The island of Cres these days is breathing deeply, celebrating its rich maritime heritage and Mediterranean spirit through the multi-day event Creski kaić. While the program has been unfolding since the beginning of the week, bringing a multitude of events, the upcoming days, starting from today, Thursday, June 5th, until Saturday, June 7th, represent the very essence and grand finale of this significant event. Enthusiasts of the sea, traditional skills, and authentic island life eagerly await the regatta of traditional sailing boats, the always popular brudetijada, the innovative program "Women rowing a gajeta," and an abundance of gastronomic delicacies and top-notch entertainment with musical performances by the groups Grooversi and the legendary Šajeta.

The Creski kaić event, which tirelessly works year after year on preserving the intangible cultural heritage of Cres, has become an unmissable meeting place for all those who appreciate authenticity and the island's deep connection with the sea. A special value of this year's edition is the newly opened interpretation center "Creski kaić." Located on the central town square, this center offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the history of Cres maritime affairs. Through carefully designed multimedia displays, exhibited original tools of skilled Cres caulkers – master shipbuilders whose hands created sturdy and reliable boats – and numerous educational materials, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the irreplaceable role that traditional boats played in the daily lives of the islanders. The center not only educates but also encourages reflection on the importance of preserving knowledge and skills related to the sea and traditional shipbuilding, making the maritime tradition of Cres accessible and understandable to new generations.

Past Days as an Overture to the Grand Finale

The week on Cres began festively and richly. On Sunday, June 1st, the aforementioned Interpretation Center "Creski kaić" was opened, followed by a concert by the popular Macaklini and Jelena Rozga, attracting a large audience. Monday, June 2nd, was marked by the sound of the Josip Kašman Wind Orchestra on the Riva and Trg Frane Petrića, while in Martinšćica, at the Andrija Linardić Museum, an interesting exhibition titled "How Our Ancestors Dressed" was opened, providing insight into traditional clothing. The evening brought the grand opening of the event itself at Pišarjola, with the traditional launching of a restored boat into the sea, a symbolic act celebrating the continuity of the shipbuilding tradition, and the opening of a bocce tournament. Trg Frane Petrića was the venue for tasting local gastronomic specialties, and the evening was rounded off by a concert by the klapa "Burin."

Tuesday, June 3rd, continued in a sporting and cultural spirit. A bocce tournament took place at Pišarjola, while an educational-creative workshop by the Girice Kindergarten titled "Creski kaić Speaks in Dialect" was held on the Šetalište, bringing the local linguistic heritage closer to the youngest. The Gradska loža hosted the opening of a tournament in the popular card games briškula and trešeta. The hardworking members of the Italian Community of Cres prepared and offered traditional Cres dishes for tasting on Trg Frane Petrića. Simultaneously, the Creska butega, a fair of local products offering authentic flavors and handicrafts, was held at Pišarjola. The evening hours were enhanced by a concert by "Trio Salvia."

Yesterday, Wednesday, June 4th, was also filled with activities. The bocce tournaments at Pišarjola and the briškula and trešeta tournaments in the Gradska loža continued. Trg Frane Petrića was once again the center of gastronomic delights, where the Gušt Association prepared and offered for tasting the traditional Lošinj dish "Cuttlefish with Broad Beans and Peas," demonstrating the culinary connection between the neighboring islands. The evening was reserved for klapa singing with performances by klapa "Teha" and klapa "Čikat" at Pišarjola, filling the Cres alleys with the sounds of tradition.

Events Throughout Today: Thursday, June 5th

Today, Thursday, June 5th, the program of the Creski kaić event enters its dynamic finale. Starting at 11 AM, the Cres harbor was the scene of sailing for the youngest, organized by the Reful Sailing Club, where young sailors had the opportunity to try their hand at sailing skills under the watchful eye of experienced instructors. In the afternoon, starting at 5 PM, the Gradska loža will host the finals of the briškula and trešeta tournament, while the finals of the bocce tournament will take place at Pišarjola, bringing tense moments and sporting competition. At 6 PM, on Trg Frane Petrića, enticing aromas of grilled Royal – Adriatic fish will spread, which will be prepared and offered for tasting, providing visitors with an authentic taste of the Adriatic. Simultaneously, in the courtyard of the Ruta Association (Zazid 4a), a creative wool felting workshop titled "Sea Woolen Pictures" will be held. This interesting workshop, intended for adults and children over 12 years old (mandatory registration with Vesna at +385 98 313029), will allow participants to learn the felting technique and create their own unique woolen motifs inspired by the sea. The evening hours, starting at 8 PM at Pišarjola, are reserved for a musical performance by the group Iman Acoustic, whose sounds will create a pleasant atmosphere to end another eventful day on Cres.

