New Advent and Toast to the New Year 2025: Winter Magic in Novi Vinodolski
This winter, Novi Vinodolski has once again donned its most festive attire. Street by street, square by square, this town on the Kvarner coast has been transformed into an open-air holiday stage where the scents of mulled wine and fritters, the sound of children's laughter, live music, and skates cutting the ice take turns. The New Advent 2025 program and the traditional Toast to the New Year event combine local tradition, a modern street event festival, and a tourist offer that increasingly attracts visitors from all over Croatia and neighboring countries.
As the organizers emphasize, the goal is to create an atmosphere where families with children, young people looking for a music program, and older people who see Advent as an opportunity to meet friends and neighbors feel equally welcome. In December, Novi Vinodolski positions itself as a winter holiday destination by the sea, and the diverse content – from creative workshops and concerts, through stand-up performances to the daytime New Year's Eve celebration – provides an additional reason to spend the holiday weekend right here. For those who want to stay for several days, a rich offer of accommodation in Novi Vinodolski near Advent locations is available, allowing the program to be experienced in a relaxed way and without haste.
A Town That Becomes a Large Holiday Stage in December
This year's Advent program officially began on November 30 with the ceremonial lighting of thousands of lights on Vinodol Law Square. With performances by children, a DJ program, and the opening of Santa Claus's House, Novi Vinodolski symbolically announced the period in which the historical core turns into a large winter scenography. From that moment on, the town lives daily in the rhythm of holiday events: during the week, the emphasis is on workshops, programs for children, and local cultural content, while weekends are dominated by concerts, band performances, and themed evenings.
The Advent atmosphere is not limited to just one square or promenade. The program is distributed across several key locations – from Ivan Mažuranić Square, Frankopan Square, and the courtyard of the Frankopan Castle, to the National Reading Room and Library, the House of Culture, the courtyard of the Ivan Mažuranić Elementary School, and sacred buildings in Novi Vinodolski and Klenovica. This offers visitors the experience of "Advent in the whole town," and residents an additional sense of community as numerous institutions and associations are involved in the organization – from the kindergarten and school, through cultural institutions to hunting societies and retirees' associations.
New Advent also carries a symbolic dimension for the town itself. According to prominent data from the town's website, Novi Vinodolski is once again part of the selection for the most beautiful Advent in Croatia conducted by a specialized portal dedicated to towns and local government. Inclusion in such projects emphasizes the town's ambition to position itself on the tourist map not only as a summer destination but also as a recognizable winter destination, with a strong emphasis on the local community, high-quality programming, and the decoration of public spaces.
From Lighting the Lamps to Santa Claus's House
The first Advent weekend was marked by the lighting of the lamps, performances by the youngest, and the opening of Santa Claus's House, one of the favorite points of the children's program. In a small holiday corner located in the historical core, children can write a letter, take a photo with Santa, and participate in themed workshops. The house is designed as a space for imagination and play, but also as a place where children's contact with tradition, stories, and Christmas customs of the coastal region is nurtured.
In addition to Santa Claus's House, since the beginning of Advent, a series of workshops has been taking place, clearly distinguishing New Advent from classic food and drink fairs. The program includes, among others, a workshop on making Christmas wreaths with mulled gin, painting glass water bottles, making scented gingerbread houses, mosaic baubles, and green kokedamas. Each workshop has a limited number of participants, so places are regularly filled in advance, which shows how much the concept of Advent is focused on active participation rather than just passing through the stands.
This approach particularly attracts visitors who come to Novi Vinodolski for weekend trips. Instead of a quick tour, many plan at least a two-day stay to combine workshops, children's programs, evening concerts, and walks by the sea. For them, it is practical that there is a diverse offer of accommodation for visitors of the Advent program in the town center and surroundings, from small apartments to larger accommodation facilities adapted for families.
Frankopan Winter Magic: The Ice Rink as a Gathering Center
Special attention this year is drawn to the Frankopan Winter Magic ice rink, located on Frankopan Square, in the immediate vicinity of the historical castle. The ice rink was opened on December 12 with the attractive "Miraculous Fairy Tale on Ice" program by the Medo skating club, and according to official information, it will remain open until January 11, 2026. Thus, Novi Vinodolski extends its winter content into the period after the holidays, when many return to work or school but are still looking for an opportunity for a relaxed trip to the sea.
Frankopan Square is conceived as a large open-air winter living room. Advent stalls offer warm drinks, simple but recognizable local dishes and sweets, while the ice surface itself is at the center of the action. According to this year's program, skating is free throughout Advent, and the family dimension is particularly emphasized – parents can watch their children from the edge of the rink, warm up with a hot drink, or venture onto the ice themselves.
On Friday, December 19, Frankopan Winter Magic offered one of the most visited programs so far. Children welcomed Santa Claus and participated in the interactive animation "Toy Factory," with face painting, distribution of appropriate gifts, a DJ program, and free skating. Frankopan Square then turned into a large open-air playroom where the voices of children, music, and the sound of skates on ice mixed – a scene that clearly shows why Advent in Novi Vinodolski has gained the status of a family festival in recent years.
