As November draws to a close, Zagreb is preparing to light up the city with one of Europe’s most beloved winter celebrations: Advent. Beginning November 30, the Croatian capital will officially kick off its holiday season with the lighting of the first Advent candle at Manduševac Fountain, transforming the city into a glittering Christmas wonderland spread across 18 locations.

For Zagreb’s Tourist Board, this year's event marks a particularly special milestone as the Advent celebration enters its tenth year with a record-breaking number of new additions. Director of the Zagreb Tourist Board, Martina Bienenfeld, described Advent as their “most significant project,” and one that each year symbolically wraps up a successful season of tourism in the city. “There are numerous new features this year to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our Advent concept,” Bienenfeld said. “We've introduced our first major neighborhood location at Kvaternik Square, and this new addition, along with other festively decorated areas, will bring Advent to life for residents and tourists alike.”

The 2024 festivities will showcase ten fresh locations, including an expansion into neighborhoods outside the city center. Zagreb’s Tunnel Grič, a popular Advent feature, will receive an update this year with a Polar Express installation, likely to be a favorite among younger visitors. Tomislav Square, famous for its open-air ice rink, will celebrate its tenth anniversary with special events and decorations, reaffirming its place as a highlight of Zagreb’s Advent experience.

Streets like Petrićeva, which will be newly decorated for the season, and additional pedestrianized areas are expected to heighten the festive atmosphere throughout the city. Bienenfeld shared that these expansions reflect the spirit of Advent as a time for gathering and celebration, as well as the Tourist Board’s dedication to growing Zagreb’s reputation as a premier winter destination in Europe.

Since it began nearly a decade ago, Zagreb’s Advent has gained popularity, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its traditional charm mixed with unique cultural touches. With increased participation from local vendors, artisans, and community groups, the 2024 Advent in Zagreb promises to be an unforgettable blend of festivity, tradition, and holiday warmth for locals and visitors alike.

As November 30 approaches, the city is putting the final touches on its decorations, readying itself to welcome another season of holiday cheer and, with it, another chapter in its storied tourism legacy.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that Croatia's efforts have demonstrated that economic growth and environmental responsibility can coexist. Croatia's carbon footprint is well below the EU average, and the country ranks eighth out of 193 UN member states for achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, reports Vecernji.hr

Currently, Croatia uses at least 29.5% of its energy from renewable sources, with a goal to increase that to 42.5% by 2030 through projects like green hydrogen and geothermal energy, Plenković announced on Wednesday at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. "Croatia is committed to decarbonizing its energy system and accelerating the green transition," said Plenković in his speech at the United Nations' 29th climate summit in Baku. He emphasized that financial matters at the conference are important, but the most crucial resource is time—"we must act now."

In 2022, renewable sources accounted for 29.5% of Croatia’s energy consumption, and that number continues to rise. With projects like green hydrogen and geothermal energy, Croatia aims to achieve 42.5% renewable energy by 2030, Plenković announced. Croatia also has strong potential for investments in pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, he added.

He emphasized that moving away from fossil fuels is not only good for the climate but is also an economic necessity, as the International Energy Agency warns of an impending peak in oil production. Plenković noted that Croatia’s efforts show that economic growth and environmental responsibility can coexist. Croatia's carbon footprint is far below the EU average, and the country ranks eighth out of 193 UN member states for meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

On the island of Korčula, they are generally pleased with the results of the tourist season for this year.

The city of Korčula recorded a 4 percent increase in overnight stays, while Vela Luka saw a rise of 3.5 percent. Smokvica and Lumbarda also experienced growth, with overnight stays up by 1.2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, compared to last year. However, the Municipality of Blato saw a slight decline of 0.74 percent in overnight stays.

Overall, the island has shown a positive trend, with several areas benefiting from a steady influx of tourists, the results indicate a healthy recovery and ongoing interest in Korčula's unique natural and cultural experiences.

The Tourist Board of the Municipality of Konavle organized a very successful and well-attended free workshop on foraging wild edible plants on Saturday, providing participants with the opportunity to discover the natural wealth that Konavle offers.

Under the expert guidance of Katija Živković and Jadranka Ničetić, attendees received advice on an ecological approach to foraging and nature preservation, learning how to properly gather edible plants and incorporate them into their daily diet.

