Rijeka is once again illuminated this winter by thousands of lights, the scent of fritule, and the sound of Christmas hits. Under the slogan "Source of Good Emotions," Rijeka Advent 2025/2026 transforms the city into a large festive stage which, from November 29, 2025, to January 11, 2026, offers more than a month of programs for all generations – from ice skating rinks and concerts to workshops, shows, and humanitarian actions. In this colorful mosaic, the weekend from Friday, December 12, to Sunday, December 14, 2025, stands out particularly, when concerts, DJ performances, creative workshops, and special programs for families, children, and pets take place at several main Advent locations.

Seven Advent stories distributed across key city points – Korzo of Encounters, Resolution of Fun, Experience Quay, Export Ice Box, Castle of Light, Art Quarter of Magic, and Neighborhoods of Light – this year provide a completely new framework for the traditional festive atmosphere. Each location has its own character, rhythm, and audience, so a weekend in Advent accommodation in Rijeka becomes an opportunity for a thematic "journey" through different atmospheres: from urban entertainment and sea views to fairytale scenes at Trsat and creative imagination honing in the Benčić Art Quarter.

The third Advent weekend brings a dense schedule that logically follows the official lighting of holiday lights and the beginning of Rijeka Advent. While a fair and a walk under the lights take place on Korzo and the surrounding streets, special attention this time is directed towards several key zones: Resolution of Fun as the heart of urban entertainment, Experience Quay and Gat Advent with a humanitarian emphasis, the indoor skating rink Export Ice Box for all who love winter joys, the magical Castle of Light at Trsat Castle, and the playful Art Quarter of Magic with programs in Benčić.

Resolution of Fun: city square turned into a dance floor

Rijeka Resolution Square, known for transforming into the Resolution of Fun during Advent, confirms its reputation this weekend as a place where good music, socializing, and a rich catering offer come together. Light installations surround the stage and cottages, and the scents of mulled wine, winter cocktails, burgers, and street food snacks create a backdrop where one can easily stay until late evening hours.

Friday, December 12, is reserved for an open-air afterwork atmosphere. Žažara Afterjob brings a recognizable concept of relaxed socializing after work, so visitors can "switch to holiday mode" from the early evening hours. The musical signature of the evening is carried by DJ Eric, who builds the tempo from a lighter warm-up to a real dance peak through pop, house, and current hits. The square turns into a kind of open-air club where colleagues from work, students, but also tourists who have chosen accommodation in the center of Rijeka to have all locations within reach meet.

Saturday brings a somewhat different but equally energetic sound – behind the DJ booth is DJ Frankiness, whose sets combine modern club rhythms with nostalgic hits. Saturday evening at the Resolution of Fun is often the most visited part of the weekend, ideal for those who want to combine sightseeing of Advent locations with a concrete night out: after a walk on Korzo and a climb to Trsat, the return to the city center ends with dancing to sounds that fill the dance floor until closing.

Sunday, December 14, rounds off the story at the Resolution of Fun with DJ Bruno. The Sunday atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed, but still dynamic enough for everyone who wants to extend the weekend. The program is adapted for families and visitors coming to the city from the surroundings, so the music selection ranges from lighter pop and soul classics to radio-friendly hits, perfect for socializing with Advent drinks. For those staying in holiday accommodation in Rijeka throughout the weekend, Sunday evening is often the ideal moment for the last photos under the lights before returning home.

Experience Quay: humanitarian heart of Gat Advent and Santa Sunday

Experience Quay, located at Gat Advent, combines a festive atmosphere by the sea with an emphasized humanitarian dimension. While catering cottages and a view of illuminated ships stretch on one side, programs take place on the other that remind us that Advent is also a time of giving, solidarity, and care for the most vulnerable.

Friday at Experience Quay brings a concert start to the weekend – Kožne Jakne perform live, supported by DJ FBI. The combination of rock and pop repertoire with an emphasis on domestic and regional hits creates a musical "warm-up" atmosphere for the whole weekend. Visitors who walk from Korzo towards the sea will easily linger at Gat Advent, where the offer of food and drinks is ideal for evening socializing with live performances.

Saturday morning, December 13, starting at 10 AM, is entirely dedicated to a humanitarian action – the humanitarian flea market Closet of Love takes place, a student project conducted by the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka through the FOSS association. At Gat Advent, visitors can browse clothes, footwear, and fashion accessories donated by students, citizens, and employees of health institutions, and symbolic donations are collected for the Autism Center Rijeka and the Depaul House of Refuge for the homeless. Buying pieces from a second life supports socially sensitive groups, but also the concept of sustainable fashion, so Experience Quay that morning becomes a place where holiday shopping gets a completely new, empathetic dimension.

