Kastav celebrates Bela nedeja festival with President Milanović

The traditional Bela nedeja festival in Kastav, Croatia, celebrated its latest edition with the theme ‘Pozdrav Beloj nedeje’. The multi-day event, which honors autumn, young wine, and local heritage, was attended by Croatian President Zoran Milanović.

This year’s festivities coincided with significant anniversaries, including the 160th anniversary of the first Croatian reading room for Istria and Kvarner, and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Nazor. In honor of Nazor, an exhibition by Ervin Dubrović titled ‘Vladimir Nazor in Kastav’ was held at the Sv. Trojice Gallery, documenting the writer’s time in the city between 1908 and 1918.

The program featured the CrekVina wine festival with 26 exhibitors, traditional music, and local gastronomy. Local officials, including Mayor Matej Mostarac and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Ivica Lukanović, highlighted the event's role in preserving the region's identity and connecting tradition with future development.