Croatia's Margečani Festival and Donja Dubrava Heritage Centre Highlight Cultural Preservation

The traditional "Margetje u Margečanu" festival took place in Margečani, drawing residents, visitors and numerous officials. The program featured exhibitions of local crafts, traditional foods, and performances that showcased the region’s folk songs, dances and customs. Organisers, volunteers and cultural societies emphasized the event’s role in passing stories and skills to younger generations and strengthening community identity.

On the same day, the municipality of Donja Dubrava marked its municipal holiday by inaugurating the Interpreting Centre "Palace of Međimurje Songs". The centre, restored from the historic Hirschler‑Zalan palace, was built with a €5.6 million investment largely financed by European Union funds. Local leaders, including council president Romeo Čituš, mayor Damir Vidović and Međimurje County prefect Matija Posavec, highlighted the project as a catalyst for tourism, education and the long‑term preservation of the region’s intangible cultural heritage, now listed by UNESCO.

Both events underline a broader regional effort to safeguard and promote Croatia’s cultural legacy through community participation, public funding and institutional support.