In Rijeka, the scent of winter, cinnamon, and mulled wine is rapidly being felt these days – the city is preparing for another edition of the Rijeka Advent manifestation, which will be held under the slogan "Source of Good Feelings" from Saturday, November 29, 2025, to Sunday, January 11, 2026. For more than a month, numerous programs, concerts, an ice skating rink, humanitarian actions, and light installations will transform the city center, as well as city neighborhoods, into a true Christmas postcard. For everyone planning a short getaway and Advent accommodation in Rijeka, this is an ideal opportunity to combine a long weekend, New Year's Eve, and the exploration of seven carefully designed Advent stories.

This year's Advent in Rijeka is structured through seven thematic units – Korzo of Meetings, Resolution of Fun, Export Ice Box, Waterfront of Experiences, Castle of Light, Art Quarter of Magic, and Neighborhoods of Light. Each of the locations has its own atmosphere, target audience, and program, but they complement each other into a unique story that connects families with children, students, older citizens, and guests coming from other Croatian cities and abroad. Whether you book accommodation in Rijeka near the center or come just for a one-day trip, the program is diverse enough for everyone to find their rhythm of adventuring.

Lighting of holiday lights and opening of the ice rink

The first major highlight of the manifestation arrives already on the first weekend, on Saturday, November 29, 2025, when the holiday lighting is officially turned on at several city locations and the entertainment program begins. At 16:00, the Export Ice Box ice rink opens in the Exportdrvo space. The ice surface of more than 500 square meters transforms the former industrial space into a winter stage where ice shows, animations for children, musical programs, and recreational skating for all generations will alternate during December and early January.

The opening of the ice rink is accompanied by a performance by the Medveščak Skating Club and a suitable ice show, after which the Exportdrvo space takes on the role of the center of winter sports joys. The inspiration is clear – Rijeka wants to retain the spirit of industrial heritage but at the same time transform it into a contemporary winter scene, accessible to both families and young people. Those who book an apartment in Rijeka during Advent will be able to, for example, take a walk by the sea in the morning, and already in the afternoon put on skates and try out the ice track in the Export Ice Box.

At 18:00, the program moves to the Korzo of Meetings, where the lighting of thousands of lamps and holiday lights officially opens the Advent magic in the very heart of the city. The First Rijeka Majorettes and the Trsat City Music perform on stage, and the evening culminates with a performance by Damir Kedžo, one of the most recognizable Rijeka pop-vocal personalities. The city continues to vibrate in the same rhythm later in the evening – at 20:00 on the Rijeka Resolution Square, as part of the Resolution of Fun, the holiday program begins with a performance by Antonio Krištofić, transforming this location into an open-air living room.

A weekend to remember: program for adults and children

Already on Sunday, November 30, 2025, the Advent story moves to the Trsat Castle, specifically under the wing of the manifestation Castle of Light – Winter at the Castle. At 17:00, Santa Claus's Post Office opens, marking the beginning of the part of the program intended primarily for children and families. An hour later, at 18:00, follows the ceremonial lighting of the lamps at the Castle – a moment when the historic walls turn into a backdrop outlined by thousands of light points, ideal for the first holiday photos.

As part of Winter at the Castle, Santa Claus's Post Office continues to operate until Christmas Eve, from November 30 to December 24, 2025, with a schedule adapted to families and visitors who stay in accommodation in Rijeka for only a few days. The youngest can hand in letters with wishes there, take photos with Santa, and experience a fairytale atmosphere at a location which, even outside the Advent period, attracts numerous visitors.

At the same time, the fun does not stop at the port either. At the Adamić Pier, which is part of the Waterfront of Experiences Advent story, on Saturday, November 29, from 20:00, an Advent Party is held, while Sunday afternoon is reserved for the children's program. From 16:00, a children's corner, gifts, and photography with Santa Claus await the youngest, so the weekend at Advent in Rijeka becomes a perfect combination of content for adults and kids.