Saturday evening at Experience Quay returns the focus to fun – an Advent Thematic Party with DJ Ole is announced. The stage decoration and visual identity follow holiday motifs, and the music ranges from Christmas classics in modern remixes to dance hits that create the perfect soundtrack for an evening by the sea. For many visitors who choose accommodation near the Rijeka waterfront, precisely this combination of walking zone, gastro offer, and music is the reason to spend most of the evening at Gat Advent.

Sunday brings a family program called Santa Sunday. It is a day designed as a meeting of children, parents, and charming "Santa Clauses" who walk along the waterfront, participate in animations and photography, and create real postcards from the Advent city. The program usually includes creative workshops for the youngest, games, appropriate gifts, and corners for photography, so Experience Quay becomes an ideal stop for families who want to round off the weekend with something special before the start of a new work week.

Export Ice Box: winter magic on ice for all generations

Located in the former Exportdrvo warehouse is the Export Ice Box – a large covered skating rink with more than 500 square meters of ice, open from November 29, 2025, to January 11, 2026. Throughout the entire period of Rijeka Advent, thematic days, music programs, and animations on ice alternate here, and the indoor space provides safe winter scenery regardless of weather conditions. For visitors who choose accommodation in Rijeka with parking near Exportdrvo, this is an ideal starting or ending point of an Advent tour.

Friday, December 12, in the Export Ice Box is marked by the Disco on Ice program. The skating rink turns into a dance floor on ice, with light effects and DJ music. Visitors, whether beginners or experienced skaters, can enjoy their favorite hits while circling the ice sheet, and family and friends photos under the spotlights become an unavoidable souvenir from Rijeka Advent. Disco on Ice especially attracts teenagers and younger audiences, but also everyone who wants to try something different from the usual Advent walk.

Saturday brings the educational sports program Little School of Olympism from the morning hours, which combines recreation, learning, and fun. Through guided activities, children learn the basics of skating, the importance of movement and fair play, and at the same time get to know Olympic values. With expert guides and animators, the skating rink becomes a safe space for first steps on ice, but also a place where children return throughout Advent to hone their skills.

Saturday evening in the Export Ice Box is reserved for a strong music program – the performance of Infinity band and DJ Lucca further emphasizes that this is one of the most dynamic Advent locations. While fun on ice takes place in the central part of the skating rink, part of the visitors remain along the edge to enjoy live performances and DJ sets, whether with a hot drink or a bite from the accompanying catering offer. For families who started the day at a workshop in the Art Quarter, and spent the afternoon at Trsat, evening skating with a concert is a logical conclusion to a rich holiday day.

Sunday is once again marked by the Little School of Olympism, but with a special addition – socializing on ice with mascots Angel & Stitch. Colorful mascots glide, pose for photos, and encourage the youngest to master their first steps on ice. Such a program makes Export Ice Box an ideal place for a Sunday family outing, especially for guests who have chosen family accommodation in Rijeka for the Advent weekend and want to fill the day with content adapted to children.

Castle of Light: Winter at the Castle and Lights and Paws

Trsat Castle and Nugent Park, united in the story of the Castle of Light, have for years been synonymous with one of the most fairytale-like Advent locations in the city. During Winter at the Castle, historic walls are illuminated by thousands of carefully arranged lights, creating the impression that you are walking through the set of a Christmas movie. Visitors find here a blend of history, architecture, a panoramic view of the city and the sea, but also gastronomic cottages with winter specialties.

During the weekend from December 12 to 14, the Castle of Light offers a diverse program combining concerts, DJ performances, and special thematic events. In the evening hours, visitors can enjoy concerts by bands like Behind the House and Octopussie band, bringing a mix of rock, pop, and funk sound in the ambiance of a stone fortress under glittering installations. The program is designed so that it can be continued after visiting other Advent locations – the climb to Trsat is often the highlight of the evening Advent route.

The central emphasis of this weekend is certainly Lights and Paws, the most cheerful Advent gathering for four-legged pets and their owners. On Saturday, December 13, from 12 PM to 3 PM, Trsat Castle and Nugent Park turn into a stage dedicated to dogs and their humans. The program includes relaxed socializing, music, and animations, and in a special holiday "photo corner," professional photographers create memories that visitors can take home. With the support of partners like Pet centar, the emphasis is on responsible ownership, adoption, and animal welfare, so Lights and Paws combine the holiday atmosphere with an important message about caring for pets.

