folkart, the Festival Jazzlent, and the Street Theatre Festival will also take place within Festival Lent.

52nd Ljubljana Jazz Festival (Ljubljana, 29th June – 2th July 2011)

Each year, the Ljubljana Jazz Festival features some of the world`s biggest names in jazz, attracting music lovers from home and abroad. Since 1960, when it was founded as a festival presenting classical jazz bands from former Yugoslavia, the Ljubljana Jazz Festival has kept pace with international developments in the genre. Today, it provides a connoisseur`s choice of music and offers an exciting insight into creativity in contemporary jazz.

Ljubljana Festival (Ljubljana, 10th − 23th June 2011)

Light entertainment by day, high culture by night – available in the heart of the city (at the Prešernov trg square) free of charge. That is what Ljubljana festival is all about. City life in Ljubljana will be livened up by more than 40 free events held at the Prešernov trg square. Those taking place in the morning will be particularly intended for children, afternoons will be reserved for light dance and music performances, and evenings for top quality dance, theatre and music events.

14th International Street Theatre Festival Ana Desetnica (Ljubljana and other cities, 30th June – 3rd July 2011)

14th International Street Theatre Festival Ana Desetnica will traditionally start the first weekend in July in Ljubljana (30th June – 3rd July), this will be followed by a visit of Maribor (4th – 9th July) and other Slovenian cities, such as Nova Gorica, Šoštanj, Brežice, Kamnik, Celje, etc. The year 2011 also brings some substantive changes. The specialty of the festival is mainly in the integration of the urban environment with local residents and visitors. These are included in the events as viewers or co-creators. With a creative intervention in the fixed movement of the passers-by, the performers achieve an effect of surprise which dancing or street puppet shows, acrobatics and performances round off to an unexpected and unique experience.

For an overview of all major and well-established events in Slovenia – also throughout the summer, please see the brochure “Events in Slovenia”, published by the Slovenian Tourist Board. We invite you to take a look at the event calendar. For online orders, click HERE, or you can also pick up a copy directly from Slovenian representative offices abroad.

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