20th Fig Days in Krk brought together gastronomy, knowledge, heritage and new entrepreneurial ideas
The twentieth edition of Fig Days concluded on 30 August in the town of Krk after ten days of programming dedicated to one of the Mediterranean's most recognizable fruits. From 21 to 30 August, the event brought together hospitality, local production, education, creative workshops, historical interpretation and music, while the central programme took place during the final weekend of August. According to the programme of the Krk Town Tourist Board, 14 hospitality establishments participated in the special gastronomic offering, while a sales exhibition, workshops and educational activities were held next to Veli Park from 28 to 30 August. The anniversary edition had additional symbolic significance because the event has been held continuously in Krk since 2007.
Over two decades, the fig has grown from a seasonal food into a starting point for a range of activities connected with cultivation, processing, gastronomy, local history, handicrafts and art. This year's programme placed particular emphasis on the transfer of knowledge and the possibility of developing new products. In the year in which Kvarner holds the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2026, Fig Days also gained a broader regional context in which local food is linked with heritage, tourism and sustainable development.
Fourteen hospitality establishments showed how versatile the fig can be
The gastronomic programme lasted for all ten days, from 21 to 30 August. According to the official programme of the Krk Town Tourist Board, 14 hospitality establishments joined the special offering, with menus featuring both savoury and sweet dishes. Figs appeared in combinations with burrata, prosciutto, gorgonzola, prawns, meat and red wine, as well as in pizzas, burgers and desserts such as panna cotta, crostata, cheesecake, crumble, pancakes and ice cream. Among the more adventurous combinations were veal carpaccio with fig, curd cheese and almonds, and duck liver with fig and red wine sauce.
Such a range showed that a fruit often associated with drying, jams or desserts can naturally be incorporated into contemporary starters and main courses. In this way, hospitality businesses became an important part of the event, transferring a traditional ingredient into different culinary styles and allowing the same theme to be followed from starter to dessert. This is precisely one of the ways in which a local ingredient can remain recognizable while at the same time acquiring new interpretations.
The International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism, IGCAT, awarded Kvarner the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2026, emphasizing in its explanation the importance of local identity, culinary heritage, community cooperation and sustainability. Fig Days fit into this framework as a concrete example of connecting a locally recognizable ingredient with restaurants, producers, education and heritage interpretation.
From historical re-enactment to more than 2,000 distributed seedlings
The central programme weekend began on Friday, 28 August, next to Veli Park. The opening was marked by the historical presentation "The Fig on the Frankopan Table" by the Knezovi krčki Frankopani Association, followed by the traditional distribution of fig seedlings. The distribution of seedlings is one of the event's most recognizable practical elements. As early as the 17th edition of Fig Days, the Town of Krk announced that more than 2,000 seedlings had been distributed to participants over previous editions, accompanied by expert lectures and workshops on cultivation and processing.
This figure shows that the impact of the event is not limited to several days of programming. The seedlings that have ended up in gardens and plantations over the years represent a more lasting legacy of the project, while the educational component increases access to knowledge about fig cultivation and use. The Krk Town Tourist Board's annual work programme for 2026 emphasizes that workshops, expert lectures, consultations and the distribution of seedlings in previous years encouraged interest in growing figs and using them in various products.
At the Great Council Hall of the Town of Krk, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Željko Prgomet spoke about two decades of the event and its beginnings. The Town of Krk identifies him as one of the initiators of Fig Days and a long-standing expert collaborator. His lecture returned the focus to the project's fundamental idea: not to present the fig merely as a finished product, but to spread knowledge about cultivation, varieties, processing and the opportunities this crop offers in the Mediterranean region.
"From Fig to Entrepreneurship" connects neglected fig orchards, knowledge and new products
A look towards the future was provided by the project of the Žene za otok Association, "From Fig to Entrepreneurship". The association itself states that the project is aimed at activating local resources, preserving island heritage and developing knowledge and entrepreneurial skills among children, young people and the local community. Activities include mapping fig trees, collecting stories and recipes, educational workshops, organized harvesting and fruit processing. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Žene za otok Pag and Modus Vivendi associations, with financial support from the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds and the Krk Town Tourist Board.
