We've already written about the big, days long party known as the "Samobor Fašnik", a carnival celebration traditionally held in the town of Samobor just west of Zagreb in the previous years. This year, the event will (of course) take place again, and a couple of days ago a press conference announcing it took place in Samobor.
It is expected that several tens of thousands of masked people will arrive to Samobor in the period between February 22nd and March 5th, when the final event will take place. Two weekends in the row will be filled with programmes for masked children and adults alike, all under the motto for the year "Posel se deli na fašničkoj baušteli" (loosely translated as "You can find work at the carnival construction site").
The entertainment will include colorful kids' parade, satirical performances, visiting masked troupes from all over Croatia and Slovenia, rich rewards for the best masks (both individual, for the families and for the entire groups), concerts, stands with food, drinks and souvernirs, fairground etc. Of course, you can never forget "krafne", traditional donuts filled with jam which are an important part of the Samobor fašnik festivities. Concerts by some of the largest Croatian pop-music stars, such as Neno Belan, Songkillers and TBF and Let 3 (selected to that they represent music from all over Croatia) will be held each evening, completely free for all attending.
At the opening on February 22nd, the Samobor Mayor Krešo Beljak will cede power in the town to the temporary ruler, Princ Fašnik. His rule will not las long, but it will be entertaining - until the final day, on Shrove Tuesday, which is on March 5th this year.
Samobor is, of course, one of many places in Croatia where the celebrations of "fašnik" will be held in this period, and Novi list writes about the Rijeka fašnik which is starting tomorrow, February 17th, with the children's masked parade in the centre of the town.
