Motovun's "Magic on the Hill" Once Again Among the Best: Expert Jury Awards Advent in Motovun a High Second Place
MOTOVUN – The holiday event "Magic on the Hill – Advent in Motovun", which was declared the most beautiful advent in Croatia in the municipality category last year by the portal Gradonačelnik.hr, is once again at the very top this season – according to the organizers' statement. An expert jury rated it as the second-best advent among municipalities, confirming the continuity of the idea that transforms Motovun into one of the most striking winter backdrops in Istria.
Although the official program in the old town center ended on December 28, 2025, Motovun does not lower the curtain even at the very end of the year. According to the organizers, decorations and the festive atmosphere in the center remain in place until January 9, 2026, and at the foot of the hill, at the ROXANICH Winery & Design Hotel, the "Jingle Bell Rox" advent program continues until January 7, 2026, with a real ice skating rink and appropriate gourmet and entertainment offers.
If you plan to arrive after the New Year, it is practical to look for accommodation in Motovun or accommodation near the event venue in advance, as visits are often combined with a weekend trip through central Istria.
What "Second Place" Means and How the Most Beautiful Advent is Chosen
The selection for the most beautiful advent is conducted by the portal Gradonačelnik.hr under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia. The competition includes advents in cities and municipalities, and winners are chosen in several categories: partly based on public votes on official platforms, and partly based on the jury's assessment. The project is conceived as a sort of "exhibition" of advent programs from all parts of the country, with the aim of helping smaller places present themselves more easily outside local frameworks and gain additional visibility.
In this context, Motovun's continued high positioning gains weight. After last year's first place among municipalities, this year's second place – according to the organizers' statement – confirms that this is a program that does not rely only on "one good season", but builds a recognizable concept year after year.
Motovun as an Advent Stage: Thousands of Lights, "Christmas Garden" and Cinema in the Heart of the Square
In December 2025, Motovun once again utilized its most striking assets – old town walls, panoramic views, and an intimate center where the proximity of the program is felt within a few steps. According to announcements by the Motovun Municipality Tourist Board, the town center was decorated with thousands of lights and holiday decorations, with content specially designed for families: the "Christmas Garden" in the garden of the Motovun walls and "Santa's House", where children could leave letters with wishes.
An important part of the concept was also the "Christmas Cinema" at the Bauer Cinema on the main square, conceived as a space for screenings and plays for children and young people. The organizers thus gained a "warm" winter stage which, along with outdoor events, helps maintain the rhythm of the program even on days when the weather is not ideal.
For visitors who want to stay longer than one afternoon, accommodation offers in Motovun or accommodation in the surroundings of Motovun are frequently sought in practice, especially during weekends when the program was densest.
Program December 12–28: Music, Family Days, and Advent Cottages
The event took place from December 12 to 28, 2025, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with the program starting from 4 PM, and entry to events was free. According to the Motovun Municipality Tourist Board, free parking was also provided for visitors from 3 PM, which further facilitated arrival from other parts of Istria and Croatia.
- Term: December 12–28, 2025 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- Program Start: from 4 PM
- Entry: free
- Parking: free for visitors from 3 PM (according to organizers' announcements)
On the main square, alongside the stage and cinema, advent cottages with gastronomic offers played a key role in the atmosphere. The organizers' statement mentions that the catering offer was provided by the cottages Smile Motovun, Wall Street Pub, Theodora Bar, Teta San, and B5 Advent, combining classic winter flavors with local interpretations.
Opening with a Concert in the Church and Evening Gig on the Square
On the first day, Friday, December 12, "Magic on the Hill" opened with the lighting of lights in the old town center and the opening of cottages, and the evening also had a strong musical signature. In the parish church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr, a traditional pre-Christmas concert was held where, according to announcements, Klapa Motovun and the choirs of the Italian Community performed, along with guests from Tar, and then the acoustic ensemble Timeless Duets performed on the main square.
