We can hardly wait for that August Sunday morning when the bells wake us for yet another Sinjska Alka - and this year it is the 304th!

More than halfway into July, it's safe to say that the promising Alkars have done a fair bit of intense preparations for the traditional event. Namely, after extensive training at the Sinj hippodrome and the plains of the Sinj field, the Alkars moved to the racecourse in mid-July, on Monday to Friday, from 18:00 to 20:00. 

And the best part? You have the chance to witness the Alkars in action!

As we inch closer to August and the Alka celebration, the homes in Sinj change their rhythm to follow the horse’s gallops, pulsating the streets of the town which lives for the Alka - an event that is also part of the immaterial heritage of UNESCO, Croatia, and the world. 

It all begins on Friday 2 August at 5:30 pm with the 304th Bara competition. On Saturday, 3 August is the Čoja, also at 17:30, and on Sunday, 4 August at 4:30 pm, the Alkars fight in the main competition for their place in the long and rich history of the event. 

The entrance fee to watch the training, as well as the Bara Čoja, is free. 

Do not miss the opportunity to be part of these unique events!

July 18, 2019 - Every day there is an increasing number of foreign and Croatian tourists in Sinj. Like every year, this will culminate at the time of the Alka and Velika Gospa celebration when Sinj expects hundreds of thousands of guests. It is, therefore, essential to provide visitors with a sense of welcome and timely information.

Thus, in order to better inform all guests in the area, the Sinj Tourist Board will organize a free professional guided tour from 18 July (Thursday) at 19:00 and every following Thursday in cooperation with the Association of Tourist Guides. It is intended for anyone who wants to learn more about the city of Sinj and its rich cultural and historical heritage, traditionally nurtured through its two symbols - the Sinjska Alka and Velika Gospa. 

Ivan Alebić

The starting point for these free guided tours is the Alka Courtyard (in front of the Sinjska Alka Museum) on Put Petrovca 12.

The Sinj Tourist Board invites all landlords of private accommodation and caterers to offer these free guided tours of Sinj to their guests. 

July 18, 2019 - The Split-Dalmatia County Association of Juvenile Volunteers of the Homeland War organizes the jubilee 10th memorial regatta down the Cetina river. 

Namely, on Sunday, July 21, the 10th Cetina Memorial Regatta will be held, dedicated to the killed and dead defenders of the Cetina region, in memory of August 25, 1991, when Cetina volunteers attacked the barracks of the former JNA.

The regatta will gather many participants who want to join this unique event.

The start of the regatta is scheduled for 2 pm at Panj in the municipality of Hrvace. The regatta passes through the beautiful Cetina, under the bridges of Panj and Han, Obrovac Sinjski, and the finish line is in the village of Gala (Buk), the municipality of Otok, where the scheduled arrival is about 5 pm.

The organizers ask that the regatta participants are prepared for the event with the appropriate clothing, footwear, and sun protection.

The organizers will provide a meal (military beans) for all participants in the regatta, and everyone is invited to come in as big numbers as possible! 

All information about the Jubilee Memorial Regatta can be found by calling Marija Vujević Vegija at 098 920 8319.

July 13, 2019 - A day of unity, pride, and happiness: Let’s remember July 16, 2018, and Croatia’s silver medal success at the World Cup in Russia one year later. 

One of the most important passions in the world - football - united Croatia one year ago when our World Cup finalists came back from Russia for an unforgettable celebration. Unity, pride, and happiness are just some of the emotions they could not resist. More than half a million people welcomed the Croatia national team in Zagreb alone, and all of Croatia, wrapped in red and white checkers, screamed the same word, "Indescribable!”

At the initiative of coach Zlatko Dalić’s "Organizers Without Boundaries", the Tourist Board of Vukovar-Srijem County and Vukovar and the City of Vukovar invite all of Croatia to recall these spectacular moments that filled our hearts and souls just one year ago. Ivan Rakitić and Lovre Kalinić also extended the invitation to fans, and the action has so far been supported by HRT, Sportske Novosti, and the Croatian national tourism board.

