The 59th Vinkovci Autumns festival, which will take place from September 13th to 22nd, 2024, will offer a rich program dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of Slavonia, with an emphasis on family values symbolized by grandmothers and grandfathers, as the central figures of this year’s theme "Hands of the Šokci Memories". Over the ten-day event, Vinkovci will become a vibrant center of Slavonian tradition, bringing together thousands of visitors from all over Croatia and abroad.

The festival program is exceptionally rich and diverse, starting with the County Folklore Evenings which open the festival on September 13th. The very next day, September 14th, there will be an Inter-County Children's Showcase, while September 15th will be reserved for the Children's Folklore Parade, featuring over 60 groups with more than 2500 children. This event will provide young performers the opportunity to show their love for tradition and cultural heritage, and visitors will enjoy authentic performances that bring the past of Slavonia to life.

Central theme and special events
This year’s theme, "Hands of the Šokci Memories", is dedicated to the guardians of tradition, grandmothers and grandfathers, whose memories take us back to old times full of work, song, and customs. The grand opening, scheduled for September 20th, will feature a special ceremony highlighting the symbolism of family values through the words "Hands, my son, our hands. You know how many memories there are, the memories of our lives". This sentence, which will open the festival, carries a deep emotional message about the importance of preserving tradition through generations.

Concert program and entertainment
The musical part of the program features performances by numerous famous artists. The band Parni Valjak will perform on the first day, September 13th, followed by Zsa Zsa, Vatra, Caprio, Garavi, Klapa Rišpet, Ivo Amulić, and Z++. The final day, September 22nd, will be marked by a concert by the band Dalmatino. In addition to musical performances, visitors will have the chance to enjoy various entertainment and educational activities such as a wine tent, bircuza, and programs for children. A special novelty this year is a tourist train that will run daily, transporting visitors through the main points of the festival, providing them with a unique way to experience the Vinkovci Autumns in all their glory.

Gastronomic offer and ethnographic displays
The Vinkovci Autumns would not be complete without a rich gastronomic offer including Šokci cuisine, Slavonian Street, and Wine Square. These culinary attractions will allow visitors to taste traditional Slavonian dishes, prepared according to recipes passed down through generations. The Courtyard of Ideas, as one of the central parts of the festival, will provide space for the presentation and sale of local products, further emphasizing the importance of preserving traditional culture through daily life.

Grand parade and closing of the festival
The culmination of the festival will be on September 22nd, when the Grand Parade of participants and the horse-drawn carriage revue will take place. This event, which traditionally attracts a large number of visitors, will gather up to 75 cultural-artistic societies (KUDs), carriages, and riders from all over Croatia. The grand closing of the 59th Vinkovci Autumns will celebrate the unity and love for tradition, which has been the foundation of this festival for almost six decades.

For more information about the program and details of each event, visit the official festival page: https://visitvinkovci.com/59-vinkovacke-jeseni/.