Varaždin Economic Fair postponed due to forecast rain; the new date is 23 and 24 May
The twelfth Varaždin Economic Fair will not be held on the originally planned date this weekend, but has been moved, due to the announced unfavorable weather conditions, to Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 May 2026. According to the organizers' notice, the reason for the postponement is the expected rain, because of which it was assessed that holding the event in the open-air area of Kapucinski Square would be difficult for exhibitors, visitors and the accompanying program. The new date will allow the fair to be held at the same location, in the center of Varaždin, without changing the basic concept of the event. Since this is an event that largely takes place outdoors, weather conditions have a direct impact on the organization of stands, sales and tasting content, and the stay of visitors. The organizers therefore state that the program is not being cancelled, but is being moved by one week, to the last weekend in May before the end of the month.
New date and the same location on Kapucinski Square
The new dates for the fair are Saturday, 23 May, and Sunday, 24 May 2026, and the venue remains Kapucinski Square. This is a location that has been used in Varaždin for this type of public event for several years because it is sufficiently visible, easily accessible to pedestrians and connected with the narrower city center. In earlier announcements for previous editions of the fair, the Varaždin Tourist Board listed Kapucinski Square as the official location of the Economic Fair, with the note that admission to the fair and entertainment-music programs was free. Previous editions of the fair were also linked to the same space, which gave the event a recognizable urban framework. For exhibitors planning to come, as well as for visitors from outside Varaždin, the change of date means that they need to recheck their own arrival plans, transport and possible accommodation in Varaždin during the fair.
Postponement due to weather conditions
The decision to move the date was made because of the forecast rain and more unstable weather conditions. In its forecast for Croatia published on 13 May, the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service mentions variable cloudiness and meteorological circumstances that may differ depending on the region, and in its explanation of computer forecasts it emphasizes that objective forecasts are based on numerical models and should be interpreted as one of the available sources of information. For Varaždin, in the three-day objective forecast updated on 13 May at 8:52, DHMZ displayed data for the days before the originally planned date, including Friday, 15 May, and the early hours of Saturday, 16 May. According to the available fifteen-day forecast by the MeteoCRO service for Varaždin, rain was indicated for Friday, 15 May, and for Saturday, 16 May, rain with a larger amount of precipitation than on the previous days. Such forecasts do not mean that every detail of the weather is certain in advance, but for an outdoor event they represent a sufficiently important organizational risk.
For fair events, rain is not only a matter of visitor comfort. It can affect the safety of movement between stands, the availability of electrical equipment, the technical preparation of the stage, the display of products and the performance of programs that include workshops, presentations or performances. At events that bring together craftspeople, family farms, entrepreneurs and associations, protecting goods and equipment is especially important because part of the offer is displayed and sold directly at the stands. If the weather is highly unstable, organizers must assess whether conditions can be ensured in which the program can take place without major interruptions. Moving the date in such circumstances can be a simpler solution than shortening the program or carrying out part of the content with significantly reduced attendance.
A fair that brings together entrepreneurs, craftspeople, family farms and local communities
The Varaždin Economic Fair has established itself as an event at which various economic and local actors are presented. According to reports from the previous, eleventh edition, counties, towns, municipalities, craftspeople, entrepreneurs, family farms, winemakers, associations, cottage industries and car dealerships presented themselves at the fair. The same sources state that the program included fair exhibitions and presentations, business meetings, workshops, tastings and occasional sales. Such a structure shows that the fair is not only a sales area, but also a place of direct contact between producers, service providers, local institutions and citizens. For smaller producers and family farms, such events are important because they enable direct product presentation, conversation with customers and the creation of new business contacts.
The eleventh edition of the fair, held in 2025, gathered more than 100 exhibitors according to local media reports. Varaždinske vijesti reported that that fair was opened on Kapucinski Square, organized by the marketing agency Tin – marketing, with the support of the City of Varaždin, while Varaždin County was listed as the main partner. Sjever.hr also reported that numerous exhibitors presented themselves at the fair, from family farms and winemakers to associations and car dealerships, and that the program included tastings, workshops and occasional sales. These data provide a framework for understanding why the new date does not concern only one weekend in the city calendar, but the preparation of a larger number of participants. Every exhibitor must plan logistics, goods, staff, transport, equipment and communication with customers, so timely information about the postponement is important for the entire organizational chain.
Why a timely announcement is important for exhibitors and visitors
The postponement was announced before the originally planned weekend, which gives exhibitors time to adjust their preparations. In practice, this means changing the delivery schedule, coordinating with the people working at the stands, adjusting stocks and possibly moving marketing announcements to the new date. For visitors, the most important thing is clear information that they should not come to Kapucinski Square on the previously planned date, but one week later. Since fairs of this type are often linked to family visits, browsing stands, buying local products and spending time in the city center, the change of date can affect the planning of the entire weekend. If a larger number of arrivals from other places is expected, it is useful to coordinate transport in advance and check accommodation near Kapucinski Square.
