July the 30th, 2022 - Following Istria County, Novalja has become the next tourist destination to introduce restrictions on water consumption/usage, banning the watering of gardens and green spaces, the re-filling of swimming pools, and even car washing.

The heatwave is ongoing, despite little refreshing breaks of violent storms, lightning and heavy rain (which are painfully few and far between), and more destinations across the country are tightening their belts when it comes to water usage.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, due to the record consumption of water in Novalja on the island of Pag, there has been a ban introduced on the filling up of swimming pools, watering gardens and green areas, and washing cars and yards with the use of water from the water supply system while there is enough water for general consumption and it is of good quality, according to the local municipal company Komunalija.

The Director of Komunalija, Neven Korda, told Novalja's residents and tourists alike that the first level of restrictions on water use will be in effect until further notice, as consumption of over 10,500 cubic metres of water per day has been reached, as reported by Fenix ​​magazine.

"Saving water on the islands during the warm summer months is a very common thing, especially when there are a lot of tourists visiting, like there are now," said Korda, pointing out that "back during the record year of 2019, daily consumption didn't exceed 10,000 cubic metres. So there is water, it's of good quality, the pressure is good, but the first level of reduction was introduced merely as a preventive measure to prevent any further problems from occurring,'' concluded Korda.

He added that water comes to the island of Pag and as such to Novalja from Vodovod Hrvatsko primorje - the southern branch of Senj, and from Sveti Juraj, which is the location of the Senj Hydropower Plant, the quantities are currently fairly limited.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

June 19, 2022 - Continuing her look at the intangible UNESCO heritage of Croatia, Filipa Marusic looks at three Croatian communities whose heritage is bound by lace.

There is one UNESCO protected heritage that unites these different regions with same heritage – traditional lace making. This unique handiwork that presents different types of lace comes from island of Hvar (aloe lace), island of Pag (needle point lace) and the small town Lepoglava in northern Croatia (bobbin lace).

Lacemaking in Croatia dates back to Renaissance times, and it has been UNESCO intangible heritage since 2009, as well as ethnographic and cultural heritage for Croatia. The main difference between lacemaking in Croatia and other European countries is in the makers of the lace. In Europe, lacemaking was exclusively done by nuns in convents and nobility, while in Croatia is primary done by countryside women in small villages who got their knowledge from convents and mansions. Treasuries of Croatian monasteries, convents, churches and museums show lacemaking was first developed there and then it was shared with common people.

These women used lace for traditional clothes and furnishing and as an additional source of income. The technique and appearance is a bit different to lacemaking in Europe. Lacemaking has a centuries-long tradition in Croatia, and the skill is passed on from generation to generation in families but was also taught in schools. Lace schools lasted until the mid-20th century on Pag and in Lepoglava.

One of the definitions of lace is “handmade openwork made from linen, silk, aloe, silver and gold thread “. There are many different kinds of lace but the finest lace in terms of craftsmanship and quality is needlepoint and bobbin lace. The development of lacemaking has its roots in different textile handicrafts, like weaving and embroidery. The type of lace depended on cultural influences in the region. As an example, needle lace from Pag was spread in other Mediterranean countries while bobbin lace was influenced by central Europe.

The ribbon bobbin lace from flax fibres from Lepoglava was used as decoration for the folklore costumes and clothes or for sale at village fairs. To celebrate this lace making tradition, there is an International lace festival each year in Lepoglava. The lace strips were used as trimming for different clothes and the patterns are mostly geometrical, animal and floral. For the lace heritage in Lepoglava it is considered that Paulins order brought it to peasents. The golden era for lace making is definitely end of 19th and beginning of 20th century thanks to Zlata pl. Šufflay and Danica Brossler who held classes, workshops and a school of lacemaking. The lace from Lepoglava was sold on different fairs and exhibitions, in Zagreb, throughtout west Europe. The international lace festival is held from 1997 in Lepoglava and its 20th anniversary was in Septmeber 2016. They have various lacemaking events, live music, international projects which make this heritage even more valuable. There is also a lacemaking high school which nurtures lacemaking heritage and lacemaking cooperation where new generation of lacemakers is formed and they are the ones who keep this tradition.

Pag needle lace is ornamental decoration which first appeared in folklore textile as garments, tablecloths and clothes and then as an independent decoration. It has a spider web pattern and geometrical motifs and the lace making is taught by elderly women. It characteristic form is reticella and gothic geometrical patterns which are the main characteristics of renaissance lace – this was quite common on islands. The origin of the Pag lace comes from city of Mycenae, and the lace-making tradition dates back to the late 15th century when it was first connected to Benedictine convent that also held lace making school. The convent keeps the lace collection with more than 127 exhibits throughout 150 years and it presents Croatian cultural heritage. Lace from Pag is unique because it doesn’t have set template or blueprint but the way of making it is being transmitted from generation to generation. Pag had a lace school from beginning of 20th to mid 20th century, and it produced more than 200 new lacemakers. Lace making is part of the school programme – this, lace association and lace festival are important factors for preserving this heritage on Pag island.

The third lace inscribed as UNESCO heritage, is Hvar lace and it is made from aloe in form of a net or some other pattern. This lace is still connected to the Benedictine convent unlike lace from Lepoglava and Pag. The aloe leaves are picked during a specific time of the year and are processed to get this white thread. Nuns from this convent came from Pag in the 17th century when the lace-making tradition was more than 100 years old.
Lace as part of clothing is mostly used as ornament on shirts and as part of traditional Pag costume called “pokrivača”. Pag lace is successfully implemented as part of jewerly. The lace is used as decoration for bed linen and as part of church vesture. The most common way of displaying lace is to put an ornament on the table or hang it on the wall and this is common both for Pag and Lepoglava lace. In this way, the beauty of lace is the best presented.