After the successful 2nd festival SVI zaJEDNO HRVATSKO NAJ, to continue this positive story and encourage the community, the organizers invite all of Croatia to come together to mark this significant anniversary.

In Vukovar, the Day of Unity, Pride, and Happiness will be marked in the Park-Forest Adici, where visitors can play bubble football. 

Sinj, a city proud of their boy with a football, Gaja Laberia, and with tangible archaeological evidence that the Cetina region is the birth of football, will celebrate this day in the thrilling fans' atmosphere at the King Tomislav Square (Pijaca), where music groups Uzbuna, Ozon, Arni Acoustic will perform and members of the PKD Gaj Labéri association will play a game between the Delmatae and Romans. 

Visitors will also enjoy the complimentary local delicacies - Sinj uštipak and Ožujsko! 

All Croatian citizens, as well as tourists, are invited to swarm the streets in Croatian jerseys and fan gear on 16 July this year, from 8 pm to 11 pm. It is an excellent opportunity for Croatian and foreign guests to show that Croatia is genuinely full of life and how proud we are that our athletes' achievements have contributed, among other things, to the international image of Croatia as a small but hugely successful sports nation.

On Thursday at 6 pm, preparations begin for the 304th Sinj Alka at the Alkar race course. 

Before the start of this year’s preparations, Boško Ramljak will hold a roll call of the candidates at the Sinj Hippodrome.

Recall, from the beginning of May, 33 candidates for the Alka have been preparing in the Sinj field and the surrounding area. Ivica Filipović Grčić says the preparations have so far gone well and that there have been no injuries to the candidates or horses. 

On Thursday,  the Alka Duke will choose the candidates who will continue the preparations, while the decision for the Alka competitors and other participants will be decided seven days before the final competition.

July 10, 2019 - The Alka Days and Velika Gospa, an umbrella event that brings together a multitude of colorful and attractive content in the summer months, are always welcomed by the people of Sinj and their guests.

The organizers have made sure that the program abounds in variety and that everyone can easily find something to their liking: from concerts of contemporary and classical music, exhibitions, rock and ethnic festivals, creative workshops, and sports tournaments to Alkar ceremonies and church celebrations. The carefully crafted events combined with unparalleled ambient sounds guarantee unforgettable summer nights in the city under Kamičak.

The celebration begins already on July 12th in the main town square with the play ‘Alka’s Bride’, performed by the Sinj Amateur Theater. Before the official opening ceremony, a classical music concert will be held at the Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj. The award-winning young musicians including Martin Krpan (violin), Dunja Čolić (oboe), Ana Ivanov (violin), Iva Ilakovac (cello) and Mihovil Buturić (organ) will present an impressive program suitable for this sacral space with the sonatas of baroque composers like JS Bach, GF Händel , GP Telemann, as well as the rarely performed church sonatas by W.A. Mozart. It is a special musical treat by the modern composition of J. Prajza, written this year for this ensemble.

In a similar space, in the courtyard of Our Lady of the Monastery, the traditional festival of spiritual klapa songs will be held, titled 'Klapa Gospi Sinjskoj' on August 1st.

The musical evenings at the Kamičak Fortress are an exceptional musical event organized by the Sinj Tourist Board for many years and breathes new life to this fortress that watches over the ancient city. On August 17th, at 20:30, the ancient walls will feature notes of fantastic jazz music performed by renowned world performers - like Ratko Zjača - Stefano Bedetti and Nocturnal Four.

Kamičak will also host the Kamičak Ethno Festival on August 23rd and 24th, yet another splendid musical event with foreign and local performers. An exciting duo of the name of 'Turica Doncel' will come from Argentina, bringing with them the tastes of traditional Argentine folk, combined with contemporary musical expressions. Perká will travel from Macedonia and is a street performer who focuses on an authentic interpretation of the traditional rhythms of the Balkans, especially the folk sounds of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. The Balkan music tradition will be presented by the beloved Belgrade composer Naked, and Croatia’s strength will be represented by the always splendid Ogenj and Kazan. English folk music group Patrick Walker Trio will play the rhythms of traditional Irish music.

