Grand Carnival Parade in Zadar

There, the participants were welcomed by a strict judging panel prone to bribery and shady dealings, as well as the new mayor Ivo Muzika, whose rule – ever since taking over the keys to the city – has been nothing short of impressive and has exceeded all expectations. Corruption has never been greater, kids on scooters are running over pensioners on the Boulevard in pursuit of highly tempting prizes, almost like the ones 13 masked groups competed for today before a large audience.

There was truly something for everyone. The Zadar majorettes brought a touch of elegance as Venetian masks, performing the traditional old Croatian majorette dance, while their colleagues from Benkovac playfully meowed as cats, and the group from Gospić delighted the crowd dressed as the popular Minions.

Imagination was in no short supply among the other masked groups either. The Dragon Boat Club Zadar, bringing together women from Zadar who have been treated for breast cancer, sailed in under the sign of the Fiery Dragon. The “Zadar Dragon Ladies,” aged 40 to 80, showed through dance what unity and team spirit mean to them, as did the Kveštura association from Diklo in their cheerful pom-pom edition after descending from the tow truck of Surać Towing Service.

Members of the Vespa Club Zadar buzzed around the square like wasps, the carnival association Puntamika appeared as Romani women, the women from Aenona Nin brought plastic hens with them, while a group from the Peninsula powerfully symbolized what it means to be a Croatian woman – mother – queen.

On the stage in front of City Hall, the first wedding of the cheerful wedding party from Stanovi took place; they even brought along a priest – and Maja Šuput, who sounded even better than the real one. A real show was delivered by the team from Vrsi: their “Time of Mischief” featured Vrsi witches and the goddess of the sea, as well as an entire pub opening next to the church – complete with tables and a crew playing cards on top of them. They even brought their own “mešter,” giving Štorić a chance to take a breather. After the zombies from KUD Mrtovnjak and the “Dark Tramontana,” the parade was rounded off by the Pakoštane masqueraders, who arrived at the square in a rickety bus from the company Krstić, naturally accompanied by the legendary soundtrack from the film “Who’s That Singing Over There?”

The prizes were no less imaginative – because, let’s be honest, carnival participants do not compete only for glory, but also for good food and a fine drop to drink. The team from Vrsi deservedly won first place: a lamb from Lukin Butchery and two cases of wine from Degarra and Fiolić, just enough to keep the party going until morning. Second place went to Pakoštane and the company Krstić, who took home a prosciutto from the same butcher and two cases of wine. The third-placed zombies from KUD Mrtovnjak won the same prize – a prosciutto and two cases of wine. In the true carnival spirit, the “last” place was awarded six tickets to Željko Bebek’s concert at Arsenal on February 28, and they went to the Benkovac majorettes.

A special thank you goes to our sponsors:

Croatia Airlines

Jadrolinija

Pet Bunara Restaurant

Harbor Restaurant

Ilirija d.o.o.

Hotel Preko Curio Collection by Hilton

Pet Shop Masha

Degarra Winery

Fiolić Winery