Holiday magic has once again wrapped the old town of Cres, the stone alleys by the sea and the promenade filled with thousands of lights. From the end of November to the last day of December 2025, the island transforms into a large open-air Advent stage: with the scent of mulled wine and fritters, concerts, workshops, children's plays, sports events, and a spiritual program alternate throughout the month.
This year's Advent in the town of Cres relies on the togetherness of the local community – the City of Cres, the Tourist Board of the City of Cres, numerous associations, sports clubs, cultural institutions, caterers, and volunteers participate in the organization. The result is a diverse program for all generations, enjoyed equally by families with children, teenagers eager for music and dancing, but also visitors looking for a quieter, more intimate experience of the island in winter days.
The center of events are Frane Petrić Square and the 20th of April Promenade, but the holiday atmosphere spreads throughout the entire historical center, and even to nearby settlements like the picturesque Valun. A special charm is given by the combination of traditional customs, Mediterranean architecture, and modern scenographic solutions – light installations, projectors, and creative decorations emphasize the stone facades, church bell towers, and the harbor.
Advent on the Promenade: the heart of holiday life
The Advent program officially lasts from November 29 to December 31, 2025, and almost every day on the 20th of April Promenade, a fitting catering offer awaits you. Cottages with homemade food and drinks regularly offer Cres specialties – from fish dishes and goulash to sweets according to old island recipes – so Advent in Cres is increasingly experienced as a small gastro festival.
On the first Advent Saturday, the lighting of the candle on the main town square gathers residents and guests for the symbolic beginning of the holiday story. After the ceremony, with appropriate songs and blessings, the program moves to the Promenade where concerts by local bands open "Advent on the Promenade". The schedule of musical performances is arranged so that different genres alternate on weekends – from Dalmatian and Kvarner standards, through acoustic pop covers, to dance rhythms brought by DJs in the later hours.
Thanks to the well-thought-out concept, the promenade by the sea becomes a meeting place throughout the day: in the morning hours, locals socialize there over coffee and sweets, families with children drop by in the afternoon, and in the evening the atmosphere turns into a small open-air concert square. Saturday programs are particularly attractive, where associations and clubs cook together, serve traditional dishes, and collect funds for their activities through donations.
Program for children and families: Christmas Magic in the Moise Palace
One of the recognizable symbols of Advent in Cres in recent years is the Moise Palace – a restored Renaissance palace turned into a place for meetings, workshops, and children's imagination. During December, the Palace bears the name "Christmas Magic", and almost every week it offers new content for the youngest: workshops on felting Christmas balls from wool, decorating cakes, making decorations from natural materials, and various small plays.
The program is organized so that nursery, kindergarten, and school groups participate in different terms, but also parents, grandmothers, and grandfathers. Children from the Girice Kindergarten go through a cycle of thematic workshops, and numerous Christmas performances are held throughout December in which little Cres residents present themselves with songs, recitations, and plays. For many families, going to the Moise Palace is the central part of the holiday routine – a place where children learn, create, and get to know the customs of the island.
Special joy is brought by days reserved for socializing with elves, Santa Claus, and Mrs. Claus. The youngest gladly pose for photos, write wish letters, participate in small games and quizzes, while parents can take a break with tea or coffee in the warmth of the palace. Such a program further emphasizes the family character of Advent on the island and makes it attractive for a multi-day stay, especially for those who want a quieter but content-filled winter holiday on the island of Cres.
School and sports stories: from the Christmas show to "Christmas Basket"
The Cres school is also strongly included in the holiday program. The Frane Petrić Elementary School is preparing a traditional Christmas show again this year, which takes place on December 18 in the school hall. The show gathers students of different ages, and the program combines choir singing, short dramatic performances, and instrumental numbers. For many parents and friends of children, this is precisely one of the emotional highlights of December, as the whole community gathers to support the youngest performers.
The sports part of Advent further enlivens the cold days. From December 5 to 7, a humanitarian futsal tournament organized by DPH Cres is held, and in the middle of the month, recreational athletes are gathered by "Advent training for all" and "Advent ascent" prepared by SRK Samo pozitiva. The highlight of the sports part of the program is reserved for December 19, when the Cres Basketball Club organizes the popular tournament "Christmas Basket" – an opportunity to combine competitive spirit with holiday mood.