A day later, Saturday was reserved for a combination of laughter and music. The stand-up duo of the Split Scene, Tomislav Primorac and Josip Škiljo, filled the space around the stage, and after the performance, the atmosphere continued with the rhythms of Trio Marinero. In the same weekend, the skating school for children began, which lasts until December 27 and is free for all registered participants. This is an additional motive for families to stay longer in the town, and it gives parents the opportunity for children to master their first steps on the ice in controlled conditions.
Program for Children: Workshops, Storytelling, and School Holiday Magic
Children's content is an important pillar of this year's program. In addition to Santa Claus's House and the ice rink, little ones are expected every week by storytelling sessions in the National Reading Room and Library, themed workshops, and animation programs in cooperation with the kindergarten and school. Stories about snow, adventures of characters like Archibald, and fairy tales dedicated to Christmas Eve are adapted for the youngest, but often entire families come to the events, turning the library and reading room into a meeting place for different generations.
Fijolica Kindergarten and Ivan Mažuranić Elementary School do not only act as educational institutions in December, but also as active co-organizers of the program. The kindergarten prepared a holiday performance "Christmas Shines with Warmth" in its courtyard, while the school organized a Christmas quiz, a performance, and a fair of creative works by students and teachers. The fair particularly attracted the attention of visitors because it combined children's creativity with concrete support for school projects – the sale of handicrafts collects funds for additional activities, and at the same time nurtures a sense of community and pride in the students' work.
For families coming to Novi Vinodolski from other parts of Croatia, such a program means that children always have something to do – from morning skating, through daily workshops, to evening storytelling. This further encourages the arrival of guests looking for a destination where they can spend quality time with children during December, and not just walk through a series of catering stalls. For many, this is exactly the reason to look in advance for accommodation for a family Advent weekend in Novi Vinodolski.
Music, Stand-up, and Quizzes: Evening Program for Adults
Although the focus is strongly directed towards the youngest, New Advent is equally designed for adult visitors. Along with stand-up evenings, among which the performance of the Split Scene duo stands out, the program includes a series of concerts and quizzes. During December, performers such as Bosutski bećari, Reaktiva cover band, Trio Marinero, local and guest DJs perform at various locations, turning weekends into real music marathons, but without losing the family character of the event.
Quizzes have become a particularly popular part of the Advent program in recent years. In addition to quizzes led by the famous quizmaster Dean Kotiga, the Christmas Quiz Please and New Year's Quiz Please are held in December, organized by the National Museum and Gallery of Novi Vinodolski. The New Year's Quiz Please takes place on December 29 in the House of Culture at 7 PM, and teams can register via the museum's email address. The registration fee is 10 euros per team, with a note that places fill up quickly, which confirms that the quiz format in the town has met with an excellent response.
The combination of skating, concerts, stand-up performances, and quizzes creates the impression of a small winter festival that lasts all month. For local restaurateurs and landlords, this means an extension of the season into December, and for visitors, the possibility to find a diverse offer of content in one destination – from morning coffee by the sea to an evening performance by a favorite band.
Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Holiday Concerts
The final week of Advent brings a program where sacred and musical content take a special place. On Tuesday, December 23, the Christmas Concert of the New Children's Choir and Music School Students is held in the National Reading Room and Library, starting at 5 PM. This is an event that fills the hall year after year, as it combines talented young musicians, a family auditorium, and a repertoire of appropriate compositions in one place.
On Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2025, tradition is kept by the Association of Friends of Grapes and Wine Ružica Vinodola, which distributes fried sprats and wine from 10 AM. Due to the announcement of bad weather, the program is not taking place on Frankopan Square this year, but in front of the entrance to the town market. This continues a custom that represents an indispensable part of Christmas preparation for many locals and guests – a short gathering with fish, wine, and meetings with acquaintances before the family lunch.
The Christmas holiday is marked by concerts by tenor Joso Butorac. On Christmas Day itself, immediately after the morning mass, Butorac performs in the Church of St. Margaret in Klenovica, and on the feast of St. Stephen, December 26, after the mass at 6 PM, he sings in the Church of St. Philip and Jacob in Novi Vinodolski. These concerts, along with the program of the children's choir, kindergarten, and music school, further emphasize the importance of music in the identity of Advent in Novi Vinodolski.
PAŠTAda and New Year's Quiz: End of December in the Sign of Socializing
Before the very end of December, the program continues with creative workshops started at the beginning of the month. Special attention is drawn to the PAŠTAda gastronomic workshop, dedicated to making fresh pasta. Two workshops will be held, and according to information so far, the places were filled in a very short time, which shows how interested visitors are in content that combines gastronomy, education, and socializing. Participants learn to knead and shape pasta with expert help, while the story of the importance of local ingredients and cooking in the family circle runs in the background.