The holiday atmosphere at the Castle is also accompanied by DJ sets – for example, performances by DJ Tommy and DJ Steve Lokki, which turn evening hours into a warm, dancing gathering under the open sky. Combined with a panoramic view of accommodation locations in Rijeka and beyond, Winter at the Castle remains one of the most photogenic and most visited parts of Rijeka Advent, especially for visitors who want to combine a romantic walk, live music, and the experience of a historical landmark.

Art Quarter of Magic: creative workshops, design market and night performances

The Art Quarter of Magic in Benčić represents a completely different Advent experience. Instead of classic cottages and stages, the emphasis is on workshops, meetings with authors, plays, and art installations. The program Winter Story from Benčić, which takes place from December 11 to 20, offers more than fifty activities for all generations – from LEGO programming, winter 3D printing and workshops for making Christmas cookies to film screenings, literary meetings, and theater plays. The entire quarter functions as a "laboratory" of holiday creativity.

Saturday, December 13, is particularly rich in events. Morning slots bring a series of workshops for children, such as creating scented candles and wax tablets, musical stories about the violin, and diverse creative activities – from forest ketchup and colorful rags to warm stories from the Forest. At the same time, the Christmas Fine Design Market takes place, a kind of fair of designer and handicraft products where local authors and craftsmen present their unique works. It is an ideal place to find different gifts and decorations, with an emphasis on quality, originality, and sustainability.

The Art Quarter of Magic also opens the official Advent program at the location that day – the lighting of the lights accompanies a performance by a drum section, concerts like that of the Trsat City Music or young drummers, and performances by DJs who turn Benčić into a lively but intimate Advent square. A special dimension is given by meetings with authors like Bartul Vlahović and Bruno Šimleša, who through conversations, book promotions, and travelogue stories (such as the experience on the Pacific Crest Trail) provide content for an audience eager for inspiring stories in a holiday atmosphere.

Evening hours bring performances that combine circus art and light effects. Triko Cirkus Teatar performs with the program Fire on Stilts – an impressive performance in which stilt walkers, costumes, and flaming props create the impression that you have stepped into another universe. This is followed by Loop Cirkus with the program Ice Fireflies, in which actors with LED props perform choreographies that write light trails in the dark, perfect for photos and short videos for social networks. Combined with the DJ program and creative workshops, the Art Quarter of Magic becomes the epicenter of a contemporary and interactive Advent experience.

The special value of the Art Quarter of Magic lies in the fact that most programs are free and open to everyone, with possible prior registration for individual workshops. This makes it an ideal location for families, young people, retirees, and everyone who, during an Advent visit to Rijeka, is looking for content that goes beyond the classic concert or fair format. From morning to evening, Benčić lives in the rhythm of workshops, films, plays, and music, so it is easy to combine creative work, education, and fun in one day.

Weekend for planning a complete Advent experience in Rijeka

When all programs of the weekend from December 12 to 14 are put on one Advent map, it is clear why Rijeka Advent carries the slogan "Source of Good Emotions" this year. At one end of the city, at the Resolution of Fun and Korzo of Encounters, the urban heart pulses with concerts and DJ performances. At the other end, at the Experience Quay and Gat Advent, the sea and humanitarian projects like the Closet of Love remind us of the importance of helping. In the indoor space of the Export Ice Box, winter magic on ice awaits, while the Castle of Light offers fairytale scenes and programs like Lights and Paws for pet lovers. The Art Quarter of Magic, on the other hand, ensures that creativity and curiosity play an equally important role as music and fun.

For visitors from other parts of Croatia and abroad, planning a weekend in accommodation in Rijeka during Advent means that in three days one can experience almost everything that Rijeka Advent offers – from morning workshops and humanitarian flea markets to evening performances, skating, and concerts with a view of the city and the sea. Detailed programs, schedules, and possible changes are available on the official pages of the Rijeka Tourist Board, where information about all Advent stories and events is regularly updated.

Everyone who wants to precisely plan their tour – whether they start from the center towards the sea, climb to Trsat, or first stop by the Art Quarter – can review the schedule of events on the official Rijeka Advent page, available at visitrijeka.hr/rijeka-advent. There are also separate subpages for Export Ice Box, Winter at the Castle, Experience Quay, Art Quarter of Magic, and other locations, so it is simple to put together your own Advent itinerary and take advantage of the weekend in the city of lights, sea, and good emotions.