Sports events, from football and basketball tournaments to Christmas fishing for children and adults, are distributed so that during Advent on the island there is always a reason to leave the house. Particularly impressive are events on the waterfront and the Grotica pier, where along with the competitive part, a joint gathering of participants, fans, and accidental passers-by is prepared.
Nativity Scene Festival: Cres as a great Christmas path
The biggest novelty of recent years, and the central spiritual motif of this holiday season as well, is the Nativity Scene Festival. From December 15, 2025, to January 6, 2026, the entire town of Cres turns into a unique promenade through the story of Christmas. Along with the nativity scene in the Parish Church of St. Mary the Great and in the Church of St. Francis, within the Franciscan Monastery, visitors can view specially arranged nativity scenes in a series of smaller churches: St. Mark, St. George, St. Isidore, and St. Cajetan.
The Nativity Scene Festival emphasizes the richness of the island's sacral heritage. Many of these small churches are otherwise discreetly hidden in quiet streets or on the edge of the historic core, so precisely during Advent they come into full focus. Visitors get a reason to go for a walk outside the usual routes, stop in front of old stone facades, and in silence view the nativity scenes prepared by parishioners, monks, volunteers, and local artists.
The organizers emphasize that the Nativity Scene Festival is conceived as a blend of spirituality, tradition, and creativity. Every year, new collaborators join in designing the setup – from experts in sacral art to enthusiasts who make figures, backdrops, and lighting in their free time. This season, special thanks go to the Parish of St. Mary the Great and the Franciscan Monastery in Cres, but also to numerous individuals participating in the realization: from technical support and transport to discreet work behind the scenes.
Advent in Valun: holidays in a quiet cove
The holiday program does not stop at the town center itself. A special part of Advent is dedicated to the nearby place Valun, a small fishing port located in a protected cove south of Cres. "Advent in Valun" is organized there, an event that combines music, local gastronomy, and socializing of locals with visitors.
As part of the program, the Christmas Concert of the Veljak Trio is held, which brings holiday and traditional compositions in an intimate ambiance, while at the same time, an appropriate gastro offer based on homemade dishes is offered. In the afternoon hours, the program is taken over by the Cres Volunteer Fire Department, whose firefighters arrange a special "magical Christmas intervention" – designed as a cheerful parade and animation for children.
For families spending the holidays in Cres, a one-day trip to Valun is an ideal opportunity to experience a calmer, almost film-like Christmas atmosphere by the sea. A walk along the waterfront, the view of the boats, the sound of music from the improvised stage, and the smell of local specialties create an atmosphere that differs significantly from large continental Advent centers.
Gastro and music weekends on the Promenade
Saturdays on the 20th of April Promenade are regularly reserved for a combination of gastronomy and music. The program "Advent on the Promenade" on December 20 brings a whole range of content: from the Little Pizzaioli workshop, through balance practice on the slackline and aerial silk, to the musical program "Munchies Sound System" organized by the Bita Association. Such a concept allows children and young people to try new skills, while older ones can observe, take photos, and participate in relaxed socializing.
On the same day in the afternoon hours, traditional dishes are prepared by the Italian Community of Cres and Pešekanke, while the Cres Handball Club presents itself with the sale of souvenirs and Christmas sweets. The entire event is accompanied by the performance of the group Macaklini, which ensures that the audience stays on the Promenade throughout the evening. The combination of live music, the smell of food, and glittering decorations turns this part of the town into an open-air stage – a perfect backdrop for holiday photos.
Such thematic weekends further encourage visitors to extend their stay on the island. Many plan a weekend trip to Cres precisely to catch one of the larger programs on the Promenade, and then use a day or two to explore the surrounding places, walk to Lubenice, or visit one of the hidden Cres coves.