Seven Advent stories – seven faces of Rijeka

A novelty of this year's Rijeka Advent 2025/2026 is the clearly structured concept of seven Advent stories. The idea is that visitors, depending on their mood and the company they come with, can easily choose the location that suits them best – whether it is a relaxed walk, a family afternoon, an evening out, or a romantic Advent walk for two.

Korzo of Meetings is imagined as the main place for socializing, the Christmas fair, and concerts. The promenade that the people of Rijeka pass through daily transforms into a space of daily meetings, street performances, stands with fritule (fritters), sausages, and warm drinks, and suitable souvenirs during the Advent period. The entire zone is ideal for those coming to Rijeka for Advent for the first time and wanting to feel the basic pulse of the city.

Resolution of Fun, located on the Rijeka Resolution Square, offers a more dynamic program – concerts, DJ performances, and entertainment programs lasting until late evening hours are held here. Top catering offer and a sound-equipped stage make this location an ideal choice for an evening out, whether you are a local visitor or have booked weekend accommodation in Rijeka to combine several days of Advent events.

The third Advent story is the Export Ice Box, a large indoor ice hall within Exportdrvo, which functions as the center of winter activities. Besides recreational skating, children's workshops, animations, musical programs, and special themed evenings are organized there during December and early January. The ice rink remains open throughout the duration of the manifestation, from November 29, 2025, to January 11, 2026, which allows visitors to plan a skating trip and socializing by the sea even outside the weekend.

Waterfront of Experiences at the Pier brings a blend of the sea and Advent atmosphere. Holiday lighting, light installations, musical evenings, and quizzes create a completely different perspective on the city – the moment you turn towards the sea, the lights of the port are in front of you, and behind your back is the glittering center of Rijeka. Precisely this location is ideal for everyone looking for a slightly more relaxed, Mediterranean atmosphere at Advent, and it is often chosen by couples and groups of friends who, after a walk along the waterfront, head towards Korzo or Trsat.

Castle of Light and Winter at the Castle – a fairytale at Trsat

The fifth story of Rijeka Advent bears the name Castle of Light and takes place at the Trsat Castle. As part of the Winter at the Castle manifestation, the historic fortress becomes a spectacularly illuminated open-air stage, with installations emphasizing the stone walls, towers, and passages. Every part of the Castle turns into a photogenic corner – from the entrance, through the courtyard, all the way to the viewpoints overlooking the city and the Kvarner Bay.

Along with Santa Claus's Post Office, which operates until December 24, Winter at the Castle also brings a series of special programs: musical evenings, themed light evenings, suitable programs for St. Nicholas, Family day for families, as well as the always favorite humanitarian event "Lamps and Paws" which combines care for abandoned animals and holiday magic. Part of the program is also dedicated to the Children's New Year, so families with younger children can bid farewell to the old and welcome the new year at an earlier time, in a safe and content-rich environment.

There is a special charm in coming to Trsat in the evening hours – climbing the stairs or taking a bus ride are rewarded with a panoramic view of the glittering Rijeka in Advent attire. As the manifestation approaches its peak, additional workshops for children, humanitarian actions, and suitable gastro offers, from fritule to specialties from Kvarner, are included in the program, so Winter at the Castle becomes an unavoidable stop on all Advent routes.

Art Quarter of Magic and Neighborhoods of Light – Advent for the whole community

The sixth Advent story is the Art Quarter of Magic, located in the Benčić complex. This space has become synonymous with creativity, contemporary art, and new cultural contents in recent years, and in the Advent period, it additionally comes to life through more than thirty workshops for children, film programs, craft fairs, and interactive contents. The concept is simple – to connect local artists, associations, and cultural institutions with families and visitors who want to experience a different, more intimate Advent.

The Art Quarter of Magic is particularly attractive to those planning a longer stay in accommodation in Rijeka and wanting to include cultural contents in their schedule alongside classic Advent attractions. Workshops for children, creative corners, screenings, and exhibitions create a special atmosphere in which the holiday spirit merges with education and art, and Benčić confirms its status as one of the liveliest city neighborhoods.

