Advent celebrations across Croatia: Guide for 2023/2024

UPDATED: 14.11.2023.
December is upon us, which means it’s the Advent season and time for adventske kućice (advent houses), kobasice (sausages), and Karlovačko (Croatian beer) in the crisp winter air.
In Croatia, cities celebrate Advent with various events, ice rinks, children’s programs, Christmas fairs, gastronomy, and outdoor parties. We summarized Advent celebrations around Croatia and the programs they offer.
Jump to a city:
- Bjelovar
- Čakovec
- Dubrovnik
- Karlovac
- Marija Bistrica
- Osijek
- Požega
- Pula
- Rijeka
- Šibenik
- Slavonski Brod
- Split
- Varaždin
- Velika Gorica
- Zadar
- Zagreb
Let’s visit Croatian Advents…
Advent celebrations across Croatia
#1 Bjelovar
December 2, 2023 – January 2, 2024
Program includes:
- Ice skating rink
- Amusement park
- Concerts
- Gastronomy
#2 Čakovec
December 2, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Program includes:
- Concerts
- Performances
- Gastronomy
#3 Dubrovnik
December 2, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Program includes:
- Concerts at Stradun
- Holiday workshops and lessons
- Ice skating rink
- Christmas bus for children
- Gastronomy
#4 Karlovac
December 2, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Program includes:
- Ice skating rink
- Gastronomy
- Concerts
- Sports program
- Educative program
#5 Marija Bistrica
December 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Program includes:
- New Year’s Eve at noon
- Advent cinema
- Theater shows
- Children’s weekend
- Spiritual music weekend
- Weekend of Advent customs
- Weekend of Lights
- Christmas concerts
#6 Osijek
December 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Program includes:
- Christmas tram
- Gastronomy
- Program for children
- Ice skating rink
- Concerts
#7 Požega
December 2, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Program includes:
- Concerts
- Performances
- Christmas fairs

#8 Pula
December 3, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Program includes:
- Ice skating rink
- Program for children at Park grada Graza
- Performances
- Concerts
- Gastronomy
- Christmas train
- New Year’s Eve
#9 Rijeka
December 2, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Program includes:
- Sea Snowflake ice skating rink
- Christmas fair at Korzo and Trg Republike Hrvatske
- Christmas train for children
- Advent on Gradina
- Gastronomy
#10 Šibenik
December 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Program includes:
- 100% plastic-free and zero waste Advent (Well done, Šibenik)
- Concerts
- Christmas fair
- Workshops for children
#11 Slavonski Brod
December 2, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Program includes:
- Ice skating rink
- Christmas fair
- Concerts
#12 Split
December 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Program includes:
- Christmas fair on Riva
- Music program
- Gastronomy
#13 Varaždin
December 1, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Program includes:
- Gastronomy
- Cultural program
- Christmas train
- House of Santa
- Ice skating rink at Kapucinski trg
#14 Velika Gorica
December 2, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Program includes:
- Ice skating rink
- Gastronomy
- Concerts
- Exhibitions
- Performances

#15 Zadar
November 24, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Program includes:
- Gastronomy
- Ice skating rink
- Program for children
- Đir po gradu – discounts in many restaurants, shops, museums…
#16 Zagreb
December 2, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Program includes:
- Music events
- Cultural events
- Advent for kids
- Gastronomy
- Zagreb Digital Nomad Very Merry
- Zagreb Advent run
- Advent museum exhibits
- Advent for pet owners
View our Croatian winter posts
- Best spots in Croatia to go sledding PLUS where to buy one and winter vocabulary
- Croatian holiday words and phrases
- Epiphany (Bogojavljenje, Sveta tri kralja)
- How to grow Božićna pšenica (Christmas wheat)
- Nikolinje – Saint Nicholas’ Day
- Silvestrovo and New Year’s Eve in Croatia
- Sveti Stjepan, Štefanje (St. Stephen’s Day)
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.