Source: Ministry of Culture, Culturenet – Eckhel N., Ethnographic museum Zagreb, Paška čipka, Lepoglavska čipka, Tourist board Lepoglava, Tourist Board Hvar, Tourist Board Pag, Festival čipke Lepoglava

Photos: The Ethnographic Museum, Zagreb; The Museum of Varazdin; Paška čipka, Lepoglavska čipka, Tourist board Lepoglava, Tourist Board Hvar, Tourist Board Pag

May 15, 2022 - Team Unruly, in collaboration with Pollen, is bringing a unique four-day island takeover to Croatia for the first time ever, fusing the best in Jamaican, African, and UK music, led by the King of Dancehall Popcaan. Introducing the Unruly Culture Splash Weekender!

International star Popcaan who is signed to OVO is recognizable for hits such as  ‘Only Man She Want’ and ‘Family,’ and collaborations such as ‘Twist & Turn’ with Drake, PartyNextDoor, and Jamie XX’s ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)’.

Join Popcaan and the Unruly team for a jam-packed four-day feast of Caribbean culture, the first travel getaway of its kind in Europe.  At Culture Splash, expect huge headline performances with a lineup like no other curated by Unruly’s very own Popcaan, bringing together sound-system culture from across the globe and its community, highlighting creativity, wellness, and music, food, dance, and vibes with lots of surprises in-store.

Taking place on the beautiful island of Pag in Croatia, Zrće beach is one of the best party beaches in the world, with clubs lining the shoreline on the Adriatic Sea. Croatia is known for bringing the biggest and best music experiences to their country, and this one is no different. Set on a stunning beach that has become known to be among the best party locations in the world, this is the place to be this Summer.

A stellar itinerary and additional events await across the 4 days, with parties running all day and night including a themed pool party, brunch, BBQs, and a boat party. Need to chill out? There are spa and make-up treatments available to get you rejuvenated and prepared to party until sunrise. Want to realign? Join our dance class. Want to experience more of what the Island of Pag has to offer? Add on a once-in-a-lifetime excursion.

Whether you are on a budget or looking for luxury, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Culture Splash Weekender.

About Pollen Boilerplate

Pollen is a leading travel company building, curating, and delivering the best experiences for members all over the world. Members enjoy these experiences together with the people they love, creating stronger relationships and unforgettable memories. Customers who travel with Pollen immerse themselves in multi-day itineraries that combine live entertainment, parties, and relaxation time in more than 50 popular destinations. Members can discover and book these experiences exclusively on https://pollen.co/uk and the Pollen app. Pollen has already launched bespoke travel experiences with megastars like Justin Bieber, J Balvin, 50 Cent, and Duran Duran.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

March the 21st, 2022 - Was there once a submerged river with its source on Velebit, and an estuary on the much loved Pag Bay? Research is providing insights into an area that was once heavily wondered about by speleologists, but difficult to totally impossible to access.

As Morski/Josip Portada writes, just north of the town of Pag, between Kotica and Veli bok, above a small sandy beach, there is a barely visible opening that leads into a cave where a person of medium height can fully stand up. The cave, which isn't far at all from Kotica was initially explored by speleologists back in the 1970s, when it was determined that, just 32 metres from the cave's opening, the rest was impassable due to collapsed stones and earth.

Research undertaken since has shown that the cave was probably part of the underground flow of a river, which, in an as yet undetermined geological period, appeared on the island of Pag from the mighty Velebit. The submerged river, which existed or could have existed in the central part of the island of Pag, was talked about as early as the 1960s.

In a joint scientific paper, Jasmina Lukac Reberski, Josip Terzic and Stipe Dolic stated at the fourth Croatian Geological Congress back in 2010: “The morphology of the island of Pag plays a significant role in the accumulation and flow of groundwater. Fields in the Eocene syncline are very favourable for water accumulation. The core of the anticline most likely acts as an underground watershed, and part of the water in the limestone drains out towards the fields and partly towards the sea. Therefore, there are a large number of small coastal springs and springs.''

This question of the submerged river and estuary on Pag was also explored by prof. Dr. Antun Magdalenic, who, way back in 1963, in his work on this research, stated that on the island of Pag there is an underground mixing of infiltrated water with sea water which "extends like a wedge into the interior under fresh and brackish water due to differences in density."

Assumptions about the existence of these rivers were confirmed by geological research back in 2002 and 2003, and then the allegation of the underground mixing of that river water with the sea was confirmed. During the 1970s, INA organised for oil exploration to take place on the island of Pag, and numerous wells were drilled for that purpose. Most of these wells were drilled near Crnika beach, at the foot of Ledenik and the Sveti Juraj peak. Geologist Jeronim Bulic, who later became the curator of the Croatian Museum of Natural History in Zagreb, took part in these very activities. No oil was found, but something else rather interesting was found. Bulic said that, during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lignite was mined near Crnika, and Austrian engineers then found the remains of fossils and recorded everything very neatly.

''That was the starting point, their recording of fossils, based on that we went on to research it further,'' said Bulic.