Clear communication is especially important because some information about events spreads through social networks, local portals, posters and word-of-mouth recommendations. When the date changes because of the weather, old announcement materials may remain visible for some time, so there is a risk that some visitors will remember the original date. That is why it is important to emphasize the full new date in all new announcements: Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 May 2026. It is also useful to stress that the location remains Kapucinski Square, because this gives visitors two key pieces of information without the need for additional checks. For organizers, exhibitors and media, this is also a way to avoid misunderstandings on the day when the fair was originally supposed to be held.
Kapucinski Square as a fair venue in the center of Varaždin
Kapucinski Square has an important role in the organization of public events in Varaždin because it is located in a zone where city life, pedestrian traffic and tourist sightseeing naturally meet. For an economic fair, such a location has a practical advantage: the stands are visible to passers-by, visitors can easily reach the exhibitors, and the program fits into the broader rhythm of the city center. In previous editions, precisely the open urban space was part of the fair's identity, but at the same time it also meant greater dependence on the weather. When conditions are favorable, the square can accommodate diverse content, from sales points and presentations to performances and accompanying programs. When rain is forecast, the same space becomes more demanding for technical execution and for a safe, pleasant visit.
According to data from the Varaždin Tourist Board for an earlier edition, the Economic Fair also included an entertainment-music program, and visitors were also presented with an additional offer from the economic sector. This combination of economic and social content is one of the reasons why events of this type are placed in urban spaces accessible to a wider audience. The fair simultaneously promotes local products and encourages people to spend time in the city center, which can benefit hospitality establishments, shops and other service activities. Therefore, moving the date does not have to mean reducing the importance of the event, but rather an attempt to hold it in conditions that better suit the program. If the new weekend brings more stable weather, exhibitors could have better conditions for presenting themselves, and visitors for a longer tour of the fair.
Broader significance for the local economy
Economic fairs in cities the size of Varaždin have multiple roles. They are not only places for selling products, but also public spaces in which local economic niches can be seen, from agriculture and food to crafts, services, tourism and creative activities. When entrepreneurs, family farms, associations and representatives of local self-government units gather in one place, visitors get an overview of what is produced and offered in the broader regional area. For small producers, especially those without strong sales channels, direct contact with customers can be just as important as the sales themselves during the two days of the fair. For local institutions, such events are an opportunity to present projects, tourist offers and cooperation with the economy.
According to earlier reports, the City of Varaždin was the patron of the previous edition, and Varaždin County the main partner, which shows that the event fits into local development and promotional activities. Such support does not mean only formal patronage, but also a message that local production, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship are being made more visible. The fair can also have an effect on visits to the city center because it attracts people who might otherwise not come to that part of the city at the same time. For hospitality establishments and other service activities, an increased number of visitors during the fair weekend can mean additional turnover. That is why it is important that the new date be clearly communicated as soon as possible, so that part of the expected effect of the event can still be achieved.
What is currently known about the new date
According to the available information, the key change concerns the date of the event: the 12th Varaždin Economic Fair is being moved to 23 and 24 May 2026. The location remains Kapucinski Square, and the notice of postponement is related to the announced unfavorable weather conditions and rain on the originally planned date. A detailed program schedule for the new weekend, including possible times for performances, workshops or other content, has not been officially confirmed in the available information at this time. If the organizer announces additional changes, they will be important for exhibitors participating in the program and for visitors planning to come. Until then, the most important practical information is that the fair will not be held this weekend, but one week later.
Visitors are advised to follow new announcements from the organizer and local information channels before coming. This is especially important for those planning to come from outside Varaždin, because the change of date may affect transport, free time and reservations. Exhibitors should align their own announcements with the new date in order to avoid the spread of outdated information. For an event that takes place in an open urban space, checking the weather forecast immediately before the new date will also remain an important part of preparation. If there are no new changes, Kapucinski Square should once again be the central gathering place for exhibitors, producers, craftspeople and visitors of the 12th Varaždin Economic Fair on 23 and 24 May.
Sources:
- Varaždin Tourist Board – data on the location, concept and earlier edition of the Varaždin Economic Fair (link)
- Varaždinske vijesti – report on the 11th Varaždin Economic Fair, exhibitors, organizer and partners (link)
- Sjever.hr – report on the program, number of exhibitors and free admission at the previous edition of the fair (link)
- Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service – current forecast and explanation of objective computer forecasts for Varaždin (link)
- MeteoCRO – fifteen-day weather forecast for Varaždin used as an additional forecasting source (link)
RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION