A diverse programme to celebrate the festival’s 18th birthday

The oldest street festival in Zagreb, Cest is d’Best, will celebrate its 18th birthday this year. To mark this occasion, between June 5th and 11th, more than 500 artists from a dozen countries will participate in various events at numerous locations throughout the city.

More than 500 musicians, painters, stage and street performers from a dozen countries will participate in the largest street festival in Zagreb, Cest is d’Best. This year, the festival will take place between June 5th and 11th. To celebrate its 18th birthday it will treat visitors to the most diverse entertainment and music programme yet. Every day, until midnight, the citizens of Zagreb and their visitors will be spoiled for choice of various events in the heart of the city. Apart from the Flower Square, there will be entertainment in Ban Josip Jelačić Square, in Zrinjevac Park – once again featuring art installations, Tkalčićeva Street, the corner of Bogovićeva and Gajeva Streets, and the popular Strossmayer Promenade. There will also be a new stage at Harmica, while events will also take place at the other end of the city – the Arena Centre in Lanište.

With the promise of loads of fun and laughter, visitors can look forward to the traditional garbage-men and baby races – the latter always very exciting for the parents. The festival will also feature a slow-cycling contest, a waiters’ race, and street “pastelization”. In preparation for the festival, five competitions were held for the artistic part of the festival, the artistic urban installation, the Art Walk festival of artistic flags and the sidewalk pastelization festival. There is also an open competition for the best festival photos.

The sponsors of the Cest is d’Best Festival are the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb Tourist Board. As of this year, cooperation with the Confucius Institute has been established in order to familiarize visitors with Chinese culture via various workshops and other activities.

Apart from that, between May 26th and June 10th, bicycle patrols will roam Zagreb, inviting citizens to attend the festival in the heart of the city. These patrols will feature volunteers from a dozen countries and they are part of the cooperation with the Syncro centre for personal and professional development. The entire event will take place as part of the European Commission’s “Youth in Action” programme.