Musical highlights: Klapa Teha and Urban & 4
In the rich schedule of Advent, musical events occupy a special place. on St. Stephen's Day, December 26, the Christmas Concert of Klapa Teha is traditionally held in the Church of St. Mary the Great. The atmosphere of the stone sacral space, the sound of polyphonic singing, and the carefully selected holiday repertoire make this concert one of the most emotional moments of the entire December.
The grand finale of Advent is announced for December 29, when Urban & 4 performs on the 20th of April Promenade for the first time. One of the most significant rock authors of Croatia and the region, Damir Urban, with his Four, comes to Cres as part of a winter tour marking thirty years of his career. The concert is conceived as the culmination of the holiday program and also a gift to the city on the occasion of the Day of the City of Cres.
The audience can expect a cross-section of the greatest hits – from the songs "Nebo", "Budi moja voda", and "Mjesto za mene", through "Iskra", "Astronaut", and "Mala truba", to newer singles "Blijeda u proljeće" and "Potpuno je nevažno". Characteristic of Urban & 4 is a distinctive approach to the concert: the audience often finds itself in a kind of musical-visual performance in which intimate, quieter moments and strong, energetic choruses alternate. The atmosphere will be further enhanced by the fact that the concert is held by the sea, outdoors, in the festively lit Cres.
New Year's Shop and Farewell to the Old Year
Towards the end of the year, from December 29, 2025, to January 1, 2026, the New Year's Shop – a fair of local products where producers from the island and the surrounding area present themselves – is held on the main town square. Here one can find handmade souvenirs, olive oil, liqueurs, honey, natural cosmetics, handicrafts made of wood, ceramics, and textile accessories, but also small bites suitable for walking among the stalls.
The New Year's Shop is designed as an opportunity for guests spending holidays in Cres to take a concrete part of the island home – a bottle of oil, a package of cookies, or a handmade souvenir that will remind them throughout the year of the winter days spent in Kvarner. At the same time, the manifestation supports local producers and encourages the development of small family farms.
Traditionally, on the last day of the year, the Farewell to the Old Year is held at noon. With music, toasts, and appropriate messages, those gathered at Frane Petrić Square symbolically bid farewell to 2025 and jointly toast to the new year, 2026. Such a daytime reception attracts both families with children and visitors who perhaps plan a quiet evening later but do not want to miss the joint countdown in the very heart of Cres.
Guided tour through the history of the town
The day after St. Stephen's Day, December 27, the New Year's guided tour through the history of the town is on the program. Expert guidance in Croatian and English starts from Frane Petrić Square and leads visitors through the main points of the town center, emphasizing the Christmas customs characteristic of the island. Tourists and domestic guests get the opportunity to get to know the history of Cres better in an hour and a half, from medieval walls to newer maritime tradition.
On the same day in the evening on the 20th of April Promenade, the atmosphere is raised by "Disco fever" with DJ Dr. FeelGood. The program is intended for everyone who wants to combine a walk by the sea, holiday lighting, and an open-air dance floor – a kind of introduction to the New Year's celebration and the final days of Advent magic.
Holidays on the island: why choose winter Cres
Although many imagine islands exclusively as summer destinations, Advent in Cres shows a completely different picture of Kvarner. The winter sea temperature, the silence outside the main season, and the scent of pine forest create a special atmosphere, especially when combined with a rich Advent program. The rhythm of everyday life slows down, and the town takes on the rhythm of walks, socializing, and spontaneous meetings in the square.
A holiday visit to the island is ideal for anyone who wants to combine a short escape from the city crowds with quality content: during the day it is possible to visit historical sites, walk to the viewpoints above Cres or visit nearby places like Valun, while in the evening one can always drop by the 20th of April Promenade, listen to a concert, or simply enjoy the atmosphere.
Detailed schedule of events, timetables, and possible program changes are available on the official website of the Tourist Board of the City of Cres: www.visitcres.hr.
This year's Advent in Cres thus brings a unique blend of tradition, creativity, music, sports, and socializing – a program that speaks equally of the rich heritage of the island and its contemporary, open community. For anyone planning a short holiday by the sea during December, Cres imposes itself as one of the most interesting holiday destinations on the Croatian coast.
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Creation time: 16 December, 2025