During August, the project also gained an educational component through a lecture on branding and tourism product development. The Krk Island Tourist Board announced that it was delivered by Lenka Šajina, an expert with many years of experience in tourism product development and destination branding. The emphasis was on transforming local specialities, recipes and traditions into recognizable products that can have market value while remaining connected to the identity of the community.
At Fig Days, the project was presented by members of the Žene za otok Association, and the Town of Krk reported that one of the ideas was to create a recognizable fig product. In this way, the event no longer presents only what local producers are already doing, but also raises the question of how neglected trees and traditional knowledge can once again be incorporated into processing, education and entrepreneurship.
The sales exhibition showed that the fig has long been much more than jam and dried fruit
The sales exhibition next to Veli Park brought together producers and exhibitors with a much broader range of products than those traditionally associated with figs. In its announcement, the Krk Town Tourist Board listed ten exhibitors, including local family farms and small producers. The offering included fresh and dried figs, jams, fig cakes and brandies, as well as freeze-dried figs, honey with figs, chutney, natural cosmetics, fig-leaf hydrosol, soaps, and ceramic and wooden objects featuring fig motifs.
The offering showed how a traditional food product can be enhanced through processing, design and new ways of using the raw material. For small producers, this means the possibility of developing products that are not tied exclusively to the short season of fresh figs, while giving the event content that connects agriculture, crafts and tourism. Producers, hospitality businesses and the public met in the same space: restaurants transformed figs into dishes, exhibitors into products, while the educational programme addressed their cultivation and entrepreneurial potential.
Creative workshops turned the fig into a motif for children and adults
The creative programme was spread across all three days of the central weekend. Children made brooches and keyrings from felted wool, bags were painted with fig motifs, and a cyanotype workshop was also held. Sunday's programme included the historical workshop "Little Frankopans", while an Art & Wine workshop for adults was held in the Small Council Hall.
According to the programme of the Krk Town Tourist Board, the Art & Wine workshop was led by Alenka Goldner Sučić, and participants created fig-inspired works using acrylic on canvas while enjoying a glass of Krk wine. Registration for the workshop was mandatory because of the limited number of places and high interest. In this way, the gastronomic theme was transferred into the visual arts programme, while the children's workshops turned the fig into a motif for exploring different creative techniques.
The diversity of the workshops is also important because it makes the event accessible to different generations. The fig is presented not only through tasting, but also through hands-on work, history and art. In this way, the traditional theme extends beyond the agricultural and gastronomic framework, allowing children and adults to approach it in completely different ways.
Frankopan heritage linked the gastronomic programme with the history of Krk
Frankopan heritage ran through the entire anniversary weekend. Following the historical presentation at the opening, interpretative walks entitled "Frankopan Heritage of the Town of Krk" were held on Saturday and Sunday, organized by the Knezovi krčki Frankopani Association. While walking through the historic centre, participants learned the story of the Princes of Krk, the Frankopans, and their centuries-long connection with the town.
The Town of Krk describes the Knezovi Krčki Frankopani project as an initiative aimed at revitalizing historical and traditional heritage through costumes, old crafts, customs, gastronomy and the presentation of local products. The cultural-tourism route "The Routes of the Frankopans" includes 17 castles, fortified towns and manor houses, as well as three sacral complexes in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, including the castle in Krk. This gives the interpretative walks at Fig Days a broader context and connects the gastronomic theme with the town's historical identity.
For visitors who want to discover Krk beyond the event programme itself, accommodation offers in Krk can be a starting point for a longer stay and for exploring the historic centre and other sites on the island.
Musical finale at Vela placa and Kamplin
The musical programme accompanied the central weekend without taking the leading role away from the gastronomic and educational themes. On Friday evening, Gradska glazba Krk performed at Vela placa, while the vocal group Kurikta provided musical accompaniment to part of the programme in the Great Council Hall. Saturday evening was reserved for an acoustic concert by the band Vatra at Kamplin Square.