Geologist Jeronim Bulic said that 18 million-year-old Miocene deposits were found on Crnika beach, with numerous fossils, a crocodile tooth and volcanic dust deposits. On the opposite side of Pag Bay, in the area of ​​Ledenik, geological structures were observed which indicated the possible existence of an underground water flow. The cave near Kotica was especially interesting, however, the research wasn't continued.

It was assumed that Vela lokva and Mokra stena on Ledenik were probably connected with the course of the submerged river. Another indication of the existence of groundwater was found on Ledenik, among others on the rock that dominates the area around Vela lokva. On this rock there are obvious traces of the action of water coming "from a possible inner pool, through the structure of permeation with its support." However, thorough geological research should be conducted to prove the assumption that in the past, north of the town of Pag, there was a submerged river whose source was on Velebit and its mouth in Pag Bay.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

March 19, 2022 - Palm Tree Crew has announced a new destination experience at Zrce Beach on Pag! Taking place from August 27-September 1, Palm Tree Music Festival: Croatia Edition is a follow-up to the sold-out Cabo edition that took place between Palm Tree Crew last year in Mexico. The series is now expanding to unique new locations in far-reaching corners across the globe.

Palm Tree Music Festival: Croatia Edition will include pool parties, open-air venue takeovers, a huge international lineup, a variety of accommodation packages that include hotels and catamarans, and exclusive cultural Add On experiences.

Beyond a headlining performance from Kygo, guests can witness phase one sets from beloved South African-Swiss DJ and producer Nora En Pure, multi-platinum and award-winning artist Sam Feldt, Dutch future house pioneer Don Diablo, fellow Dutch favorite Oliver Heldens, Canadian electronic musician Frank Walker, and German house producer Felix Jaehn. Additional highlights include Yotto, Melé, The Stickmen Project, Arielle Free, Forester, Melé, Jonas Blue, and more, plus more to be announced.

Zrce Beach is located on the picturesque Adriatic island of Pag and is known for being one of Europe’s finest party destinations. Palm Tree Music Festival: Croatia Edition will be taking over the famed complex of venues that sprawl along this unmissable coastline, which promises paradisiacal weather and views. Legendary venues on the island include Papaya and Aquarius, which are home to some of the most famed festivals and events in Europe. Their open-air structures allow revelers to watch the sunrise from the comfort of the dancefloor in a destination location.

Guests also have the ability to purchase additional Add On items that will include a variety of unforgettable journeys and experiences. This will include trips to iconic locations like Plitviče Lakes National Park, the largest national park in Croatia which features terraced lakes plus waterfalls, and Olive Gardens of Lun with its 80,000 olive trees. Other Add On for guests to choose from include a Zrmanja River Canoe Safari and a boat party.

Packages for this experience include a variety of hotels, hostels, apartments, and catamarans for guests to choose from, each featuring its own unique style of accommodation. This includes options located on the beachfront and a variety of amenities based on guest selection like outdoor pools, balconies, kitchenettes, exclusive access to pool parties, modern furniture and decorations, air conditioning, full-service check-in, WIFI, sun decks, and much more.

Guests can also choose to stay on a catamaran as well. All accommodation packages include a free shuttle bus pass for the island of Pag, saving customers money and time getting around.

For more information about the experience, including payment plans, package upgrades, and FAQs, visit Pollen’s website to stay up-to-date with the latest in the lineup, pricing, and news.

Headlining Performance
Kygo

Lineup (A-Z)
Arielle Free
Don Diablo
Felix Jaehn
Forester
Frank Walker
Jonas Blue
LP Giobbi
Melé
Nikki Chong
Nora En Pure
Oliver Heldens
Sam Feldt
Secondcity
The Stickmen Project
Yotto

About Palm Tree Music Festival
Palm Tree Music Festival is a one-of-a-kind festival experience, bringing the dream of the tropics to lush locations around the world. Curated by Kygo’s Palm Tree Crew, these experiences capture the unmatched feeling of summer in paradise, with majestic beach vibes, unmissable sets by global icons, curated food & drink offerings, unique brand activations, and exclusive VIP experiences. To date, Palm Tree Music Festival has come to the Hamptons and Cabo San Lucas with the goals of expanding across the globe.

About Palm Tree Crew
Founded in 2020 by Kygo, Myles Shear, and Austin Criden, Palm Tree Crew Holdings (“PTCH”) is a diversified holding company that owns and operates a consumer brand, global live events business, and investment arm, all within one unified ecosystem.

Through Palm Tree Festivals, PTC produces immersive experiences that bring together business builders, entrepreneurs, investors, and all lovers of the PTC lifestyle. PTC Brand creates unique products that capture the PTC way of life, promoting happiness and community. PTC Investments is PTC’s investment arm and is highly active in the venture and growth community. PTC Investments provides capital to early-stage business builders across the consumer and technology industries in addition to its crypto strategy focused on web3 and the creator economy.

About Pollen
Pollen is a technology company building, curating, and delivering the best experiences for members all over the world. Members enjoy these experiences together with the people they love, creating stronger relationships and unforgettable memories. Members immerse themselves in multi-day itineraries that combine live entertainment, parties, and relaxation time in more than 50 popular destinations. Members can discover and book these experiences exclusively on pollen.co and the Pollen app. Pollen has already launched experiences with megastars like J Balvin, Diplo, Justin Bieber, and Ozuna.

For more, check out our lifestyle section 

March 19, 2022 - The countdown to the biggest BSH Island 2022 begins as the first wave of headliners is announced.

