The 26th edition of the Slavonska Šuma festival, scheduled for 4 and 5 September, was announced in Našice. The press conference was held at the entrance to the Perivoj Pečević, where Ines Resler, director of the local tourist board, opened the event. The festival is one of the largest cultural and economic events in the town, bringing together lovers of forestry, tradition, and culture.
The festival programme will span two days. On Friday, 4 September, the first part of the event will take place in the industrial zone. There, Hrvatske šume (Croatian Forests) will present a lecture, while an exhibition will be opened in the Pečević Palace. That evening, a Tambura Evening will be held on the square of Dr. Franjo Tuđman. The atmosphere will be guided by Branko Uvodić, with the musical programme completed by the group Đakovački, Marija Pavković, and Viktorija Kulišić.
The central part of the event is reserved for Saturday, 5 September, when the main activities will take place in the Perivoj Pečević. The opening ceremony will feature performances by the cultural and artistic societies Tambić and Hrvatsko kulturno umjetničko društvo (Croatian Cultural Artistic Society) 'Lisinski' from Našice, alongside addresses by distinguished guests and hosts. Visitors will be able to witness competitions for forest workers, a rural Slavonia fair, and the traditional 'Podravka Čobanac' cup. Additionally, the Našiki Canine Society will present an exhibition of hunting dogs, while a funfair will be set up for children at the entrance to the park.
The competition for forest workers will involve around 50 workers from six management units of Hrvatske šume, who are travelling from Zagreb to Našice. The aim is to introduce the public to the work of forestry, particularly the production of timber assortments. The competition covers four disciplines: three are designed for professional loggers (chain saw handling, branch trimming, and tree felling), while the fourth, cutting logs with a handsaw, is open to the public.
The festival promotes the forestry industry, tourism, and the work of associations, as well as the local cultural heritage. The history of forest management in Našice dates back over 300 years, to the time of the Pečević family, whose history is preserved in the Perivoj Pečević, located beneath the two castles in Našice. The festival began in 1970, was paused in the 1980s, and resumed in 2001. Special attention is being paid to the implementation of protective measures in the event of African swine fever.
