From the end of January until mid February, Rijeka, the centre of Kvarner will host one of the biggest international carnivals. This year ‘the Rijeka carnival madness’ will start on 22.01.2010, when the queen of the carnival will be chosen, and the Mayor will hand the keys of the city to the master of the carnival, who will ‘rule over the city’ for a month.

During this period, in Rijeka and the entire Kvarner varioius events, concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances and celebrations will be held,. On January 30th, the Carnival Snowboard Session will be held in the centre of Rijeka, at which around 20 top snowboarders from around 10 countries will participate. This snow event is unique for its snow trail 200 meters from the sea for which 70 m2 of snow is transported into Rijeka.

The carnival is continued on February 6th, when the Rijeka Korzo (main square) will host the children’s carnival.  The climax of the carnival is on February 14th when the international carnival procession will be held at the same location. The competition in creativity, wittiness and originality, the fireworks of colours and shapes will result in a parade of hundreds of allegorical floats, thousands of masks and a great audience.

According to some estimates, the streets of Rijeka gather more than 150,000 participants from the country and all over the world during this event. Six centuries of carnival tradition in this area and the influence of the Venetian and Austrian bourgeois carnivals are the basis on which the renewed Rijeka carnival started to create is unique identity in 1982. Starting with three local carnival groups and 100 participants, it has grown into an international event, numbering today over ten thousand participants from various countries.

The number of participants and spectators has ensured the Rijeka carnival membership in the  Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC)  placing it among the most significant in Europe.

The Rijeka Carnival has imposed itself with its uniqueness as the fifth season of the year – the season of going crazy and relaxation, and with its rich entertainment, sports and cultural program. More info on  Rijeka International Carnival web:  www.ri-karneval.hr