Croatia might be known for its gorgeous coastline and captivating islands, but the capital city of Croatia has much to offer. From top-notch museums and theatres to beautiful hiking trails in all four seasons. Even though Zagreb is often thought of as a winter destination, there are plenty of things to see and do in the city all year round. Here are some of the events you shouldn’t miss in September!
September Events in Zagreb
ZeGeVege
Ban Jelacic Square
Free
Over 40,000 people visit Zagreb's main square for the biggest vege event in the region. You can see exhibits of healthy food, cosmetics, sustainable products, presentation and concerts.
ZeGeVege is a component of the international Veganmania event, which takes place in Vienna, Munich, and 15 other European cities. It is larger, has more exhibitors, and attracts more visitors than its sister festivals. It’s a perfect event to pick out your healthy food which you can top up with your favourite olive oil, of course.
Vintage Zagreb Festival
Corner of Ban Jelacic Square
Free
Vintage Festival is a special mashup of fashion, music, movies, art, dance, and design from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Visitors can view an exhibition of vintage vehicles and engines. hand-made bicycles and enjoy a number of artists who value the retro aesthetic. You can join make-up and styling classes as well as dance sessions or try your hand at the retro barbershop services where the barbers recall the sadly long-forgotten ancient Zagreb craft of shaving. Fashion displays featuring works by Croatian designers that were influenced by styles from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, The best local retro bands and DJs, hula hoop contests and photobooths!
World Literature Festival
Home of the Croatian Society of Fine Artists on Trg žrtava fašizma.
Free (in 2022)
The festival's jubilee edition will host authors from several continents from fourteen countries, including winners of the Man Booker, Goncourt, Costa, Lepizik literary awards and many others. FSK will celebrate its tenth birthday with a music program at the opening and closing, and on this occasion, unlike in previous years, all programs will be free. The festival repeats every year, so make sure to check it out at least once!
Hanžeković Memorial – IAAF World Challenge Meeting
SP Mladost, Jarunska 5
Free (in 2022)
Held annually in Zagreb since 1951, is the oldest sporting event in Croatia. Boris Hanžeković, a hurdler who was one of Croatia's top athletes before WWII and was killed in the war while attempting to flee the Jasenovac concentration camp, is now honoured with both the Meeting and the 110-meter hurdles memorial competition. Blanka Vlasic, one of the greatest athletes of all time, achieved the second-best high jump mark ever at the Zagreb Meeting when she cleared 2.08 meters. The best discus thrower in the world, Sandra Perkovic, threw the discus 70.83 meters, and the 110-meter hurdles memorial race has featured every Olympic and world champion and world record holder over the past 30 years. Usain Bolt currently holds the record for the 100-meter meeting with a time of 9.85.
International Puppet Theatre Festival
Various locations
Children EUR 3.98
Adults - EUR 6.64
A long-running puppet event for both adults and children (since 1968. there have been more than 650 shows from Croatia and around the world in nearly 700 performances). PIF is always open to all styles, genres, and themes of puppetry as well as to all forms of puppet expression. The plays are presented throughout the city in theatres, on city streets, and in public spaces.
You can enjoy the special lectures on puppetry, puppet exhibitions, marketing, and film projections on puppets.
Food Film Festival Zagreb
Zrinjevac Park
Free (in 2022)
This open-air, summertime culinary festival is held in Zagreb's most picturesque park, Zrinjevac Park, and it is devoted to films where food plays a major role (Chef, Julie&Julia, Chocolat, Hundred-Foot Journey etc). Along with the films, guests can sample food from neighbourhood eateries, bistros, pastry shops, and wine bars.
World Theater Festival
Croatian National Theater, Trg maršala Tita 15
From 13€
The World Theatre Festival offers audiences the opportunity to enjoy the best of drama, just like audiences in other European capitals. It also challenges professionals with modern theatrical practices, offers students new perspectives on creating, observing, and studying performing arts, and challenges professionals with contemporary theatrical practices. Our emphasis remains centred on the idea of showcasing master directors alongside cutting-edge young authors.
Organ Vida – International Photography Festival
Various locations
Free
The festival brings together young contemporary artists from around the world in an effort to develop the practice and art of current photography and to spark debates about important and universal sociopolitical topics. Every year, Organ Vida offers open calls on various themes in an effort to promote critical thinking and social interaction by addressing societal, political, and individual challenges. The primary exhibition, which is held in the Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, a major festival partner, is a curated exhibition of the artist who was chosen through an open call.
Zagreb Burger Festival
Trg dr. Franje Tuđmana
Free
From burgers and fries, desserts, and cocktails, all the way to DJs and interesting competitions! Nineteen houses pop up in the square during the burger festival for all burger lovers to try whatever they can think of. You can tree burgers in 13 of them while the rest offer fries and desserts. There are also 4 on-site bars. With the help of well-known Croatian chefs Mate Jankovic, Ivan Pazanin, Marijo Mihelj, and Nenad Komes you can try hamburgers from Zadar, Belgrade, and Dubrovnik!
Science Picnic Zagreb
Jadran Film, Rudolfa Kolaka 12
Tickets: free
The first science picnic in Croatia was hosted at Bocarski dom, a well-known family hangout in Zagreb. The format of a global event designed to promote science and knowledge demonstrated the popularity of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and all other scientific fields in Croatia. For the fifth year running, Jadran Film in Dubrava will serve as the new venue for experiments, lectures, workshops, and scientific demonstrations for kids, teens, and parents.