After the fieldwork, participants tasted various dishes prepared with wild plants at the Čilipi Rural House.

Such events allow both local residents and visitors to acquire new skills, learn about the value of wild plants and the ecological aspects of foraging, and recognize the importance of traditional recipes and natural preparations.

The Konavle Tourist Board recognizes the significance of such events, which not only strengthen the connection to nature but also contribute to preserving valuable knowledge about plants and healthy living. Motivated by the growing interest in authentic, educational activities, the board plans to continue offering such programs in future seasons, thus contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage, promoting sustainable tourism, and raising awareness about healthy living and the natural wealth that Konavle has to offer.

Black Friday is the day of the year when product prices drop drastically, and discounts appear in every storefront. This day, which falls on the fourth Friday of November each year, is celebrated worldwide, and this year it falls on November 29. In Croatia, many stores will offer discounts on that Friday, though some have extended the "celebration" to the entire week, and some even to the entire month of November, reports Net.hr

What is Black Friday?

The concept of Black Friday began to take shape in the 1950s, originally used by the Philadelphia police. Since Black Friday falls on the day after the American Thanksgiving, the police used the term to describe the chaos that occurred in the city. For them, that day was anything but celebratory due to the influx of tourists and shoppers flooding the city.

However, during the 1980s, the meaning of "Black Friday" underwent a complete transformation from negative to positive. Retailers began to promote the idea that Black Friday was the day their businesses moved from “in the red,” indicating losses, to “in the black,” indicating profits. This marketing strategy helped turn Black Friday into what we know today—a day of huge discounts and the start of the holiday shopping season.

Black Friday in Croatia

Black Friday arrived in Europe in the 2010s, and today, many European countries, including Croatia, observe it. You may have noticed in recent years that ads increasingly mention Black Friday, or Crni Petak. Many retail chains have started holding Black Friday sales, attracting customers with big discounts on various products, from electronics to clothing and household appliances. Black Friday has even spread to small businesses, which also offer special Black Friday deals on their services.

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday

Although the name implies a single Friday, Black Friday doesn’t last just one day. Some shopping centres start celebrating as early as the beginning of "Black Week." With advances in technology, Black Friday has also evolved from a solely physical event into an experience that combines online and offline shopping. Many retailers now offer discounts online, allowing shoppers to avoid crowds in stores. In response to the growing popularity of online shopping, Cyber Monday was created. This day, which falls on the first Monday after Thanksgiving, focuses exclusively on online discounts. Together with Black Friday, Cyber Monday forms "Cyber Weekend," a period of intense online shopping.

The Moody's agency has raised Croatia’s credit rating by two levels, from BAA2 to A3, with stable outlooks. What’s particularly noteworthy is that this agency has increased our credit rating by two levels twice in just over two and a half years, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said at a press conference.

"This is a unique case," he added, noting that no other country has experienced such a strong credit rating rise in the post-pandemic period.

"In comparison with colleagues and partners within the European Union, we are now at the level of Slovenia, Latvia, and Portugal," Plenković emphasized, "and we have a better credit rating than, for example, Bulgaria, Spain, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Greece."

He also pointed out that this credit rating comes amid favorable macroeconomic indicators for Croatia, stating that the Government predicts GDP growth of 3.6% this year, annual inflation of 3%, and a public debt-to-GDP ratio drop to 57.4%.

"Moody’s even forecasts a slightly better figure – only 57%. These are the most important criteria indicating the current strength and health of the Croatian economy, but above all, responsible management of public finances and our economic policy in this third term," concluded the Prime Minister.

Croatia is experiencing its highest employment rate ever, while unemployment has reached its lowest in recent years, below 5%, he said. He highlighted that Moody’s assessed that Croatia is making very good use of funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which, as the Prime Minister said, is giving additional momentum to investments and economic growth. It is also important to emphasize that structural reforms and other reforms undertaken by the Government have contributed to this credit rating assessment.

The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Tonči Glavina, warned at a conference in Split that short-term apartment rentals to tourists and rental services have started to threaten sustainable tourism. He shared data showing that 26,000 new beds were offered for short-term rental this year, which has decreased occupancy and income for existing apartments in tourism, reports HRT. 