Playing the world-renowned Noa Beach Club on Croatia’s Zrce Beach from June 29th to July 3rd will feature Archie Hamilton, Ben Sterling, Blackchild, Dennis Cruz, Paco Osuna, and wAFF with many more to come.

BSH Island is one of the jewels in the Croatian festival crown and has been leading the way in the local scene in recent years. Its first edition in 2020 brought something new to the region, and the follow-up in 2021 made a mark on the international stage and now it returns to the Island of Pag for the bigger than ever third edition. This follows two much-talked-about festivals on Zrce Beach - BSH Island, which included a legendary party in the breathtaking 17th-century Fortress overlooking the sea hosted by Amnesia Ibiza, and the epic Amnesia takeover Croatia festival. It was a truly unique experience that offered something completely fresh away from the clubs on Zrce beach, and when you add in the fact that accommodation came in the form of a beautiful yacht docked at Noa Beach Club, it's no wonder BSH Island has made such a special impact. 

All this magic goes down at Noa Beach Club, one of the best in the region, right on the edge of the glistening Adriatic. As well as those amazing views, the dancing decks are all tastefully designed with lush palm trees and a killer sound system that makes it something like Croatia's answer to Ushuaia in Ibiza. It is once again set to be the scene of some steamy afternoon dancing, sunset sessions, and plenty of late-night mischiefs. 

Providing the scintillating sounds will be Spanish techno titan and long-time pioneer Paco Osuna and Cocoon's always up for it wAFF, who always lays down big rolling grooves. Then comes cutting-edge tech house from UK stars Archie Hamilton and Ben Sterling, Italian Hot Creations associate Blackchild, assured Spanish hit-making machine Dennis Cruz and a host of local support. This is just phase one, with much more to come.​​

As well as this first wave of names, you can expect off-site events like boat sessions, and secret pop-up parties that add another dimension to the festival this year. Move quickly to secure your ticket as they will sell out.​​

Tickets: https://www.noa-zrce.com/en/events/bsh-island-2022

Location: Noa Beach Club, Zrce Beach, Croatia

Date: 29th June - 3rd July 2022

For more, check out our lifestyle section 

February 26th, 2022 - Following our feature dedicated to traditional jewellery of Istria, a look at the intricate filigree pieces traditionally worn in Dalmatia

In the first part of this series, we wrote about medieval jewellery discovered in Istria that has only recently seen a revival in the form of artisan replicas.

The traditional jewellery of Dalmatia, however, has historically been an integral part of folk costumes all over the region, and has been worn and treasured by generations of women up to the present day.

Let's take a look at some of the most prominent designs found in Dalmatia: 

Pag beaded necklace and earrings / Paški peružini i ročini

First, a quick disclaimer: depending on who you ask, Pag island is a part of Kvarner, Dalmatia, neither, or both. We'll leave the people of Pag to define their cultural identity as they see fit, and will include the island in this particular feature based on the shared traits of traditional jewellery of Pag and that found in the rest of Dalmatia.

The traditional costume of Pag island largely owes its distinctive appearance to the triangular headdress worn by women, made of starched white linen and lined with intricate lace.

The Pag lace is a showstopper, but if you take a closer look, you’ll see that the ladies are also adorned in jewellery when clad in traditional garb. It’s been worn on Pag since the 16th century, and considering that there were no master goldsmiths living on the island at the time, the jewellery was imported from Venice.

Pag folk costume / Image by Hotel Biser

There are two distinct types of jewellery worn as part of the Pag folk costume. Delicate beads made in the filigree technique are called peružin; string a number of them together and you get a gorgeous necklace. Decorative hair pins featuring a single peružin were used to help keep the headdress in place, as seen on the above photo. It should be mentioned that the traditional peružini were once made to weigh exactly 123 grams each!

A modern replica of Pag peružini / Image by Zlatarnica Jozef Gjoni

The other distinctive piece found on Pag are the ročini, dangly bell-shaped earrings typically made of silver or gold.

A modern replica of Pag ročini / Image by Zlatarnica Jozef Gjoni

Šibenik button / Šibenski botun 

Arguably the most popular piece on this list, the intricate Šibenik button used to be a decorative part of men’s folk costumes. These days, it’s one of the most recognisable symbols of Šibenik that doubles as an authentic souvenir. And while the motif is still seen in men’s accessories - tie clips, cufflinks - it’s not exclusive to gents anymore and is featured in women’s jewellery as well.

Similar to the Pag peružin, the Šibenik button is a hollow filigree bead composed of two half-spheres bonded together. Traditionally, the button used to be made of silver, but nowadays you’ll also find modern replicas made of gold, rose gold and aluminum. It's also called puce and toka, and was known to come in different sizes and designs depending on intended use.

Various versions of Šibenik buttons

Even though there are metal buttons discovered in Dalmatia that date back to ancient times, the famous decorative bead only became widely adopted as a part of traditional garb around the 17th century.

As mentioned, they were only worn by men back then and were an indicator of social status and rank. The buttons were essentially comparable to military medals, as they were awarded to heroes and commanding officers from the region by Venetian generals based in Zadar.

Over time, the Šibenik button became so popular that a large number of artisans, from northern Dalmatia all the way to Albania in the south, specialised in the filigree technique so that they could create the intricate orbs.

Šibenik button earrings / Image by Zlatarnice Rodić Facebook

Zlarin coral / Zlarinski koralji

For a little intermezzo on our filigree-laden tour, we’re heading to Zlarin island right off the coast of Šibenik, historically known for quite a specific thing: coral. 