In the Alkar courtyard on August 11th, the people of Sinj and their guests will enjoy the band 'Legenda AR Tribute', which was founded in Buenos Aires. They will present Croatian pop and melodic songs aiming to maintain the cultural roots of their ancestors who had to leave their beloved Croatia many years ago. The group has said that this trip to Croatia is a dream come true, because it enables them to play in the land of their ancestors.

The Summer Music School is held from July 8th to 20th and will gather many young musicians of all ages who have a precious opportunity to collaborate with well-known professors through a variety of professional approaches and educational methods.

The photo workshop ‘The World in Colors’ (August 30th - September 3rd), in conjunction with Foto Hrvatska and the Sinj Tourist Board, invites everyone interested in a challenge to take a new look at the well-known and unknown through the lens of a photographer. 

For the history lovers, the Sinj Tourist Board and its associates are preparing the historic spectacle ‘Battle of Sinj 1715’ on August 8th. The battle focuses on an indispensable part of Sinj and Croatia’s past - the battle with the Ottomans, which spawned the Alka and the celebration of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj. The play acts as a compelling reminder of an event that happened over 300 years ago! 

Even further in the past is the Delmatae and the Romans. Organized by the Association of Gaj Laberia, the angry foes will face one another on the football field under the watchful eye of Emperor Diocletian and Prisca. The result is less important, as . the only prize is glory (and the fact that football was first played in the Cetina region). The game will be held on July 28th. 

The Sinj Air Show will be held at the Sinj sports airport Piket from August 30th to September 1st. The Air Show is organized by the Aeronautical-Technical Society of Sinj and the town of Sinj. The attractive adrenaline acrobatics always attract many visitors of all ages and fans of aeronautics.

Guests from Sansepolcro, Italy, a friend of Sinj, will arrive to present their traditional medieval archery giant Palio della Balestra on August 3rd.

From July 19th to 21st, organized by the Association SKUP, the 17th music and beer festival S.A.R.S. will be held, featuring performers of various musical styles like Vojko Vrućina, M.O.R.T., Grasse, Jufkamental, Limbonaut, Edo Maajka, Atheist Rap, Dregermajster, Heavy Feels, Tony Rose & The Band of Jakeys.

Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square is traditionally home to the Sinj Village Fair (August 2nd and 3rd), featuring numerous exhibitors presenting and offering ornaments, handicrafts, gourmet delicacies, and products from the villages and islands. In the hope of preserving old crafts threatened with extinction, the Sinj Tourist Board, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, is organizing an educational workshop of traditional handicrafts. Visitors will have an opportunity to see how clay pots are made under the hands of master Ivan Knezović, and learn about the almost forgotten skill of making opanaks, or traditional peasant shoes (Ljilja Vojković).

Visitors will be able to taste local products and dishes within the fair. Apart from the exhibition and wine and gastronomy area, visitors will also be able to enjoy an entertainment program featuring numerous associations and cultural and artistic companies. Thus, visitors will be able to catch the performances of the Sinj majorettes, KUD Cetina, KUD Vrilo, the Association for the Preservation of the Cetina Region Heritage, URIG from Otok and HKUD Peruća. Traditional folk dancing will be performed, as will traditional singing.

The Sinj Tourist Board also invites all interested local and foreign guests to join free tours every Thursday at 7 pm (from July 18th to August 29th) as an excellent opportunity to get to know the city under the guidance of professional tourist guides.

Be sure to visit the Alka racecourse in mid-July to watch the preparations for the highly anticipated event in August.

The crown of the events is undoubtedly the Alkar ceremony (Bara 02.08., Čoja 03.08., Alka 04.08.) and the Assumption, or Velika Gospa, the heavenly patron of Sinj. 

