Winter at Gradina: Family Day turned Trsat Castle into a magical Advent stage for the whole family

Winter at Gradina: Family Day turned Trsat Castle into a large family stage

Trsat Castle in Rijeka confirmed its status once again this Saturday, December 27, 2025, as one of the most magical Advent stages in Kvarner. Within the Winter at Gradina manifestation, Family Day was held, a three-hour program entirely dedicated to children and families, which filled the medieval fortress with laughter, music, and creative workshops from 12:00 to 15:00.

In the ambience of the Gradina of Lights, under thousands of lights illuminating Trsat this holiday season, both small and large visitors created holiday memories together. The organizers designed the program as an informal, yet carefully directed family gathering that combines play, art, and socializing outdoors within the wider Advent offer of the city of Rijeka.

Saturday reserved for family socializing

Family Day was held on the last Advent Saturday, in the time slot from 12:00 to 15:00, to adapt the program to the rhythm of a family day and enable the arrival of even the youngest visitors. During the three hours, the program lived continuously at multiple points within the castle, without a classic stage, which allowed visitors to move freely, stop where they found it most interesting, and participate in the content at their own pace.

Entrance to the event was free, which further emphasized the inclusive character of the manifestation. According to the organizers, the goal of Family Day was to provide families with a safe, playful, and visually attractive space where children can explore undisturbed, and parents can enjoy a relaxed holiday atmosphere and briefly step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

For those who arrived in Rijeka from other parts of Croatia or abroad, Family Day was an ideal reason for a weekend visit to the city. Many visitors combined Winter at Gradina with a tour of Rijeka's Advent offer in the city center, while those staying longer often explored the wider offer of accommodation in Rijeka, in order to spend the holidays in the city on the Rječina river.

Creative workshops, face painting, and charming stilt walkers

The space of the castle during Family Day was designed as a large interactive playroom in the open. The program for children included face painting, creative balloon modeling, dance workshops, and socializing with charming stilt walkers who, in their costumes and with lots of laughter, dominated the stone courtyard of the Trsat fortress.

Face painting is traditionally one of the most sought-after contents at children's events, and it was no different this time. Children waited patiently to transform into their favorite characters, animals, or holiday motifs, while parents photographed moments that, along with Trsat's holiday lighting, will likely take a special place in family albums.

Creative balloon modeling offered an additional level of interaction: balloon figures became a souvenir that the youngest take home, a reminder of the visit to the Gradina of Lights. Dance workshops, led by animators, further raised the energy of the event, so a large part of the program took place in the sign of movement, music, and joint play.

Musical backdrop with DJ Mirillo

A musical backdrop shaped by DJ Mirillo ran through the entire program. Her choice of music adapted to the family concept of the event – from holiday classics to playful pop songs – created a rhythm that connected all parts of the program. The music was not just background sound, but an active part of the experience, which encouraged children to dance, and adults to relaxed conversation and socializing.

DJ Mirillo also led the animation through the program, announced performances, directed the audience, and encouraged participation. In this way, Family Day maintained dynamics from the first to the last moment, without idle time and without the feeling that individual parts of the program were competing for the audience's attention.

Majorettes, choir, and dance studio: performances of the youngest on the historic stage

A special dimension was given to the event by the performances of children performers. The First Rijeka Majorettes brought a recognizable combination of choreography and discipline, showing how much serious work lies behind a cheerful smile and synchronized movements. For many of the youngest, the performance at Trsat Castle was the first encounter with such a large audience in a unique ambience.

The Children's Choir Tratinčice and soloists of the Little Singing School further emphasized the holiday character of the program with their performances. The repertoire was adapted to children, with songs that easily stay in the ear and invite singing along. The audience reacted to the performances with spontaneous applause, and many parents, grandmothers, and grandfathers recorded every moment with mobile phones.

Great interest was also aroused by the performance of RIS dance studio by Ivona Brnelić, which introduced professionally choreographed dance numbers into the program. Dynamic choreographies, inspired by modern dance styles, showed how much dance can be brought closer to children and young people as a way of expression, and at the same time fit well into the family concept of the manifestation.