People of Zlarin have dealt in coral harvesting and processing since the 14th century; while harvesting isn’t that common anymore, Zlarin is still home to a handful of skilled artisans creating unique coral jewellery.

Red coral necklace / Šibenik Tourist Board

Red coral, also called precious coral, thrives in clean waters and grows at the depth of 30 to 200 metres. In its natural state, it’s covered in a crust that needs to be filed down for its intense red colour to show; the skeleton is then cut into smaller pieces, each of which gets filed, shaped and polished. Polishing is the most crucial stage, a process that can last up to a few days and results in a high shine. The colour has a range of 10-15 hues, varying from a light to a deep red.

The art of coral harvesting was a skill passed from father to son. Coral was historically harvested by trawling, using a tool called inženj, a wooden cross weighed down with a heavy stone and fitted with fishing nets. Coral would get entangled in the nets as they dragged across the seabed and break off when the nets were pulled out of the sea.

Fishermen from Zlarin participated in harvesting expeditions all over the Adriatic - sometimes straying even further, as far as Greece - and sold the catch on Sicily.

Red coral / Zlarin Tourist Board

After the fall of the Venetian Republic that controlled the coral trade in the Adriatic, the people of Zlarin were granted the exclusive right to coral fishery. Like elsewhere in the Mediterranean, coral was overharvested due to its value until it was nearly eradicated, and so the practice gradually became less common by the mid-20th century.

Nowadays, the island is home to two coral shops run by jewellery makers that keep the tradition alive. Zlarin is also about to get a Croatian Coral Centre, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the island’s history of coral harvesting that's set to open sometime soon.

Konavle earrings / Konavoske verižice & fjočice

We’re heading further south, to the Konavle area near Dubrovnik, the home of the elegant Konavle earrings.

The verižice hoop earrings from Konavle have a small pendant, typically a pearl or a coral bead. In the olden days, there was a social order to wearing jewellery in Konavle: young girls wore smaller earrings, and the older the women got, the bigger earrings they could wear. Young men were known to present their brides with the lovely hoops as a gift before their wedding day.

Modern replica of Konavle earrings / Image by Zlatarnice Rodic Facebook

Traditional jewellery was handled with care and kept in decorative wooden boxes or in special compartments in chests. The best pieces were only worn in rare special occasions, as jewellery was considered a family heirloom and was passed down from generation to generation.

Another type of earrings popular in Konavle are the so-called fjočice. Worn by brides on the day of their wedding and in the first year of marriage, the dangly earrings had several pendants made in gold filigree.

The Croatian Post paid homage to the lovely fjočice with their own postage stamp, created by designer Alenka Lalić from Zagreb:

Interestingly, the Konavle earrings weren’t actually made in the Konavle area, but were instead manufactured by goldsmiths in Dubrovnik. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the goldsmith workshops predominantly focused on traditional jewellery, driven by the increasing demand from Konavle and the wider Dubrovnik area.

Dubrovnik necklace / Dubrovačke peružine & kolarin

As Dubrovnik used to be a major goldsmithry centre from the medieval times to the mid-20th century, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Pearl of the Adriatic has its own type of traditional jewellery.

You’ll surely recognise the peružin motif by now, the hollow filigree beads which in Dubrovnik were traditionally made of gold. Strung together, the beads make a lavish necklace called kolarin. 

The kolarin were most commonly composed of 12, 14, 16 or 18 peružin beads, either simply strung on a silk ribbon, or connected with small golden links, pearls or coral beads. They were known to feature a heart-shaped pendant or a golden cross, altogether making a show-stopping piece typically worn on special occasions. 

Nowadays, you'll most commonly find earrings or pendants featuring the Dubrovnik peružin bead.

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January 26, 2022 – Following one cancelled year and a hesitant 2021, Croatian Music Festivals in 2022 look to return to normal operations. Even before the end of January 2022, two favourite events in Tisno, Dalmatia – Defected Croatia and Dekmantel Selectors – have this week sold out all tickets!

For a whole new generation of young dreamers and visitors, Croatia is on their annual wish list because of its music festivals. Set by pristine waters and beaches, in the guaranteed sunshine of a Dalmatian summer, photos of Croatia's music festivals have travelled across the world and brought international acclaim.

In 2020, all of these music festivals (except veteran domestic events at Martinska, Šibenik) were cancelled. Even in 2021, neither full confidence nor the full schedule had returned – Ultra Europe (Split) and Love International (Tisno) remained absent.

However, if early indications are anything to go by, trust in the summertime spectaculars seems to have completely returned for Croatian Music festivals in 2022. In fact, even before the end of January 2022, two favourite events in Tisno, Dalmatia – Defected Croatia and Dekmantel Selectors – have this week announced they've sold out.

News revealed exclusively to Total Croatia News informs that the rest of the summer music festivals held at The Garden Resort, Tisno are not far behind - almost all are within sight of completely selling out all tickets.

How the lineup looks for Croatian Music Festivals in 2022 and where to buy tickets

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Love International, Tisno

In every corner of the country, you can find Croatian Music festivals in 2022. Some of these might have traditional folk music and dance, others might offer favourite local rock and pop acts who mostly sing in Croatian.

But, for international visitors looking for Croatian Music Festivals in 2022, there are an identifiable number of festival locations and events. By and large, these are the events that young people travel to Croatia specifically to attend.

