There are numerous summer festivals in Slovenia. You should definitely check out this list of some of the best festivals to have an unforgettable experience in Slovenia.
The Best Festivals in Slovenia
In Slovenia, there are many great festivals worth visiting and if you want to do it like a local, you should absolutely choose your favorite(s) from the list and attend! There’s a number of amazing options with great diversity.
1. Metaldays
As the name of the festival says this is a heavy metal music festival that has been held annually in Tolmin since 2004. It is growing bigger and more popular every year. I usually takes place at the end of July and so it has a reserved camping area and two beaches by the emerald-green Soča River to refresh in the hot summer days.
2. Ljubljana Summer Festival
During the warmest months of the year, Ljubljana becomes a huge open-air concert. The main festival venue is the gorgeous Križanke. This is definitely an essential part of summer in Ljubljana for both locals and visitors.
3. Pippi Longstocking Festival
Pippi Longstocking Festival usually takes place in September in Velenje. It is the perfect fun for your little ones with various indoor and outdoor activities taking place, such as dancing, wall climbing, or discovering Pippi Longstocking’s house. You can also watch the endless art and street shows that will charm every single kid.
4. Lent Festival
Lent Festival is Slovenia’s largest outdoor festival that takes place in Maribor. During festival days the promenade along the Drava River turns into a social center of the city: an idyllic place where locals and visitors get together to enjoy the first summer days with good music, theater and culinary delights. Festival Lent takes place at the end of June.
5. Kurentovanje Carnival
Ptuj, holds the traditional Kurentovanje Carnival in February. This is the biggest cultural-ethnographic event in Slovenia and is as such definitely worth your time. Join the locals and help to drive away winter by calling for spring! Don’t forget to put on your favorite costume and watch out for the traditional Slovenian mask ‘Kurent’.
6. Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival
This Slovenian film festival takes place in Ljutomer and is specialized in horror and fantasy movies. It takes place every year in mid-July and features a wine program with numerous free tastings of competing wines. Film guests then choose the best wine. The program features not only films but also live concerts, book presentations, Zombie Walk, and exhibitions.
7. Ana Desetnica Street Theater Festival
In more than 10 Slovenian cities, the international street theater festival Ana Desetnica attracts crowds to watch performances by street artists, such as jugglers, dancers, high-wire artists, clowns, musicians, and fire-swallowers. It marks the beginning of summer as July starts.
8. Ljubljana International Film Festival
Liffe international film festival was established in 1990 and was since then held annually in Ljubljana. It screens Slovenian films, films retrospectives, international independent film programs and a short movies competition. It usually takes place in November and some venues can be found in other cities in Slovenia, including Maribor and Celje.
9. Beer and Flowers Festival
In the middle of July, Laško becomes the center of Slovenia and attracts good music lovers from all the country and abroad. Laško has a two-hundred-year-old tradition of beermaking and is as such the perfect place to relax and enjoy the party.
10. Summer Festivals around Slovenia
There are a number of other small festivals and festivities around Slovenia. Almost every town, from small towns to bigger ones, has its own festival. Some might last only a day or a few but are nevertheless definitely worth your time as you get to see how locals have fun!