Buzet Carnival
The carnival season is a time of joy and excitement, eagerly awaited as it swiftly follows the New Year. In Northern Istria, this cherished tradition is lovingly preserved, bringing vibrant energy to the region. The highlight in Buzet is the spectacular grand masquerade parade, featuring around a thousand costumed participants and dozens of impressive allegorical floats from Buzet and surrounding areas.
This "fifth season," as it is fondly called, opens the door to a magical world of imagination while offering a playful reflection on everyday life. The reign of the masquerades culminates in a powerful symbolic event-the trial and burning of the pust, a large puppet representing all the challenges and misfortunes of the past year.
Yet, beyond this spectacular carnival finale, the Buzet area has another captivating highlight waiting to be discovered.
The Igra na ruh (Horn Throwing Game) is a centuries-old tradition played along the road between Sveti Ivan and Most. According to legend, the game originated among the mill owners of the Mirna River valley, who were notorious for their fierce rivalry and animosity. This tension persisted until one fateful carnival, when the millers gathered for a feast and roasted a ram for dinner. After the meal, one of them tossed the ram’s horns and declared that it was time to end their quarrels. The gesture was warmly embraced, and from that day forward, the tradition of horn throwing on Ash Wednesday became a cherished part of the Buzet region’s culture.
The traditional burning of the pust marks the end of carnival festivities and takes place on Shrove Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ash Wednesday in Croatian cultural tradition signifies the closure of the carnival season and the beginning of Lent
Program 2026:
17.01. BUZET - SV. IVAN - MOST
17:00 Buzet / Trg Fontana: Raising of the Buzet Carnival flag
17:15 Most: Ceremony of handing over the keys of the City of Buzet to the carnival masks and raising of the effigy
21:00 Sv. Ivan / Sv. Ivan Community Centre: Bačin bend
24.01. ŠTRPED
14:00 Sv. Duh: Masked Soapbox Race
21:00 Društveni dom Štrped: Ko&ra band
30.01. SOVINJAK
21:00 Sovinjak Community Centre: Sedmo nebo band
31.01. ROČ
18:00 Children's Costume Party
21:00 Dom kulture Roč: Ko&ra band
04.02 PRODANI
19:00 Društveni dom Prodani: Radionica „Maškarani pineli“
Opšrinije: Facebook Maškare Jedinstvo
07.02. PRODANI
16:00 Društveni dom Prodani: Mask-making Workshop and Children's Costume Party
21:00 Društveni dom Prodani: Ko&ra band & DJ Neno
13.02. KRUŠVARI
21:00 Društveni dom Krušvari: Cukar&caffe band
15.02. BUZET
14:00 Trg Fontana: Carnival Parade
17.02. BUZET
10:00 Trg Fontana: Children's Carnival Parade
18.02. SV. IVAN - MOST
15:30 from Sv. Ivan to Most: Traditional horn throwing game
18:00 Most: Burning of the effigy and return of the city keys to the secular authorities
Masked groups from the Buzet area, along with Buzet Secondary School, “Vazmoslav Gržalja” Primary School, the “Grdelin” Kindergarten, and the “Naša Djeca” Association from Buzet, take part in organizing the Buzet Carnival.
Celebrate the joy and excitement of the fifth season!