Ultra Europe in Split: 8 July 2022 – 10 July 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Ultra Europe in Split

A 3-day event in Split with the world's top EDM DJs, incredible stage design and production with a definite wow factor. DJs confirmed so far include Adam Beyer, Afrojack, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Joseph Capriati, Martin Garrix, Nina Kraviz, Oliver Heldens, Richie Hawtin, Tiësto, Timmy Trumpet and Vini Vici.

This 8th Ultra Europe in Split will - for the first time - be followed by an extension of the party on several Croatian islands. The main festival takes place at Youth Park in Split from 8 July 2022 – 10 July 2022.

On 11 July 2022, Ultra Brač will visit Brač island's 585 Club. On 12 July 2022, there will be an afternoon beach party on the Pakleni islands, near Hvar island. Later that day, a nighttime event Resistance Hvar will take place at Carpe Diem Beach Club, Hvar island.

The Resistance Closing Party Vis is the last event and will take place on 13 July at the old Fort George (Fortica) on Vis island.

Tickets for Ultra Europe in Split can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details and entry requirements for Ultra Europe in Split can be seen here.

The Garden, Tisno 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Defected Croatia at The Garden Resort, Tisno

With the relatively recent addition of Defected Croatia, Outlook Origins and Dimensions to the 10+ year reputation of the Garden Resort roster, this festival site can now truly claim to be the epicentre of underground electronic dance music in Croatia.

Across its summer-long run, some of the world's best underground DJs visit this place, its beach and boat parties, plus the incredible open-air Barbarellas nightclub in nearby Pirovac. Each event lasts several days and is limited to between 5000 – 7000 people.

Up-to-date details of entry requirements for The Garden Resort, Tisno 2022 can be seen here. Here's the calendar of events for The Garden, Tisno in summer 2022...

Love International: 13 July 2022 – 19 July 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Love International

With a renowned reputation as one of the most welcoming and easy-going of all Croatia's festivals, the adored Love International returns after two years in 2022. It has been much missed. House, disco, techno and Balearic music in the main will this year come from the likes of Ben UFO, Craig Richards, Eliza Rose, Shanti Celeste, Saoirse, Moxie, Horse Meat Disco, Antal, Hunee, Palms Trax and Midland.

Tickets for Love International 2022 can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details for Love International 2022 can be seen here.

Suncebeat: 21 July 2022 – 28 July 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Suncebeat in Tisno

The longest-running festival associated with The Garden resort, Suncebeat traces its love affair with Croatia back to Petrcane, near Zadar, over 12 years ago. Actually, Suncebeat's heritage is even older – it's a spin-off event of the UK's 30+-year-old Southport Weekender. It, therefore, draws a slightly older crowd of house, disco and soul music aficionados.

The first wave of artists released for this 13th Suncebeat includes The Blessed Madonna, Kerri Chandler, Kenny Dope, Dave Lee ZR, Dam Swindle, Miguel Migs, Mark Farina, Horse Meat Disco, Natasha Diggs, Mike Dunn, John Morales, DJ Spen, DJ Spinna, Sadar Bahar, Terry Hunter, Children Of Zeus (live), Lukas Setto (Live), Djeff, Dan Shake, Ash Lauryn, Hyenah, Marina Trench, Lakuti, Elkka, Rich Medina, Boo Williams, Mafalda and CinCity.

Tickets for Suncebeat 2022 can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details for Suncebeat 2022 can be seen here.

Outlook Origins: 28 July 2022 – 8 August 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Outlook Origins in Tisno

A scaled-down version of the original Outlook, which used to take place in Pula. The event earned a reputation as being one of the most significant annual events for UK bass music and its soundsystem culture – covering music styles like reggae, dub, grime, drum n' bass, garage, dubstep, jungle, hip hop and more.

Line-up to be announced.

Tickets for Outlook Origins 2022 can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details for Outlook Origins 2022 can be seen here.

Defected Croatia: 4 August 2022 – 9 August 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Defected Croatia

Days and nights filled with sunshine, smiles and house music from one of the most successful independent house music record labels in the world. The 2022 line-up includes Moodymann, Carl Craig, Danny Tenaglia, Bob Sinclar, Honey Dijon, Jayda G, KiNK, A-Trak, Boys Noize, Heller & Farley, Kenny Dope, Mark Farina and Spen

International tickets for Defected Croatia 2022 have sold out. The last few remaining domestic (ex-Yu) tickets for Defected Croatia 2022 can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details for Defected Croatia 2022 can be seen here.

Dekmantel Selectors: 25 August 2022 – 30 August 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Dekmantel Selectors

A deliberately intimate and scaled-down sister event to the mammoth underground European festival Dekmantel. With a line-up that you could well describe as the DJs' DJs of choice, this year the underground selections come from the likes of Hunee, Daniele Baldelli, Kode9, Shanti Celeste, John Talabot, FAUZIA, Eris Drew, Identified Patient, Vladimir Ivkovic & Young Marco, Carista.

International tickets for Dekmantel Selectors 2022 have sold out. Up-to-date line-up details for Dekmantel Selectors 2022 can be seen here.

Dimensions: 1 September 2022 – 5 September 2022

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Dimensions

Techno, electro, drum n' bass, house, hip hop, reggae and bass music on this 10th anniversary year come from the likes of Helena Hauff b2b DJ Stingray 313, Raresh, Blawan, Mala, Caliber, DVS1, Marcellus Pittmann, Tama Sumo, Peach, Saoirse, Laurine, Francesco Del Garda, Soichi Terada, Sherelle, Eris Drew & Octa Octa, Sonja Moonear, D. Tiffany & Rosa Terenzi, Gene On Earth b2b The Ghost, DJ Storm, Batu.