Winter at Gradina as the center of Rijeka's Advent

Family Day is just one of the highlighted programs of this year's Winter at Gradina manifestation, which turns Trsat Castle into the Gradina of Lights from the end of November to the beginning of January. The ceremonial lighting of the lights at the end of November marked the beginning of the holiday story at Trsat, with spectacular lighting, a fire show, and a rich entertainment program intended for all generations.

The Winter at Gradina manifestation is part of a wider Advent story within Rijeka Advent, where holiday events take place at multiple locations in the city – from the center and Korzo to the Rijeka breakwater and the Exportdrvo zone. Nevertheless, Trsat Castle remains one of the most recognizable places of the Advent program, primarily due to the unique combination of historical ambience and contemporary lighting that emphasizes the rich cultural heritage of Rijeka.

The program at Trsat is especially focused on families and children, with an emphasis on interactive content, workshops, and performances by young performers. Thereby, Winter at Gradina follows the trend of European Advent destinations that devote more and more attention to content for the youngest, instead of focusing exclusively on the catering offer.

Tourist dimension and importance for the city

For the Rijeka Tourist Board, Winter at Gradina and programs like Family Day are an important tool for positioning the city as a year-round destination. Advent programs traditionally attract a large number of guests from the rest of Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, and other neighboring countries, and events at Trsat Castle are especially attractive to families looking for content adapted to children.

Along with a rich entertainment program, the manifestation also has a distinct promotional function: photographs of the Gradina of Lights with a view of Rijeka regularly circulate on social networks and reach an audience that may have never visited the city. Many visitors, encouraged precisely by such visuals, decide to come to Rijeka during December and combine a tour of Advent locations with exploring the city's cultural and gastronomic offer.

For those who want to fully immerse themselves in the holiday atmosphere, it is increasingly popular to plan a long weekend or a few days stay in the city. In this context, a special role is played by diverse offers of accommodation in Rijeka, from smaller private apartments to hotels in the center and in the Trsat area, which allow visitors to be within reach of the main Advent events.

Trsat Castle: a blend of history, heritage, and holiday magic

Trsat Castle is one of the most important symbols of Rijeka and one of the most visited excursion destinations in the city throughout the year. The fortress, whose beginnings date back to the Middle Ages, is today a recognizable cultural asset, and during Winter at Gradina it gets a completely new face thanks to Christmas lighting, scenography, and programs that combine history, culture, and entertainment.

The Gradina of Lights visually emphasizes the ramparts, towers, and the inner courtyard of the castle, creating a backdrop where local visitors and tourists meet. During Advent, Trsat becomes a destination where various programs are held daily – from concert evenings and themed evenings with DJ performances to family events like Family Day and the children's New Year's Eve.

Located above the city, with a view of the Rječina, the port, and the Kvarner Bay, Trsat Castle also offers a kind of respite from the city bustle. Visitors who decide to spend several days in Rijeka often combine a tour of the Advent center with an evening trip to Trsat, whereby well-organized accommodation near Trsat Castle allows them to enjoy both locations without rushing.

Experience for the whole family

Family Day at Trsat Castle showed how much family programs can enrich the city's Advent offer. Instead of passive observation, visitors were offered participation – whether it was dance workshops, interaction with stilt walkers, creative face painting, or singing along with the children's choir and little vocal soloists.

Parents, along with rich content for children, had the opportunity to enjoy a walk through the illuminated castle, warm drinks, and holiday specialties from Advent cottages. For many, precisely the feeling of togetherness, in an ambience that combines history and modernity, is what sets Trsat Castle apart from other holiday locations during Winter at Gradina.

With stable growth of interest in Advent travel, events like Family Day further strengthen Rijeka's position on the map of winter destinations. Families who visited the Gradina of Lights this year return home with impressions that are difficult to convey by photograph or video – but therefore easily turn into a recommendation to friends and one more reason to look for accommodation for visitors of Winter at Gradina again next winter and return to Trsat.

Sources: - Rijeka Tourist Board – announcement of the program "Winter at Gradina: Family Day" (visitrijeka.hr)
- Rijeka CityCard – event calendar, description of the Family Day program at Trsat Castle (events.rijekacitycard.hr)
- City of Rijeka – information about the Winter at Gradina manifestation and the emphasis on family programs (rijeka.hr)
- Media reports on Winter at Gradina and the Advent program at Trsat Castle, including an overview of events and the significance of the Gradina of Lights (fiuman.hr, torpedo.media, extravagant.com.hr)