Ivanić-Grad has once again become one of the most visited autumn destinations in Croatia. Friday and Saturday, 22, of the Pumpkin Festival passed with a large number of visitors, with over 300 exhibitors taking part in the event.
The festival offered a rich culinary selection, music, and various activities across the town's streets, squares, and parks. The first day showed great public interest, while Saturday brought even larger crowds. Ivanić-Grad was decorated with around 15 tons of pumpkins, and the distinctive orange and golden decorations created an autumn atmosphere that has become the trademark of the Pumpkin Festival.
The mayor of Ivanić-Grad, Jovan Bojan Leš, highlighted that this year's event achieved an outstanding result right from Friday. 'We have had the strongest Friday to date,' said Leš, adding that they had a multitude of exhibitors, the most ever. He stated that he was proud of the town, the municipal services, and all the people involved in the organisation, considering that the Pumpkin Festival had grown into a national story. 'Ivan-grad is the Pumpkin Festival,' the mayor declared.
The director of the Ivanić-Grad Tourist Board, Ana Gašperović, stated that numerous organised groups had arrived. 'The Pumpkin Festival started wonderfully,' said Gašperović, noting that there were many visitors, a great atmosphere, and a large number of exhibitors. Among the visitors were students from the Zag hospitality school who had arrived in Ivanić-Grad by train, and a large number of organised coach groups also arrived.
The deputy county prefect of Zag County, Damir Tomljenović, attended the event, stating that the Pumpkin Festival, year after year, confirms the value of a good idea and long-term development. 'I have been coming to the Pumpkin Festival for years, and I am truly pleased to see such a large number of people and over 300 exhibitors in Ivanić-Grad,' said Tomljenović. He assessed that the festival is an excellent example of how an idea can develop into a significant and valuable event, recalling that pumpkin was previously associated mainly with animal feed, but is now a valuable product. In particular, the production of pumpkin seed oil has developed, along with a whole range of other pumpkin products.
The Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović, visited the event, as the envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia. He stated that the scale of the event and the number of visitors had pleasantly surprised him. 'I would say that this is above expectations,' said Božinović, adding that the estimate of 70,000 visitors over several days seemed realistic, although there could be more. He noted that people were coming from all over Croatia, from Dalmatia, Slavonia, and other regions, and that this was a wonderful story born around a simple product, which had spread and connected Croatian cuisine, tradition, and autumn. According to him, the more than 300 exhibitors show that there is a market, interest, and something authentic to present as a Croatian product, while tradition is preserved, children are included, and all elements of such an event are raised to a very high level.
During Friday and Saturday, visitors could browse the stalls of local producers and taste pumpkin pie, pumpkin cream, and other pumpkin products. They could also watch musical, folk, and entertainment programmes, with special interest drawn to the 'Pumpkin & Flower' competition, where creative decorations made from pumpkins and flowers were created. For the youngest, the Little Pumpkin Festival was held in the Zelenjak sports park, featuring workshops, plays, and playgrounds.
The musical programme also attracted a large number of visitors. Following Friday, the night was marked by the performance of the band Urban 4, and the final day of the festival will be concluded by Magazin. In addition to the central square, music could be heard throughout the weekend in other parts of the town, with the 'Music in the Passage' programme taking place on the square of Vladimir Nazor, the Maznica market, the Moslavačka street, and the King Tomislav street. Ivanić-Grad is currently in the final day of the 22nd Pumpkin Festival.
