The holiday spirit has already flooded Novi Vinodolski, and this December the whole city breathes to the rhythm of warm lights, music, scents, and togetherness. After the ceremonial lighting of the lights on November 30th and the performance of the youngest ones on the Vinodol Law Square, the New Advent program heated up with DJ Boris and the first quiz showdown led by Dean Kotiga at the House of Culture. Santa Claus's House has opened its doors again and is currently one of the most visited holiday places for children, while workshops fill up as soon as applications open. It is precisely this combination of family content, creative meetings, and lively evening performances that creates the unique atmosphere that has become the trademark of December in Novi Vinodolski in recent years.

Frankopan Square becomes the central stage

From Friday, December 12th, Frankopan Square takes over the main role as the Advent center. Between the cottages offering holiday gastronomy and winter drinks, a diverse weekend program is arranged, and in the heart of the square, the ice skating rink "Winter Magic of the Frankopans" will be located. The grand opening on December 12th is accompanied by the attractive "Miraculous Fairy Tale on Ice" performed by the Medo Skating Club and an evening DJ program. Due to the proximity of all points – the ice rink, cottages, and stage – visitors can easily combine a lap on the ice, a short warm-up with drinks, and a return in front of the stage. The square is imagined as a large holiday living room outdoors, a meeting place for neighbors, families, and guests who choose Novi Vinodolski in December precisely because of the warmth of togetherness.

According to the published program, the ice skating rink will be open daily until January 11, 2026. On the first day, December 12th, skating is from 17:00 to 22:00; the weekend of December 13th and 14th brings all-day slots from 10:00 to 22:00; from December 15th to 19th skating is in the afternoon (15:00 – 21:00), and on December 20th and 21st again all day (10:00 – 22:00). Then on December 22nd and 23rd, working hours are 15:00 – 21:00, and from Christmas Eve until the end, December 24th – January 11th, skating is every day from 10:00 to 21:00. Entry is organized every full hour, while skating itself lasts 45 minutes, in order to prepare the ice surface for the next group between slots. The organizers also announce symbolic prices so that skating remains accessible to all ages.

Music for all generations: Bosutski bećari open the weekend

Saturday, December 13th, is reserved for Slavonian emotion and a large joint choir: Bosutski bećari arrive at Frankopan Square. Their recognizable blend of tamburitza style and pop melody has been filling squares and halls for years, and in the open-air Advent atmosphere, it promises an evening full of song and holiday warmth. The program continues in the following days – from a humor-colored stand-up evening by the Split Scene to the brilliantly moody Trio Marinero. Towards the very end of December, the atmosphere is lifted by the Reaktiva cover band, along with a series of DJ evenings that keep the rhythm between concerts and accompanying family content. It is precisely this balance of music, socializing, and activities on the ice that makes Frankopan Square not "stop" in December – from morning children's slots to evening performances for company and guests.

Creative workshops and holiday "school of imagination"

This year, Advent in Novi Vinodolski particularly emphasizes the creative part of the program – workshops are distributed throughout the month and shaped to connect generations. The beginning of December brought a fragrant workshop for making Christmas wreaths (with mulled gin), and then a workshop for painting glass water bottles. Workshops for making cloud Christmas decorations and making and decorating gingerbread houses were organized for children, which filled up as soon as they were announced. In the second part of the month, the making of mosaic balls follows, then the popular "green" kokedama for decorating living space and, as a tasty finale, PAŠTAda – a fresh pasta workshop that brings back the scents of home cooking during the holidays. Workshop leaders place emphasis on practical advice: from the choice of materials and colors to simple tricks for preserving and maintaining finished handicrafts, so participants take home unique holiday souvenirs.

Workshops are also a meeting place: children with parents make their first decorations with laughter, teenagers discover mosaic and string-art techniques, and adults supplement their home holiday decoration. This joint work is one of the more beautiful images of December – people creating their small memories at the same table, and then, with a cup of mulled wine, proudly showing them to friends on the square.

Santa Claus's House and Wednesday storytelling

The youngest visitors will find their favorite place, Santa Claus's House, in a lavish scenography filled with letters, lights, and warm stories. Wishes are written here, cards are drawn, and the most important thing is kept – holiday imagination. Every Wednesday, the National Reading Room and Library turn into a small theater corner: "Christmas Snow Tales" and "Christmas with Archibald" receive children and parents for a pleasant afternoon with a story, while creative workshops (string-art, kokedama, and other themed activities) are held in the Small Hall of the House of Culture. A special glow awaits the courtyard of the Fijolica Kindergarten, which illuminates the program "Christmas shines with warmth" on December 11th – a series of children's performances and surprises in which educators and parents participate.

Quizzes that fill halls: from Kotiga to "Kviz Pliz"

Novi Advent is also known for excellent quizzes, which have created a regular audience over the years. Already on the first day of the program, the season was opened by "Quiz by Dean Kotiga" in the House of Culture, and on Sunday, December 14th at 19:00, the traditional "Christmas Quiz Pliz" is held. Teams send applications via e-mail, and the registration fee is 10 euros per team. The end of the month brings "New Year's Quiz Pliz", also at 19:00, so lovers of knowledge and good fun will have a double opportunity for measuring up – and that in December which is already full of socializing. In addition, part of the questions is dedicated to local history and customs, so quizzes often become a cute quick "school" of Novi Vinodolski for guests who are in the city for the first time.

Concerts and special holiday moments

In the week leading up to Christmas, a special place is occupied by the traditional concerts of tenor Jose Butorac: on Christmas Eve, after the morning Holy Mass, he sings in the Church of St. Margaret in Klenovica, while on December 26th, after the mass at 18:00, he performs in the Church of St. Philip and James. On the eve of Christmas, Frankopan Square is left to the children – the interactive program "Toy Factory", mascots of favorite heroes, and DJ animation create a mood that is remembered from school holidays. In the same week, Christmas programs of the Ivan Mažuranić Elementary School and the concert of the Novi Children's Choir in the National Reading Room and Library are also held. For visitors who want to explore the surroundings, we suggest a short trip to Ledenice – a place where a special holiday atmosphere comes to life on December 18th with an Advent program.

New Year's Eve at noon

The "signature" of Novi is the New Year's Eve celebration at noon, designed as a family celebration in the city center. On New Year's Eve morning, December 31st from 10:00, the groups Trend and Face and Trio Family alternate, accompanied by children's animation and face painting. A special New Year's mug (10 euros) brings unlimited consumption of mulled wine and one delicious delicacy from local hunters. The daytime celebration allows visitors with children to experience a true holiday atmosphere without late hours, and adults who plan a trip or a quieter end to the year in the evening – to still dance to good music. Best of all, everything is a step away from Frankopan Square and the ice rink, so during the day one can easily "move" from the ice to the concert and back.

How to plan a visit (December 10, 2025)

At the time of publication (December 10, 2025), the opening of the ice rink and the first weekend with a full program are ahead of us. If you are coming by car, count on increased traffic towards the center; it is most practical to park in the zone of the House of Culture or in marked parking lots in the wider center, and then reach Frankopan Square and Vinodol Law Square with an easy walk. For families with children, we recommend earlier skating slots (during the weekend from 10:00 to 13:00), while evening slots are "reserved" for performances and DJ programs. Gloves are mandatory, and for the youngest skaters, we recommend a helmet; skate rental is organized on the spot. The rule for workshops applies – sign up as early as possible and check the price and location in the program; the number of places is limited, and slots fill up quickly.

If you are planning a multi-day stay, consider accommodation within walking distance of the center so you can easily move between key locations. Morning walks by the sea, afternoon skating, and an evening concert or quiz are the perfect holiday "formation". If you are staying for one day, combine a shorter trip, afternoon ice, and an evening performance – and if you are with children, throw in a visit to Santa Claus's House or the Wednesday storytelling. As every winter, the best guide is the official poster with times and places of events – with which you will assemble an ideal schedule without the need to rush.

Where the Advent atmosphere "lives"

The New Advent program is structured so that every week has its own "music". The Vinodol Law Square is in charge of ceremonial openings, children's performances, and joint socializing; Frankopan Square is, in turn, an everyday living room with an ice rink and cottages. In the National Reading Room and Library, storytelling and children's programs alternate, the House of Culture hosts quizzes and puppet shows, and Advent events spread outside the narrow core as well – for example, to Ledenice and Klenovica. Due to this distribution, visitors rarely "stand still" – December in Novi Vinodolski is synchronized so that the day flows from point to point, while every location has a recognizable atmosphere.

Practical summary for quick orientation

• Ice skating rink "Winter Magic of the Frankopans": Dec 12 (17:00–22:00); Dec 13–14 (10:00–22:00); Dec 15–19 (15:00–21:00); Dec 20–21 (10:00–22:00); Dec 22–23 (15:00–21:00); Dec 24 – Jan 11 (10:00–21:00). Entries on the full hour, skating 45 min.


• Music and stage program on Frankopan Square: Bosutski bećari – Dec 13; Split stand-up scene and Trio Marinero – Dec 20; Reaktiva cover band – Dec 27; multiple DJ evenings throughout December.


• Creative workshops: wreaths, bottle painting, cloud decorations, gingerbread houses, mosaic balls, kokedama, PAŠTAda; applications by e-mail, number of places limited.


• Quizzes: "Quiz by Dean Kotiga" opened the season; "Christmas Quiz Pliz" – Dec 14 at 19:00 (fee 10 € / team); "New Year's Quiz Pliz" – Dec 29 at 19:00.


• Special moments: Santa Claus's House (throughout Advent); Christmas concerts by Jose Butorac (Dec 24 and 26); Advent in Ledenice – Dec 18; school and children's holiday programs.


• New Year's Eve at noon (Dec 31 from 10:00): groups Trend and Face and Trio Family; New Year's mug 10 € includes unlimited mulled wine + one hunter's delicacy.


• Accommodation and arrival: we recommend timely reservation of accommodation in Novi Vinodolski; come to the center on foot – between Vinodol Law Square, Frankopan Square, and the ice rink, everything is a few minutes' walk away.

Why choose Novi Vinodolski for a December getaway

In Novi Vinodolski, Advent is not just a "backdrop", but a series of carefully linked points that follow one another – morning skating, afternoon workshop, evening concert. The sea backdrop and compact center allow everything to "fit" into a relaxed walk, without rushing and crowds, while every age finds something for themselves. If you are looking for a place where holiday lights are not experienced in a hurry, but with a smile and a meeting, then you will find it on the route Vinodol Law Square – Frankopan Square – House of Culture. Add to that the scent of cinnamon and cloves, good music, children's laughter from Santa Claus's House, and traces of skates on the ice – and you will get a December to remember.