I FEEL SLOVENIA THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD: SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT AND FESTIVALS

Surrounded by green nature, the whole family can have fun trying their hand at archery, building a raft, plaiting, going for a ride in a canoe and many other things besides. In the towns and cities, children and parents can be surprised by a fire-breather or they might come across a puppet play. In Kranjska Gora, the children’s event Kekčevi Dnevi is planned, in Ljubljana the Ana Desetnica festival, and in Maribor the international puppet festival.

Slovenia is full of surprises for children. Especially in summer! In Kranjska Gora, a popular centre for active holidays at all times of year, Kekčevi Dnevi will be organised between 21 and 28 June. This experience, which takes its name from Kekec, the most famous hero of Slovenian children’s films, provides opportunities for many different activities and wonderful experiences in nature. Bohinj too provides a similar environment for children’s experiences with its lake and the Pod Skalco setting, where the children’s BoFejst festival will take place from 10 until 12 July.

In Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, the international street theatre festival Ana Desetnica will take place for the 12th time on the streets and bridges along the picturesque river Ljubljanica in the city centre between the 2 and 5 July. Different locations will host street artists, clowns, circus artists, jugglers, tight-rope walkers, fire-breathers, musicians, comedians, dancers and actors from Slovenia and abroad. One week before, the 11th international children’s festival Mini Teater will begin in Ljubljana, at which puppet theatres from many different countries will participate until the end of the summer.

Puppets will also be entertaining young and old alike in Maribor, where the Puppet Theatre will host the 20th International Summer Puppet Festival between 20 June and 5 September. Special puppet workshops will also be prepared for children.

More on children’s events can be found under Events at www.slovenia.info, www.visitljubljana.si
More on Kekčevi Dnevi in Kranjska Gora at
www.kranjska-gora.si

SOUVENIR OF THE SEASON: LACE FROM IDRIJA

One of the most typical souvenirs from Slovenia, lacework from Idrija, can be bought in many different places, but it is worth so much more if you choose it in the place where it is made. An excellent opportunity for this is the 28th festival of lacework from Idrija, which will take place between 19 and 21 June in the town with an exceptional technical and ethnographical heritage.

Mercury, the culinary speciality žlikrofi and bobbin lace – these are only three special characteristics of this town in which for 3 days a year wooden bobbins are skilfully moved this way and done by all generations. The lace masterpieces can be seen at exhibitions, while the process in which they come about in the skilful hands of the local women can be admired on the streets of Idrija. The tradition of lacework in Idrija dates back to the 17th century. The school of lacework in Idrija has operated since 1876 and the čipka from Idrija now has official certification of geographic origin. The beauty of this lacework has been adorning homes for centuries – on curtains, covers and bedding. In recent years it is being used more and more often on fashionable clothes and accessories.

The čipka from Idrija, with its certificate of geographic origin, is frequently chosen as a protocol or business gift.

There is more information on souvenirs in the catalogue Souvenirs of Slovenia, accessible under Ordering Publications at www.slovenia.info

April 10, 2009 Posted in: Slovenia