The seventh story, Neighborhoods of Light, spreads the Advent magic outside the narrow city center. Through programs in different local committees and neighborhoods of Rijeka, a sense of community and connection is created – holiday programs arrive at the doorstep, so residents do not necessarily have to go to the city center to experience lights, music, and socializing. This concept especially contributes to the inclusivity of the manifestation, as it shows that Advent in Rijeka is not reserved only for Korzo and Trsat, but is spread throughout the entire city.

Humanitarian character: Baubles of Good Wishes and animal care

Rijeka Advent has been recognized for years for its strong humanitarian component, and one of the most famous projects is the Baubles of Good Wishes action. It is an initiative that originated from the Association of Biotechnology Students of the University of Rijeka, and its goal is to collect funds for various humanitarian purposes through the purchase of decorative Christmas tree baubles. The baubles used to decorate the central tree on Korzo thus also become a symbol of concrete help to those who need it most.

This year, the emphasis is placed on the care of abandoned animals, so the funds raised from the sale of baubles are intended for the Society for the Protection of Animals Rijeka. Visitors who decide to allocate part of their budget precisely for this action actually contribute doubly to the Advent atmosphere – on the one hand, they participate in decorating the city tree on Korzo, and on the other, they help volunteers and animals to whom every donation is worth gold.

New Year's Eve: Big CroDance Party with hits of the nineties

The peak of the holiday season is reserved for New Year's Eve, when Korzo will become one big dance floor. The program titled Big CroDance Party takes the audience back to the nineties, a decade of unforgettable domestic dance hits. Indira Forza, Grupa ET, Simplicia, Senna M, Ilan Kabiljo, and Alka Vuica will alternate on stage – names that marked the club and radio scene of that period and guarantee an energetic entry into the year 2026.

The organizers emphasize that the Big CroDance Party is not imagined just as a concert, but as an event that connects generations: the older ones will recall their first nights out, while the younger audience will discover why the nineties are still synonymous with good fun. For many, precisely this evening will be the motive to book accommodation in Rijeka for New Year's Eve, extend their stay, and combine the last days of December with the first days of January, with the continuation of the program at Advent locations.

Practical tips for visiting Rijeka Advent

To make the experience of Advent in Rijeka as pleasant as possible, it is worth planning a few key things in advance – from accommodation, through transport, to the schedule of visiting locations. Since the manifestation lasts from November 29, 2025, to January 11, 2026, many visitors will choose long weekends and holiday days for arrival. It is advisable to book accommodation in Rijeka near Advent locations in time, especially if you plan New Year's Eve or a visit to Winter at the Castle during the most visited weekends.

The city center during Advent is best explored on foot. Korzo of Meetings, Resolution of Fun, Waterfront of Experiences, and Art Quarter of Magic are located at distances that are easily overcome by a light walk, and along the way, numerous views of illuminated streets, the sea, and historic buildings open up. For the climb to Trsat and the visit to the Castle of Light, it is possible to use public transport or a taxi, while walking enthusiasts might choose the famous Trsat stairs as part of the experience.

The gastronomic offer during Rijeka Advent is a special chapter of the story: from classic fritule and sausages to burgers, fish specialties, sweets inspired by Kvarner tradition, and diverse warm drinks. Many visitors combine visiting multiple locations in one evening – for example, they start on Korzo, continue towards the Waterfront of Experiences, then climb to Trsat or go towards the Art Quarter. Those who have more days at their disposal and stay in accommodation in Rijeka can arrange visits so that they experience each Advent story without rushing.

Regardless of whether you come because of the ice rink in Export Ice Box, light installations on Trsat Castle, children's workshops in the Art Quarter, concerts at Resolution of Fun, or New Year's Eve on Korzo, Advent in Rijeka remains faithful to its idea this year too – to be open, sincere, and full of emotions. Seven Advent stories connect the entire city, from the center to the peripheral neighborhoods, creating a "source of good feelings" for everyone who decides to briefly escape from everyday life in winter days and surrender to the holiday magic in Kvarner.