Dear citizens of Zagreb, dear guests!

June is knocking at the door, the month which marks the beginning of summer and the onrush of numerous summer events in our Zagreb, as well as the arrival of a throng of foreign and Croatian tourists. With the arrival of the warmer weather the city becomes ever more popular as a tourist destination, and the ever-richer tourist offering is also contributing to making the heart of our city even more popular. This month there is a host of festivals to suit every taste.

The INmusic festival is returning to our city for the 12^th year. The INmusic festival is the largest open air festival in Croatia and is held once a year on the Island of Croatian Youth on Jarun Lake in Zagreb. In the 11 years of its existence the INmusic festival has grown into a top flight musical event and has made its mark on the map as one of the best European open air music festivals.

The skies above Zagreb this year too will be the canvas for the most imaginative creations in fire prepared by the best Croatian and foreign pyrotechnicians at the 17^th International Festival of Fireworks. As in previous years, this fiery spectacle will take place on the banks of the River Sava by the Bundek lake.

In June we have also prepared for you some gastronomic festivals. Visit the 6^thSlatki gušti festival of desserts where the best of Zagreb’s cake shops will offer you the chance to enjoy wonderful sweets and pancakes. Then there’s ZG Wine & Food – Festival with a View – a fine dining festival in the open air in the very heart of Zagreb in one of the most beautiful locations, the Gradec plateau. During the 17 days of the festival the best of the city’s restaurants will be represented with great food on offer as well as top quality Croatian and foreign wines and other drinks. There will be entertainments laid on every night including performances by well-known musicians and DJs. Visit also Zagreb Bubbles, the first specialised festival of sparkling wines in Croatia held in the Klovićevi dvori Gallery and on the Gradec plateau.

Among the cultural events we would highlight the 34^th Dance Week Festival, the largest festival of contemporary dance in Croatia and one of the oldest in Europe. For all lovers of film we have prepared the Animafest Zagreb 2017 International Festival of Animated Film, which promotes and greatly contributes to artistic life in our city as well as the promotion of animation worldwide; then there’s the Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival, the only festival of fantasy film in the entire region where over nine days film buffs will be able to watch a range of intriguing and interesting films including some of the best from directors from the 26^th Days of Croatian Film festival. Martićeva Street will once again become the centre of a creative neighbourhood known to us as Design District Zagreb. Here you can find out everything about local design, architecture, art and gastronomy spots in the neighbourhood and meet the people who create them.

This year June is too short for all the events which will be held in our beautiful city.

Sincerely yours,

Mayor of the City of Zagreb

Milan Bandić