This spectacular event is what many of the locals prepare for the entire year; wait till you see the traditional costumes worn by regulars as they are outrageously extravagant. Besides the exhibitions, masquerades, concerts, sports events, dandy rituals and celebrations; the highlights are undoubtedly the Children’s Carnival parade, the Carnival Snowboard Session and the pinnacle being the International Parade through the city centre where an expected 10,000 masked participants and over one-hundred delightfully decorated floats from Croatia and dozens of other countries from all over the world, parade in style. This joining of tradition and custom is a sign of unity and the march in the city centre attracts over 100,000 people from just about everywhere.
Nowhere in the world will you be able to experience such a distinctive blend of a European civic carnival,based on the historical and cultural customs with elements of folklore and mythology, as in Rijeka. The International Carnival Parade is the jewel in the crown of carnival festivities in Kvarner and beyond. These definitely need to be experienced once in a lifetime!