The Sinj Tourist Board invites you to enjoy this stacked summer program!

You can find more information at the Sinj Tourist Board website.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

July 9, 2019 - The Sinj Tourist Board organizes the 10th 'Sinj Village Fair' as an event that encompasses the exhibition, tasting, and sale of traditional Croatian products: food, drinks, and souvenirs. 

The Sinj Village Fair will be held as part of the Alkar celebrations, on August 2 and 3, 2019. Thus, the fair will take place in August when Sinj becomes the center of cultural, religious, and tourist events in Split-Dalmatia County and beyond.

Through the organization of the event, the Tourist Board of Sinj gives the interested citizens and visitors of Sinj a chance to taste and buy local and traditional products that are most difficult for consumers to find since they are not readily available for sale. At the same time, small and medium-sized farms from the rural area of Sinj and its surrounding area and other parts of Croatia will be given an opportunity to promote and sell their products.

After last year’s exceptional attendance, even more exhibitors are expected this year. Therefore, the organizers will provide a larger space and a greater number of exhibition tables, as they expect participants from all parts of Croatia and the neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which at least 40% of local producers will be present.

This fair is important for promoting the rich tourist offer and cultural heritage, as well as the agricultural producers and souvenir manufacturers, all aiming to develop the tourism, culture, and economy of the city. 

In this way, all visitors will have the opportunity to celebrate the Sinj Alka and Velika Gospa with the quality products of Croatian villages and give their contribution to the Sinj economy and the promotion of tourism.

Application forms can be submitted via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone 021 / 826-352 or in person at the Sinj Tourist Board office at Put Petrovac 12, 21230 Sinj.

The application must include the name and surname of the exhibitor, i.e., the name of the association, craft, OPG and the like, the contact number and the number of days for which the exhibitor is applying.

Due to the limited number of exhibitors, applications will be received by July 31 until 12 pm or up to capacity.

July 2, 2019 - Sinj is witnessing an increasing number of arrivals of foreign and domestic tourists in their town every day.

Like every year, this number culminates during the Alka and Velika Gospa celebrations, when hundreds of thousands of guests are expected. It is therefore essential to provide the guests of Sinj a sense of welcome and timely information.

To better inform tourists who are coming to Sinj, the Tourist Board of Sinj opened the Tourist Information Center (TIC) on July 1 on Ul. Alkarsko trkalište. The center is located in a wooden house where informants will share promotional material and notify tourists about the tourist offer of Sinj and its surrounding area.

Ivan Alebić

In addition to providing information in direct contact with visitors, the tourist center also collects and updates feedback from tourists who stayed in Sinj all to improve the current tourist offer and infrastructure in the city.

The Tourist Information Center will be open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, and in high season (August) every day from 10:00 to 20:00.

If you have already booked a holiday in Dalmatia and are looking to enjoy one of the more exciting events in the region, you’ll want to look away from the coast and the crowds and head to the heart of the Inland Dalmatia - and namely to Sinj. 

The summer in Sinj boasts a plethora of events crafted to everyone's tastes, among which is one event you should not miss - the Kamičak Etno Festival, reports Dalmacija Danas on June 27, 2019.

The first festival edition hosted the sounds and renowned names including Zinkuše, the more popular Yall Aux Yeux and the young Split band Imgellad, though the second year has come back even stronger with a two-day program, international performers, accompanying content and brilliant entertainment.

Within the framework of the European project that recently restored the Sinj Fortress Kamičak, the two-day festival will welcome the interesting Argentinian duo Turica Doncel, who will bring a taste of traditional Argentine folklore combined with contemporary musical excerpts. 

From Macedonia, the Perija street performers will grace the stage, whose authoritative excerpts are based on authentic interpretations of the traditional rhythms of the Balkans, especially the ethnic sounds of Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia.

