Rijeka Carnival

The Rijeka Carnival is an annual celebration held in Rijeka, Croatia, before Lent, typically from late January to early March. Known as the country's biggest carnival, it features vibrant parades, masked processions, and a host of traditional and modern festivities drawing crowds from across the region.

• The main parade takes place on Rijeka's Korzo walkway
• A puppet called Pust is burned to mark the festival's end
• The mayor hands the city key to the carnival's maestro
• Children's carnival features groups from Croatia and beyond
• The Rally Paris–Bakar is a costumed oldtimer car event

What it is

The Rijeka Carnival is a lively, weeks-long celebration that transforms the city of Rijeka into a stage for parades, masked balls, and street parties. Locals and visitors alike don elaborate costumes, joining in a tradition that blends old customs with contemporary spectacle. The festival is a point of pride for Rijeka, drawing tens of thousands of spectators and participants, and serving as a joyful release before the solemn season of Lent. For many, it is a time to poke fun at the year's troubles, embrace community spirit, and celebrate creativity in the heart of Croatia's coastal city.

Where it comes from

While the modern Rijeka Carnival began in 1982, the city has a much older tradition of carnival festivities, once attracting aristocrats and nobles from across Europe. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Rijeka was known for its grand balls and parades, but these faded over time. The festival was revived with just three groups in its first year, and has since grown into a major event, with hundreds of groups and massive crowds. The rebirth of the carnival has helped reconnect Rijeka with its festive past and brought new energy to its cultural life.

How it is celebrated

Celebrations begin with the symbolic handing over of Rijeka’s city key to Meštar Toni, the carnival’s maestro, and the election of the carnival queen. The weeks leading up to the main parade are filled with events, including a charity ball in the Governor’s palace and the playful Rally Paris–Bakar, where costumed drivers pilot decorated old cars to a nearby town. Children’s parades fill the streets with young revelers from local and neighboring schools. The highlight is the grand parade on the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, featuring costumed groups, music, and performances along Rijeka’s Korzo. The festivities conclude with the burning of the Pust, a puppet blamed for the year's misfortunes, in a dramatic ceremony by the harbor.

Joining in

Visitors can experience the Rijeka Carnival by joining crowds along the Korzo, where the main parade unfolds with color and energy. The city’s streets are filled with music, food stalls, and costumed locals, making it easy to join the revelry. Key events like the children’s parade and the burning of the Pust are open to all, and parties spill into the night across Rijeka. Expect a festive, welcoming atmosphere, with opportunities to watch, participate, or simply soak in the spectacle.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Rijeka Carnival, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Rijeka Carnival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Official websiteOfficial site
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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