Tickets for Dimensions 2022 can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details for Dimensions 2022 can be seen here.

Šibenik Music Festivals 2022 – Martinska, Seasplash and Project Vojarna

Martinska

Located on a perfectly secluded seaside peninsula, just outside the city of Šibenik, the Martinska venue hosts a summer-long run of intimate music festivals within fantastic natural surroundings. Events range from punk music and live concerts to more modern electronic styles. Most famous internationally is the reggae and dub event Seasplash Festival which celebrates its 20th birthday between July 14th - 17th 2022.

Project Vojarna

Just over half a decade old, Project Vojarna is a dance music event born from the collaboration of Šibenik electronic music enthusiasts. In its current standing, the main event is a 10-hour open-air rave held at a former military barracks just outside Šibenik. Each year the event grows in fame and stature. This year's event will take place on 23 July.

Up-to-date line-up details, links for tickets and entry requirements for all events at Martinska, Šibenik can be seen here.

Up-to-date line-up details, links for tickets and entry requirements for Project Vojarna, Šibenik events can be seen here.

InMusic Festival Zagreb: 20 June 2022 – 23 June 2022

InMusic Festival, Zagreb

The largest and most prestigious event for rock music and alternative in Croatia, InMusic has certainly put the country – and Zagreb – firmly on the international rock festival map. Taking place around Zagreb's Lake Jarun, the festival site welcomes campers from all over Europe for its four-day run.

2022's incredible line-up includes The Killers, Kasabian, Deftones, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Royal Blood, White Lies, Gogol Bordello, IDLES, Amadou & Mariam, Sleaford Mods, Fontaines D.C. Hinds, The Comet Is Coming, Dry Cleaning, Tamikrest and Nick Mason.

Tickets for InMusic Zagreb 2022 can be purchased here. Up-to-date line-up details and entry requirements for InMusic Zagreb 2022 can be seen here.

Solardo Presents Higher Dubrovnik

After two years of unforgettable sell out shows in Dubrovnik, mighty Manchester duo Solardo aim for a hat trick in 2022. In conjunction with Pollen Presents, Solardo announce their largest festival to date from September 23-27th: The pair curate their biggest ever line up with international tastemakers, showcasing some of the world's top house and techno talent, a testament to the Manchester duo’s musical depth. The first wave of names include Marco Carola, FJAAK, Nicole Moudaber, Mall Grab, Maya Jane Coles, Vintage Culture, Nic Fanciulli, Lee Foss and many more. After multiple sell out shows at WHP, Circus Liverpool & London, Higher is now set to grow into a multi venue event across this historic city

Lineup: Solardo, Marco Carola, Mall Grab, FJAAK, Nicole Moudaber, Maya Jane Coles, Vintage Culture, Nic Fanciulli, Lee Foss + more

Tickets: https://pollen.co/x/solardo-dubrovnik-2022-1

Date: 23rd - 27th September

Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia

BSH Island

BSH Island is one of the jewels in the Croatian festival crown and has been leading the way in the local scene in recent years. Its first edition in 2020 brought something new to the region, and the follow up in 2021 made a mark on the international stage and now it returns to Island of Pag for the bigger than ever third edition. This follows two much talked about festivals on Zrce Beach - BSH Island, which included a legendary party in the breathtaking 17th century Fortress overlooking the sea hosted by Amnesia Ibiza, and the epic Amnesia takeover Croatia festival. It was a truly unique experience that offered something completely fresh away from the clubs on Zrce beach, and when you add in the fact that accommodation came in the form of a beautiful yacht docked at Noa Beach Club, it's no wonder BSH Island has made such a special impact. 

Lineup: Archie Hamilton, Ben Sterling, Blackchild, Dennis Cruz, Paco Osuna, wAFF + more

Tickets: https://www.noa-zrce.com/en/events/bsh-island-2022

Date: 29th June - 3rd July

Location: Noa Beach Club, Zrce Beach, Croatia

Zrće beach on Pag island

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Hideout Festival, Zrce beach, Pag island

The summer-long run of parties on Zrće beach on Pag island continued last year. Although, in 2022 you should expect a return to pre-pandemic levels of attendance and hedonism. Along with that, the bigger named DJs will likely be returning in force during 2022.

Croatian Music Festivals in 2022: Hideout Festival

Taking place from Sunday 3rd July - Thursday 7th July, Hideout Festival 2022 is representative of this return to form. DJs like Andy C, Jamie Jones, Eats Everything, Camelphat, Jayda G, Hot Since 82, Sam Divine, Solardo, Shy FX, Richy Ahmed, Sonny Fodera, Skream, Gorgon City, Mike Skinner, Paul Woolford, John Summit, Alan Fitzpatrick, Darius Syrossian, DJ Seinfeld, Maya Jane Coles, Denis Sulta and Chelina Manuhutu will play house, techno, drum n' bass and UK bass music sounds to a crowd of 13, 000+

The sixth edition of Sonus Festival (here) takes place at Zrce between 20 August and 26 August 2022 with DJs like Adriatique, Âme, Amelie Lens, Andrea Oliva, Ben Klock, Chris Liebing, Dax J, Dixon, Hot Since 82, I Hate Models, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, KiNK [live], Loco Dice, Maceo Plex, Monika Kruse, Pan-Pot, Patrick Topping, Ricardo Villa, lobos B2B Zip, Richie Hawtin, Richy Ahmed, Rødhåd, Seth Troxler, Sonja Moonear, Stephan Bodzin [live], Sven Väth, Black Coffee, Carl Cox, Denis Sulta, Desiree

Information about events in the summer season on Zrće beach, Pag island can be seen here.