Tomorrow Full of Maritime Tradition: Friday, June 6th

Tomorrow, Friday, June 6th, brings a further intensification of events and a special focus on traditional vessels and maritime culture. The morning will begin with the ceremonial raising of the Blue Flag at Kamp Kovačine at 11 AM, a symbol of clean sea and preserved environment. In the afternoon, from 4:30 PM, the Cres harbor will become a gathering place for traditional vessels, a sight that always delights with its beauty and evokes the spirit of times past. At 5:30 PM in the Gradska loža, an attractive open championship of Cres in Mora cantada will be held. This ancient and dynamic game of guessing numbers, accompanied by loud shouts, rhythmic counting, and a characteristic singing style of uttering numbers, will surely attract many curious onlookers and competitors. Simultaneously, lovers of scientific topics will be able to listen to a lecture by Tihana Vučur Blazinić titled "Underwater Noise in the Adriatic" at the Italian Community of Cres from 6 PM. This lecture, as part of the UNDERSEA Interreg Italy – Croatia project, will address the increasingly relevant problem of the impact of noise on the marine ecosystem. For lovers of the ancient game, a chess tournament "Creski kaić" will be held at 7 PM on the square in front of the Cres Museum. Later, at 7:30 PM, also at the Italian Community of Cres, a round table discussion on "New Models for the Preservation and Valorization of Traditional Wooden Shipbuilding" will be held, where R. Mohović and J. Karmelić will discuss modern approaches to protecting this valuable heritage. In the evening, at 8 PM, visitors to Kamp Kovačine will have the opportunity to hear Jurica Gašpar and his lecture "The Last Lighthouse Keepers in the Adriatic," accompanied by a short documentary film "Legends of Light" (with English subtitles), which will shed light on the lives and role of lighthouse keepers. A gastro surprise is announced for Trg Frane Petrića at the same time, which will surely delight visitors' palates. The highlight of the evening will be at 9 PM in the Cres harbor, where the "Women rowing a gajeta" race will be held for the first time, an event that brings new energy and perspective to traditional maritime competitions. The popular group Grooversi will take care of the musical end of the evening, whose concert at Pišarjola, also starting at 9 PM, will get the audience dancing and create an unforgettable atmosphere. Those looking for accommodation on Cres to attend these events have various options available.

Grand Finale of the Event: Saturday, June 7th

Saturday, June 7th, is the day reserved for the grand finale of the Creski kaić event, with a program that will last from early morning until late evening. As early as 8 AM, organized by ŠRD Parangal, the Open Championship of Cres in Spearfishing 2025 and the Open Championship of Cres in Angling 2025 will begin, competitions that bring together skilled fishermen. At 10:30 AM in the Gradska loža, an exhibition titled "Betina Gajeta" will be opened, dedicated to one of the most famous types of traditional wooden boats in the Adriatic. A meeting of skippers of traditional vessels will be held at 11:30 AM at the Nono Frane restaurant, where the final details will be arranged before the central event of the day. Exactly at 1 PM from the Stari mul, the regatta of traditional sailing vessels will start, filling the Cres harbor with a multitude of sails and the skill of boat handling, a sight that is the heart of the entire event. The end of the spearfishing and angling competitions, with the weighing of the catch, is scheduled for 3 PM at Pišarjola. Simultaneously, on Trg Frane Petrića, the regatta will end and a review of traditional vessels will take place. From 4 PM to 8 PM in the Cres harbor, visitors will have a unique opportunity to view Venetian traditional boats with painted sails and talk with members of the "Associazione Vela al Terzo a Venezia" association, who will gladly share knowledge about their impressive vessels. At 4:30 PM at the Italian Community of Cres, Jurica Gašpar's lecture "The Last Lighthouse Keepers in the Adriatic" with the film "Legends of Light" (with English subtitles) will be held again, for all those who missed it the previous day. From 5 PM, Trg Frane Petrića will become the scene of the always attractive "Brudetijada," a competition in cooking fish stew from fish caught during the morning spearfishing competition. The aromas of freshly prepared brudet will spread through the square, and the expert jury will have the difficult task of choosing the best one. The announcement of the best brudet and tasting for visitors will be held at 7:30 PM on the same square. The award ceremony for the most successful in the traditional regatta and other tournaments will be held at 8 PM at Pišarjola. The grand finale of the evening and the entire event will begin at 9 PM at Pišarjola with a concert by the popular Šajeta, whose energetic performance will surely raise the atmosphere to a fever pitch. As a special spectacle, at 9:30 PM in the Cres harbor, a "Game of Sails and Light" will be held, a night sailing of traditional vessels that will magically conclude this year's Creski kaić.

The Creski kaić event is organized by the Reful Cres Sailing Club with the wholehearted support of the Town of Cres and OTRA. The project is co-financed through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Program via LAGUR Vela vrata, and is held with the support of the Cres Tourist Board, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Kvarner Tourist Board, and in cooperation with numerous Cres clubs, associations, institutions, and individuals, which once again confirms the strength of community in preserving local identity and cultural heritage. Planning a visit to Cres during such events is always a good idea.

CRESKI KAIĆ 2025 PROGRAM (Adapted as of June 5th, 2025)

SUNDAY, JUNE 01 (Past)
20.00 Opening of the Interpretation Center "Creski kaić"
21.00 Concert: Macaklini & Jelena Rozga

MONDAY, JUNE 02 (Past)
17.30 Riva and Trg F. Petrića: Josip Kašman Wind Orchestra
19.00 Martinšćica, Andrija Linardić Museum: Opening of the exhibition "How Our Ancestors Dressed"
20.30 Pišarjola:
Grand opening of the event
Launching of the restored boat into the sea
Opening of the bocce tournament
21.00 Trg F. Petrića: Tasting of local gastronomic specialties
21.00 Pišarjola: Concert by klapa "Burin"

TUESDAY, JUNE 03 (Past)
17.00 Pišarjola: Bocce tournament
17.00 Šetalište: educational-creative workshop of DV Girice "Creski kaić Speaks in Dialect"
18.00 Gradska loža: Opening of the Briškula and Trešeta tournament
18.00 Trg F. Petrića: Italian Community of Cres prepares traditional Cres dishes (tasting)
19.00 Trg F. Petrića (Pišarjola in original, but likely an error as Trg F. Petrića is listed above for the fair): Creska butega – fair of local products
20.00 Pišarjola: Concert "Trio Salvia"

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 04 (Yesterday)
17.00 Pišarjola: Bocce tournament
18.00 Gradska loža: Briškula and Trešeta tournament
20.00 Trg F. Petrića: Gušt Association: Preparation and tasting of traditional Lošinj gastronomy "Cuttlefish with Broad Beans and Peas"
20.00 Pišarjola: Concert: klapa "Teha" and klapa "Čikat"

THURSDAY, JUNE 05 (Today)
11.00 Creska Luka: Reful Sailing Club "Sailing for the Youngest"
17.00 Gradska loža: Finals of Briškula and Trešeta
17.00 Pišarjola: Finals of the bocce tournament
18.00 Trg F. Petrića: Preparation and tasting of grilled Royal – Adriatic fish
18.00 Courtyard of the Ruta Association (Zazid 4a) – Wool felting workshop for adults and children over 12 "Sea Woolen Pictures" (mandatory registration +385 98 313029 – Vesna)
20.00 Pišarjola: Concert "Iman acoustic"

FRIDAY, JUNE 06 (Tomorrow)
11.00 Kamp Kovačine: Raising of the Blue Flag
16.30 Creska luka: Arrival and gathering of traditional vessels
17.30 Gradska loža: Open Championship of Cres in "Mora cantadi"
18.00 Italian Community of Cres: Lecture: "Underwater Noise in the Adriatic" - UNDERSEA project Interreg Italy – Croatia, Tihana Vučur Blazinić
19.00 Square in front of the Cres Museum: Chess tournament "Creski kaić"
19.30 Italian Community of Cres: Round table "New Models for the Preservation and Valorization of Traditional Wooden Shipbuilding", R.Mohović + J.Karmelić
20.00 Kamp Kovačine: Lecture "The Last Lighthouse Keepers in the Adriatic", Jurica Gašpar with a short documentary film "Legends of Light" (English subtitles)
20.00 Trg F. Petrića: Gastro surprise
21.00 Creska luka: "Women rowing a gajeta"
21.00 Pišarjola: Concert "Grooversi"

SATURDAY, JUNE 07 (Day after tomorrow)
8.00 ŠRD Parangal – Parangal Cup – Open Championship of Cres in Spearfishing 2025 and Open Championship of Cres in Angling 2025.
10.30 Gradska loža: Opening of the exhibition: "Betina Gajeta"
11.30 Restaurant Nono Frane: Meeting of skippers of traditional vessels
13.00 Stari mul: Start of the traditional vessels regatta
15.00 Pišarjola: End of spearfishing and angling competitions, weighing of fish
15.00 Trg F. Petrića: End of the regatta, review of traditional vessels
16.00 Creska luka: Sightseeing of Venetian traditional sailing boats and conversation with members of the association "Associazione Vela al Terzo a Venezia" (16.00 – 20.00h)
16.30 Italian Community of Cres: Lecture "The Last Lighthouse Keepers in the Adriatic", Jurica Gašpar with a short documentary film "Legends of Light" (English subtitles)
17.00 Trg F. Petrića: "Brudetijada," competition in cooking brudet from fish caught in spearfishing
19.30 Trg F. Petrića: Selection of the best brudet and tasting
20.00 Pišarjola: Awards ceremony for the traditional regatta and other tournaments
21.00 Pišarjola: Concert "Šajeta"
21.30 Creska luka: Game of Sails and Light – night sailing of traditional vessels