On Monday, December 29, at 7 PM, the already mentioned New Year's Quiz Please follows. The event takes place in the House of Culture, and the organizers point out that quizzes are an excellent way to mark the end of the year in the company of friends, with a dose of competitive spirit and humorous questions that often include topics from local history. This encourages visitors not only to have fun but also to get to know the rich heritage of the town of the Vinodol Law.
Toast to the New Year: New Year's Eve at Noon
The highlight of the December program is the traditional Toast to the New Year, which takes place on December 31, starting at 10 AM. Unlike classic evening celebrations, Novi Vinodolski has been nurturing the concept of New Year's Eve at noon for years, which has proven ideal for families with children, older visitors, and everyone who wants to welcome the first day of the new year rested. The center of events is Ivan Mažuranić Square and surrounding streets, but the cheerful atmosphere spreads through the entire town center.
A special role is played by the hunting societies LD "Košutnjak – Novi" and LD "Gradina", which prepare hunter's goulash and sausages. Along with them, the Ružica Vinodola Association is present, offering red and white mulled wine to visitors. The key element of the Toast is a special New Year's mug – by purchasing a mug at a price of 10 euros, visitors gain the right to unlimited consumption of mulled wine and one meal from the hunters. The model has been well-accepted for years because it combines humanitarian and ecological aspects (less disposable packaging) with a sense of community; for many, the mug also becomes a permanent souvenir of the New Year's Eve celebration on Kvarner.
A rich daytime program is organized for children: animators, mascots, face painting, free skating, and donuts and juices distributed by the Association of Retirees of Novi Vinodolski. While the youngest have fun on the ice rink and in the children's corner, adults can enjoy music, conversation, and the holiday offer of the stalls. On Ivan Mažuranić Square, groups Trend and Face are responsible for the musical backdrop, while Trio Family performs on the stage on Vinodol Law Square. The entire program lasts until 4 PM, after which visitors have enough time to return home or continue socializing in catering facilities.
The Toast to the New Year has become a kind of trademark of Novi Vinodolski in recent years. According to experiences so far, the event attracts a large number of visitors from the wider region, and more and more people recognize the advantage of the daytime celebration – the possibility to welcome the New Year by the sea, in a relaxed atmosphere, with a return home on the same day. For those who want to extend their stay, a diverse offer of accommodation for visitors of the Toast to the New Year is available, thanks to which the celebration can be turned into a weekend trip or an extended stay on Kvarner.
New Advent as a Reason for a Winter Escape to the Sea
The success of New Advent and the Toast to the New Year is not measured only by the number of events, but also by the way they change the image of the town in the winter months. Novi Vinodolski, traditionally recognized as a summer destination with beaches and a marina, shows a completely different face in December: the illuminated streets of the old town, the ice rink at the foot of the Frankopan Castle, Advent stalls, and a rich cultural program create an atmosphere that is increasingly described as a "little Christmas fairy tale by the sea."
The combination of a free ice rink, workshops for children and adults, concerts, quizzes, and the daytime New Year's Eve celebration makes Novi Vinodolski competitive with other Advent destinations in Croatia. At the same time, the organizers strive to maintain measure and avoid turning Advent into an exclusively commercial event. The emphasis is on involving local associations, school, and cultural institutions, but also on promoting local gastronomy, tradition, and customs. This is evident in the participation of hunting societies, the Ružica Vinodola association, the Fijolica kindergarten, the Ivan Mažuranić Elementary School, the National Museum and Gallery, and numerous other partners.
For visitors considering a winter escape to the sea, Novi Vinodolski thus becomes a logical choice. It is close enough to larger urban centers to be visited for a day, but at the same time offers enough content to justify a multi-day stay. Whether you are looking for a family weekend with skating and workshops, an evening concert and quiz with friends, or a unique New Year's Eve celebration at noon, the holiday program of New Advent shows that winter magic does not only take place in big cities. By the sea, in the historical core of Novi Vinodolski, it gets a new, recognizable dimension worth experiencing.
Sources:
- Town of Novi Vinodolski – official program "New Advent – Winter Magic of Novi Vinodolski" ( link )
- Town of Novi Vinodolski – publication "New Advent and Toast to the New Year" with the announcement of the ice rink, workshops, and Toast program ( link )
- Town of Novi Vinodolski – text "Selection for the most beautiful Advent by the portal gradonačelnik.hr" about the participation of New Advent in the national selection ( link )
- Tunera.info – article "Novi prepared an Advent program and the inevitable New Year's Eve at noon" about this year's holiday program in Novi Vinodolski ( link )
- Karlobag.eu – text "Frankopan Winter Magic in Novi Vinodolski: free skating, workshops, concerts, and stand-up for the whole family" with details about the ice rink and program duration ( link )
- Tourist Stories – article about New Advent as a holiday attraction on Kvarner with an emphasis on family content ( link )
- TZ of the Town of Novi Vinodolski – announcement of the event "New Year's Quiz Please" and other Advent programs ( link )
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