About the festival
Old town offering
an unique carnival experience.
Kurentovanje is Slovenia’s main spring cultural and ethnographic festival of national importance, the richest international Pustovanje (Shrovetide celebration) in the land. The unique Ptuj carnival legacy, which is deeply rooted in the mystical pagan character of Kurent and many other characters, is combined with attractive local features throughout the festival, such as music, dance, fashionable local cuisine and high quality wines. In the midst of all that is the breathtaking scenic Ptuj, an old town offering new experiences, where most of the events take place in all their glory.
Wearing a mask is a part of the identity of the local population. Every year it allows the locals to escape “this” word and enter a mystical one as they bring together all the features that create an unique and unforgettable experience of the Shrovetide for them and the visitors of Ptuj. Throughout the festival numerous events take place in the town’s vibrant squares and streets and its surroundings, such as ethnographic and carnival parades, presentations of ethnographic characters, concerts, dances in masks and performances. Dwellers of Ptuj live for and with Kurentovanje, and they truly represent the saying: “If you want to experience Kurentovanje, you have to live it.”
Honorary Patronage
of 60. Kurentovanje
mag. Dejan Židan,
President of The National Assembly,
Republic of Slovenia
Etnofest
The ethnographic part of the festival is dedicated to the richness of traditional characters, which derives from the Pagan heritage. Traditional masks are believed to end the winter and help the spring to come to the land. In people’s beliefs it proves to be an important period of nature, representing the renewed cultivation of the soil, a crucial activity for human existence.
Karnevalfest
For many people the most interesting part of the festival is dedicated to modern masks. They represent the reflection of the popular culture, political events and general social climate. Imagination has always been the driving force of the masks and most original and elaborated ones are rewarded. Ptuj is known as the venue of the biggest, longest, most visited and longest-running carnival parade in this part of Europe.
Artfest
Shrovetide is closely linked to artistic creativity. Ex tempore, a fellow artistic colony at Kurentovanje for more than ten years, has created a large corpus of quality works of art, inspired by the magic of ethnographic and carnival characters. The best works of art are displayed in Galery Magistrat in Ptuj’s Town hall. Ex tempore is produced in cooperation with KUD Art Stays.
Highlights of the
colourful Shrovetide.
Kurentovanje attracts many photographers yearly. They are not amazed only by Kurent, but also by the rich diversity of ethnographical characers, facinating compositions of the parades, stolen moments of the preparations, people and faces that make up Kurentovanje or visit Ptuj and admire it in amazement. Visti Ptuj in the time of Kurentovanje and take part in creating a stunning visual archive of the Shrovetide time!
The Organiser
The organiser of Kurentovanje is the Ptuj Tourism Institute with a dedicated team of professionals who have been creating this traditional festival for many years in the oldest town of Slovenia. Many partners and enthusiasts contribute their share, without them, it would not be possible to carry out the biggest event held annually in Ptuj. The city and its people are dedicated to the carnival, ethnographical traditions and nourish the festival and its importance for Ptuj, its surroundings, and Slovenia.
The Team
Organiser:
Ptuj Tourism Institute in cooperation with the Public Services of Ptuj and the Municipality of Ptuj.
In partnership with the Alliance of Kurentes and the Carnival Prince Council.
CEO:
Tanja Srečkovič Bolšec
Project Manager:
Blaženka Gavez
Chairman of Organising Commitee and FECC Secretary General:
Branko Brumen
Director of the Ptuj Tourism Institute:
Tanja Srečkovič Bolšec
Project manager:
Blaženka Gavez
Programme Team:
Blaženka Gavez
Simon Hojnik
Iris Bombek
Protocol Coordination:
Branko Brumen
Matic Merc
Foreign Groups Coordinator:
Branko Brumen
Aljoša Ciglar
Romanca Simonič
Safety and Logistics:
Robert Brkić
Carnival Hall:
Euterpe d.o.o.
Public Relations:
AM Agencija d. o. o.