Weekends as the Backbone: Night Express, Tacoor, Grupa Vigor, Antonio Krištofić, and Rišpet
The central weekends brought recognizable musical names and a genre-diverse program. On the stage, among others, Night Express, the Istrian hip-hop funk collective Tacoor, Grupa Vigor, Antonio Krištofić, and Rišpet took turns, while DJ Hoky was in charge of the DJ program during the event. The intention was for every weekend to offer content for different generations – from family terms in the afternoon hours to concerts in the evening program, along with the gourmet offer on the square.
Days for Children: Plays, Cinema, and Santa's Arrival
The family segment came to the fore especially in the week before Christmas. According to the program, on December 19, children's performances by the district kindergarten and district elementary school were organized, and then Santa Claus arrived on the square and distributed gifts to children from the area of the Municipality of Motovun. In combination with the "Christmas Cinema" and plays, that part of the event further solidified the idea of Motovun as an advent destination that relies on the local community, and not just on a one-time tourist wave.
In the finale of the program, the last weekend brought a concert by Rišpet and a grand finale on the main square, while the last day of the event, Sunday, December 28, ended with a program in the Christmas Cinema and a DJ set on the square. The organizers highlight that the attendance and audience reactions were a strong incentive for planning the next edition.
Advent Moves to the Foot of the Hill Too: "Jingle Bell Rox" until January 7, 2026
Motovun's holiday offer does not end only at the town square. At the foot of Motovun, ROXANICH Winery & Design Hotel organizes "Jingle Bell Rox" from November 28, 2025, to January 7, 2026 – an advent program with an open ice rink on real ice, holiday cottages with food and drinks, and musical and entertainment content outdoors. According to organizers' posts and local media, the ice rink operates without a time limit, with promotional prices for entry and skate rental.
For a part of the visitors, this means that even after the end of the official city schedule, there is still a reason to come: a tour of the old town center in the light of decorations, a short walk through the viewpoints, and then skating and socializing in the Mirna valley. Arrival from other parts is easiest to organize with accommodation for Motovun visitors, in order to combine both locations without rushing.
Why Motovun Attracts: A Blend of Local Community and Tourism
Motovun is small in population, but strong in identity. precisely because of this, advent in such a place has a different dynamic than in big cities: there are fewer locations, but a higher concentration of content and a sense of shared experience is created faster. The organizers of "Magic on the Hill" emphasized in announcements the accessibility of the program (free entry and free parking) and a mix of content that simultaneously targets families, the local population, and excursionists.
For a destination like Motovun, which is already recognized for cultural contents and eno-gastro offer, advent becomes an extension of the story of year-round attractiveness. In this sense, a high placement in the national selection – whether as a victory last year or second place this year, according to the organizers' statement – also has practical value: it increases visibility in a period when tourism in the interior of Istria traditionally slows down, and gives local caterers and producers additional space to perform.
What Remains After the Program
On the day of December 31, 2025, the official schedule in the old town center is already behind Motovun, but the town continues to live off the holiday atmosphere. Those who visit Motovun in the first days of January can count on a walk among decorations, taking photos from viewpoints, and visiting the foot of the hill where "Jingle Bell Rox" offers content until January 7, 2026 – enough to turn a winter trip into a small vacation, especially with a good plan and selection of accommodation in Motovun and the surroundings.
Sources:
- Tourist Board of the Municipality of Motovun – announcement and schedule of the program "Magic on the Hill – Advent in Motovun 2025" (link)
- Glas Istre – article on the start of "Magic on the Hill" and program details and announcement of "Jingle Bell Rox" (link)
- Istra24 – announcement of the Advent program in Motovun and information on "Jingle Bell Rox" (link)
- ROXANICH Winery & Design Hotel – official post "Jingle Bell Rox 2025–2026" (November 28, 2025 – January 7, 2026) (link)
- Istra – official event calendar: "Jingle Bell Rox" in Motovun (link)
- Gradonačelnik.hr – information on the selection "Most Beautiful Advent" and voting rules (patronage of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports) (link)
- Statement by the organizers of "Magic on the Hill" delivered to the editorial office on December 31, 2025 – states about the second place according to the expert jury and duration of decorations until January 9, 2026 (without public link)
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