The official programme of the Krk Town Tourist Board announced Vatra's concert for 29 August at 9 p.m., and after the event the Town of Krk reported that Saturday evening had indeed concluded with their acoustic performance. The musical activities thus rounded off the daytime programme of workshops, the sales exhibition and interpretative walks, creating an evening social finale to the event days.
The anniversary follows national recognition for the event
The twentieth edition was held less than a year after Fig Days received national recognition as part of the Suncokret ruralnog turizma – The Sunflower Award 2025. The Krk Town Tourist Board announced that it had won a Bronze Charter for the event in the category "Accessible Tourism and Strengthening the Rural Community". The award was presented in December 2025 in Bjelovar, in competition with numerous projects from different parts of Croatia.
The recognition is important because it confirms that Fig Days are no longer viewed solely as a local seasonal event. Two decades of continuity, education about cultivation, the involvement of hospitality businesses and producers, and the connection with cultural heritage have created a format that also has a development component. The Krk Town Tourist Board's annual programme for 2026 describes Fig Days as an event that contributes to the authenticity of the destination, the development of local producers and the strengthening of the gastronomic identity of the town and island.
Following the anniversary weekend, Director of the Krk Town Tourist Board Ivana Kovačić emphasized the continuity of the event and the fact that the fig remains at its centre, even though the programme has expanded over the years. In her assessment, an important role is played by hospitality businesses and local producers, who year after year find new ways to use figs. Connecting education, gastronomy, associations, cultural programming and tourism promotion is the direction in which the organizers want to continue developing the event.
The fig as a link between agriculture, gastronomy and identity
The twentieth Fig Days showed how an event can develop without moving away from its original idea. The programme brought together restaurants, producers, experts, associations, children, artists and musicians, but each of these groups approached the fig from a different angle. For some it was an agricultural crop, for others a gastronomic ingredient, for others a motif for artistic work, while for the "From Fig to Entrepreneurship" project it was a resource that can be reactivated through knowledge, processing and new business ideas.
Such a model also corresponds to the broader concept of Kvarner as the European Region of Gastronomy 2026, in which local products, heritage and cooperation between different sectors are placed at the centre of gastronomic identity. Fig Days use what is already present in the island environment and everyday life and add education, interpretation and contemporary application. Instead of creating a new symbol, the event develops an existing one and seeks to secure its place in the future as well.
The programme of the 20th Fig Days was implemented with the participation of the Krk Town Tourist Board, the Town of Krk, the Kvarner Tourist Board, associations, hospitality businesses, producers and other partners. After two decades, the result of the event can no longer be measured solely by the number of workshops, exhibitors or dishes served. More than 2,000 distributed seedlings, a new entrepreneurial initiative, the involvement of 14 hospitality establishments and the connection of gastronomy with Frankopan heritage show that content has developed around the fig in Krk that simultaneously preserves tradition and seeks new ways to apply it.
Sources:
- Town of Krk – report on the anniversary 20th edition of Fig Days and overview of key programmes (link)
- Krk Town Tourist Board – official programme of the 20th Fig Days, gastronomic offering, workshops, exhibitors and musical programme (link)
- Town of Krk – expert article accompanying the 17th Fig Days with information on more than 2,000 distributed seedlings (link)
- Žene za otok Association – description of the "From Fig to Entrepreneurship" project, objectives, activities and partners (link)
- Krk Island Tourist Board – information on the educational programme within the "From Fig to Entrepreneurship" project (link)
- IGCAT – official confirmation of Kvarner's designation as European Region of Gastronomy 2026 and explanation of the objectives of the recognition (link)
- Krk Town Tourist Board – information on the Bronze Charter of the Suncokret ruralnog turizma 2025 for Fig Days (link)
- The Routes of the Frankopans and the Town of Krk – official information on Frankopan heritage and the cultural-tourism route (link)