A festival for mushroom lovers begins in northern Croatia on September 10, 2016.
If it grows, Croatians will celebrate it.
Croatia has a rich diversity of food festivals all over the country, which celebrate one of the strengths of Croatian cuisine - the freshness and seasonability of its products. In addition to a rich diversity of regional cuisine, the Croatian menu varies according to season, with ingredients available locally and seasonally contributing heavily to the available menu. And if it grows, there is a festival. Fava bean festivals in Kastela, lavender on Hvar, truffles in Istria - the list goes on.
And if mushrooms are your thing, head this week to Paka, near Novi Marof in Varazdin County, for this year's annual mushroom festival. The programme is below:
September 10, 2016 - Saturday
Expert conference, small hall at KC Ivan Rabuzin, 19h
1) Options of project financing from the Rural Development Programme of Croatia with a focus on measures 6 and 4
Organiser: local action group “Prigorje-Zagorje” (LAG PRIZAG)
Lecturer: Ivan Biškup, authorised consultant from the “Forum Invest” company
2) The role of mushroom spawn in forest protection - lecturer Stjepan Hrvoić
3) Problems of illegal appropriation of primary and secondary forest products from private forests - moderator Mario Vlašić
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September 11, 2016 - Sunday
07.30 – 08.30 Manifestation opening and picker registration for the competition
09.00 – 11.30 Mushroom picking competition
09.30 – 11.00 Breakfast with countess Lujza for manifestation participants and children’s picnic
10.00 – 13.30 “With Gljivarijada - Cycling”
11.00 - Tour of beaver locality
12.00 – 13.00 Expert determination of picked quantities and mushroom content by HMGS President prof. Branka Bartolić
13.00 – 13.30 Awards decisions in 2 categories (most picked / largest single piece)
12.00, 13.00, 14.00 Guided tour of Paka fort (time changeable according to number of interested participants)
14.00, 15.30 Presentation of “hunt” for black truffles with renown truffle hunter and Lagotto Romagnolo dog
15.00 – 19.30 Entertainment programme with tamburitza players
16.00, 17.00, 18.00 Gastronomy specialities with and from boletus and truffles prepared by chef Damir Crleni
18.30 Winner announcement with awards
19.30 Manifestation end
Entire day: endemic products fair / promotion of archery, paragliding, cycling, running / artist colony LuNoM
Promotion of the Erdődy hunting ground “Zverinjak”; horse carriage ride along “Zverinjak” to the base of Paka fort with countess Lujza
Organiser reserves the right to change programme.
Organiser: Association of private forest owners “Graber”
Co-organiser: Tourism Board of Novi Marof
https://www.facebook.com/DaniVrganja/?fref=ts
To learn more about the festival, visit the official website.
For an overview of some of Croatia's regional (and unusual) food festivals, here are 25 not to miss.
