The Rijeka Carnival raises its flag today, Friday, January 17, to signal the start of seven weeks of revelry. Traditionally kicking off on the Feast Day of St Anthony, the largest Mardi Gras of its kind in the region then moves to nearby villages in the weeks to come.
In communities around Rijeka, locals don wild costumes, weird masks and bells to scare off winter, later to join the main parade along the city’s main street, the Korzo. This year’s is expected to bring 100,000 to Rijeka and takes place on Sunday, March 2.
Before then, there’s the Queen’s Pageant and the Handover of the Keys to the City on January 24, and the Children’s Carnival on February 15.
For full details of this year’s events, see here.