Tickets for Hideout Festival, Zrće beach, Pag island can be bought here

December 16, 2021 - The clock is ticking for the much-anticipated return of Croatia's revered underground Sonus Festival.

Black Coffee, Carl Cox, Deborah de Luca, Denis Sulta, FJAAK DJ, and William Djoko plus many more have been added to the line up which already counted more than 40 international headliners. It all goes down across three celebrated open-air clubs on Zrce Beach from August 21 - 25, 2022.

Because of the ongoing uncertainty around the Coronavirus pandemic, Sonus wants to put customers at ease. As such, if you book with Sonus you are safe: even if the event gets cancelled the festival will refund tickets. There is also the option to do booking protection when you book your tickets so you can even get money back in case you fall ill. Also, there are payment plans available.

A lot more flights are set to be added to Croatia from all over Europe in the first part of 2022 so getting there will be easier than ever. Booking your accommodation through Sonus Festival and the official partner Festicket is the only way to guarantee that you won’t lose out in the event of an unforeseen cancellation.

Of course, once you arrive, you will bask in the natural beauty of the region with its stunning sweeping beaches, glistening ocean, and three world-famous coastal clubs Aquarius, Kalypso, and Papaya all providing the locations. The music will play non-stop from dusk till dawn for five days and nights. There are also plenty of quiet spots and secluded bays to explore as well as a wealth of sun loungers and meandering coastal walks to enjoy. 

Chief amongst the newly added names are South African house kingpin Black Coffee, plus the enduring UK techno icon that is Carl Cox, Italian selector Deborah de Luca, the always party-starting Scot Denis Sulta, a DJ set from the raw and rugged FJAAK DJ, and William Djoko and classy techno from Enrico Sangiuliano, Anfisa Letyago, Ann Clue and Desiree amongst much more. 

These latest names come on top of the likes of Ricardo Villalobos b2b Zip, KiNK (live), FISHER, Paula Temple, Amelie Lens, Reinier Zonneveld live, Sven Väth, Boris Brejcha, Rødhåd, Richie Hawtin, Dixon, and tens more, which makes Sonus 2022 the most mouthwatering edition yet.  

Tickets, Accommodation & Information:

www.sonus-festival.com

LINE UP ADDITIONS

Anfisa Letyago

Ann Clue

Black Coffee

Carl Cox

Deborah de Luca

Denis Sulta

Desiree

Enrico Sangiuliano

FJAAK DJ

William Djoko

FIRST WAVE NAMES

999999999

Adriatique

Âme

Amelie Lens

andhim

Andrea Oliva

ANNA

Ben Klock

Boris Brejcha

Chris Liebing

Dax J

Dixon

FISHER

Giorgia Angiuli live

Hot Since 82

I Hate Models

IMOGEN

Jamie Jones

Joseph Capriati

Joyhauser

KiNK live

Kobosil

Kölsch

Loco Dice

Luigi Madonna

Maceo Plex

Michael Bibi

Monika Kruse

PAN-POT

Patrick Topping

Paula Temple

Reinier Zonneveld live

Ricardo Villalobos b2b Zip

Richie Hawtin

Richy Ahmed

Rødhåd

Seth Troxler

SHDW & Obscure Shape

Sonja Moonear

Stephan Bodzin live

Sven Väth

Trikk

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

October 1st, 2021 - The film ''Your Pag'' was directed by the experienced Antea Ratković and greatly highlights the attractions of the island, such as its destinations, landscapes, activities, gastronomy, and people. At the recent Viva Film Festival in Sarajevo, it won the Silver Klapa in the tourism category.

At the international documentary film festival Viva Film Festival, held in Sarajevo, the promotional film "Your Pag" won second place in the competition of tourist films: the Silver Klapa. The inclusion in the festival program alone was a success in itself because as many as 1,775 films from 131 countries were submitted in three categories: ecology, tourism, and religion.

Photo: Viva Film Festival Official Facebook Page

31 works from 28 countries found their place at the Festival, including "Your Pag". After the award received in Poland, the tourist film of the island of Pag thus again won international recognition.

Let us remind you that the promo film was shot last year at numerous locations on the island of Pag. This is the result of cooperation between the tourist boards of Novalja, Pag, Stara Novalja, Kolan, and Povljana. The message of the film is "No Man is an Island..yet we are all looking for one…" and shows everything that makes the island of Pag and the people who live on it recognizable.

The film "Your Pag" is directed by Antea Ratković, who already has experience in shooting tourist promo films for which she was awarded, Moonstone Production d.o.o. was in charge of production, and Libra d.o.o. for the script.

''Your Pag'', directed by Antea Ratković

A total of ten works from the same number of countries were in the competition of tourist films. In addition to the Croatian representative, there were also films from Austria, Colombia, France, Egypt, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Serbia, and Russia, where the first prize went, the Golden Klapa.

The international festival of ecological, tourist, and religious film Viva Film Festival was held for the seventh time. It is a documentary and short film festival hosted by Sarajevo, but the program is held throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded by an international team of film professionals, ecologists, diplomats, religious leaders, and scientists, and the first edition was held in 2015.

For everything you need to know about filming in Croatia, in your language, be sure to check Total Croatia's page.

For more made in Croatia news, follow TCN's dedicated page.