The Croatian Employers' Association and BKS Bank organized a conference on sustainable tourism development in Croatia, emphasizing the need to shift away from an unsustainable model of excessive and mass tourism towards sustainable tourism with high added value. Sustainable tourism is now considered essential, as it entails year-round, regionally balanced tourism, and the preservation of the environment, space, and climate, which are also strategic goals defined in the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy by 2030.

Minister Glavina explained how to achieve these Strategy goals, especially within the framework of new tax changes and the introduction of a property tax, in his speech.

"The Government of Croatia is implementing a comprehensive reform of tourism development management, coordinated across spatial, tax, and tourism policies at the national level, while some activities are directed toward policies implemented locally. Nationally, we began with the Building Management and Maintenance Act, continued with amendments to tax laws, and by year’s end, amendments to the Hospitality Services Act will take effect, a concrete measure in support of sustainable tourism development. These amendments represent our strongest contribution to a sustainable accommodation structure, focusing especially on the satisfaction and quality of life for local residents. We have also fulfilled our mandate commitment to protect and preserve true family-owned accommodations as part of our tradition and an added value to our tourism offerings," said Glavina.

Top jazz musicians will take over Dubrovnik’s Lazareti this weekend, as the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak Festival returns for the fourth time from November 15 to 17, 2024! The festival is organized by Dubrovnik Heritage Ltd., with support from the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.

A special highlight is the recent signing of a cooperation memorandum between Dubrovnik's Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić and Colleen Bailey, Director of the world’s longest-running jazz festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival. This partnership between the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak and the Monterey Jazz Festival opens doors for musician exchange and new initiatives, providing a further boost and support to our festival.

The Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak 2024 festival will open with the Borna Pehar Quartet, promoting their album Timezone on November 15 at 8 p.m. This young jazz musician began his music education in his hometown of Zadar (Blagoje Bersa Music School), studied jazz piano at the Music Conservatory in Klagenfurt, and completed his master’s at the University of Music and Art in Vienna. Pehar’s debut album, featuring nine instrumental compositions, is a celebration of cultural diversity and takes listeners on a journey through boundless soundscapes. He will be joined by saxophonist Joander Cruz, Ronald Racz on bass guitar, and Peđa Milutinović on drums.

The second night of the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak 2024 festival (November 16 at 8 p.m.) will feature Dubrovnik-born pianist Petar Ćulibrk, currently based in Zagreb, presenting his new album Sail Away. As a natural progression from his debut Old School, this album reflects his personal growth through stylistically and emotionally varied compositions, challenging his comfort zone. One critic described it as “The new album from the most exciting pianist you can hear today.”

On the same night, at 9 p.m., award-winning Dubrovnik jazz singer and composer Maja Grgić will perform with her quartet. For this occasion, her ensemble, NIM/Maja Grgić Quartet, will feature Maja Grgić on vocals, Krunoslav Levačić on drums, Zvonimir Šestak on double bass, and Hrvoje Galler on piano. They’ll be promoting the album NIM NOW, jointly created by NIM / Maja Grgić Novaković and Mateo Martinović. The album includes nine original songs and three covers, delighting vocal jazz enthusiasts.

On the final night of the festival, Sunday, November 17 at 8 p.m., the Dubrovnik audience will be introduced to Marko Churnchetz, one of the most prominent contemporary Slovenian musicians—a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer. Churnchetz has been a member of the band of renowned American jazz guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg for four years, touring worldwide. With his new trio, featuring acclaimed musicians Josh Ginsburg and Kristijan Krajnčan, Churnchetz will present his new CD Without Words at the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak 2024 festival.

As part of the accompanying program, students from the painting department of the Luka Sorkočević Art School will exhibit their jazz-themed posters.

PROGRAM

- Friday, November 15

- 8:00 p.m. Borna Pehar Quartet – Album Promotion Timezone

- Saturday, November 16

- 8:00 p.m. Petar Ćulibrk – World’s Okayest Pianist – Album Promotion Sail Away

- 9:00 p.m. Maja Grgić NIM Quartet – Album Promotion NIM Now

- Sunday, November 17

- 8:00 p.m. Marko Churnchetz Trio – Album Promotion Without Words

Accompanying Program:

- Exhibition Jazz Posters by students from the painting department of the Luka Sorkočević Art School

Everyone is welcome!