A unique interpretation of the Balkan music tradition will be displayed by the beloved Belgrade composer Naked who is currently performing throughout Europe and beyond. 

Croatia’s strength will be represented by the always brilliant and now established, Ogenj and Kazan, who overwhelmingly conquer the hearts of audiences and critics.

The Kamičak Etno Festival is unthinkable without the rhythms of traditional Irish music, and will include the Patrick Walker Trio. Patrick Walker is a hero of the English folk scene, and is well-known for getting the audience to dance. 

The festival will be held on August 23 and 24 in Kamičak, under the summer sky in the heart of the city. Entrance to the festival is free.

June 18, 2019 - In the small oasis of Gljev near Sinj, we celebrate the first decade of Inland Dalmatia’s mini Woodstock. Maybe Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, and other greats in music history haven’t played at Kravarevac, but you never know what pearls are hidden in the multitude of young bands and artists who have the chance to play at the Gljevstok festival. Come and support them on their way to glory - because you certainly don't want to be "the one loser that missed the best Gljevstok ever!"

Great music, hypnotizing intact nature and pleasant company - Gljevstok is an escape from the everyday bustle, back to the roots and the peace that can be had just steps away from the concrete jungle, under the starry night sky. 

Beside the campfire and until the late evening hours, let the notes and vocals of skilled bassists, guitarists, singers, and drummers take you into new dimensions of peace and harmony. The entrance is always free, and camping is even free in the nearby forest.

Photo by Zdravko Budimir

The organizers have prepared a vibrant program for all visitors, from the youngest to the younger.

The Mandala workshop or God's Eye: (according to God's eye or Ojo de Dios on Quemado Mountain, San Luis Potosi, Mexico) is a spiritual and votive object made of weaving yarn on a wooden cross. A few colors are often used. They are most often found in Mexican communities, among the indigenous and Catholic peoples. The ritual is a tool that is believed to protect those who pray, a magic object and the ancient cultural symbol. There is a limited number of entries (20 people).

For children aged 5 to 14, a creative workshop "Make Me Real" will be held. The youngest students will be able to learn about the birds in the Cetina region and how important they are for nature. The BIOM Association, in cooperation with the Gljevstok Association, will provide participants with all the necessary materials for making a three-dimensional model of a bird species you can find or create a butterfly model that will be a wonderful gift to mothers, granddaughters or festival visitors. Early applications are not required and a maximum of 15 participants can partake. Željko Ćurković will lead the workshop.

Photo by Zdravko Budimir

d.klea creates clothing in a hippie, fairytale, and urban styles. They are painted by a batik technique or by applying it. Every piece is unique and this year they are joining the 10th Gljevstok Festival. https://www.facebook.com/handmade.design.hr/

Workshop Performative Identity in Children: Various activities of performance expression in the form of entertaining games will be prepared for the youngest visitors. The activities serve to encourage children to communicate more comfortably in order to strengthen social inclusion. Through games, they will try to get closer to the importance of respecting individual work and evaluating everyone's thinking, which leads to a stronger connection and functionality in group work. A series of short activities will also test their essential need for exploration and improvisation through new, creative solutions. Only the desire for good fun and new friendships is required from the participants. Maja Stojic, student of the Academy of Arts in Split, Department of Film and Video will adapt the games and other activities to the age and needs of all participants. Entries to the workshop: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo by Zdravko Budimir

Prepare yourself for the festival on Saturday morning in the best ambiance - in nature with hatha yoga and vinyasa elements. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat or towel. Everyone is welcome, no matter the experience. Applications and more information can be found at mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Gljevstok 2019 line-up:

Gljevstock Stage:

- Billie Joan

- Ciotóg

- Đepeto

- Čudnoređe

- The Countess

- Vukojarac

- Go Lilly

- Seviter

- Nebula Express

Chan Stage:

- El Commando

- Kommoda 

- Unsub

- Vjeko

- Double T

- Maystro

- Mr D

- BeePolar

- Shoomarak

- Chanovski