While Advent in Zagreb was voted best in Europe several times and is certainly the most recognizable such event in Croatia, smaller towns in Croatia also organize their end-of-year-festivities that are worth a visit.
This also holds true to a wonderful gem in Zagreb proximity, the town of Samobor, mostly known for their “fašnik” (Carnival, held at the end of winter). And this weekend marks the beginning of the Advent events and celebrations in Samobor, where St. Nicholas, celebrated widely in Croatia as the saint bringing children presents on December 6th will make an appearance and help children from a local kindergarten decorate the Christmas tree. Later in the day the first Advent candle will be lit on the town’s main square and songs from Etnofletno choir and children’s choir of the St. Anastasia parish. Many concerts and other events will be held in the days leading up to Christmas, including the main event, charity concert in Samobor sports hall, which will take place on December 7th, and where many well-known Croatian musicians will join forces. Ice-skating rink is already fully operational and welcoming ice-skaters, both young and old, and on December 15th the Christmas Fair on the main square will start.
The main event of the opening of the Advent season in Samobor will be held this Sunday, when the charity race “Velika srca trče” (Big Hearts Run) will take place, with the start happening at 10 am in front of the Bunker Youth Centre in the former Samobor army barracks. This is the fourth year in a row that the Road and Cross Country Club Samobor organizes this race, aimed at supporting the children from the Nova Budućnost association. The race will be held on the 1 km long track, and between 10 am and 2 pm all laps completed by the runners will be added up and the sponsors of the event will donate money for each lap. That way each of the participants will help in securing more money for the children who certainly need it. The sign-ups for the race start at 9 am, and after the 4 hours are over and all laps are added up, there will be a party organized at the Youth Centre. And of course, don’t forget, once you’ve done all the laps in the race, you really need to go and have one or two of Samobor’s most famous deserts, their kremšnita (a custard creme desert made throughout central Europe that is taken very seriously in Samobor)!
