California embraces Croatian culture with month-long festivities

California embraces Croatian culture with month-long festivities (Photo: Private album)

By Gina Pilic

California has become much more Croatian in the past few years. This is especially true this year, as Croatian Americans with the invaluable support from the Croatian Consulate in Los Angeles, various Croatian organizations and institutions, and the wider Croatian communities and parishes have enhanced the celebration of everything Croatian by working with the City of Los Angeles to officially proclaim the month of May as the Croatian Cultural Heritage Month. 

The festivities commenced with the Official Proclamation of Croatian Cultural Heritage Month at Los Angeles City Hall and screenings of two Croatian films, at the beginning of May.

Croatian Consulate General of Croatia in Los Angeles Renee Pea shaking hands with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (Photo: Private album)

On Mother’s Day, St. Anthony’s Croatian Catholic Parish in L.A. held their annual Mother’s Day luncheon and concert by the Croatian Children’s School and Kolo Group Croatia. 

On May 15, guests enjoyed a traditional Croatian luncheon at Croatian Hall in San Pedro, where Mr. Dalibor Martinis gave a lecture on the historical view of the people of Komiža, at home and in the U.S. 

Croatian Consulate General of Croatia in Los Angeles Renee Pea holding the Proclamation with Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker and Croatian singer studying in Los Angeles Roko Blažević (Photo: Private album)

Then, on May 17 there was a Croatian Night Market and a Vukovar Day celebration with a special guest Dr. Mirjana Semenić Rutko, M.D., one of the female defenders of Vukovar during the Homeland War.

For those interested in experiencing Croatian culture in Los Angeles County, there are still events to enjoy through June 1. 

Roko Blažević singing Cesarice (Photo: Private album)

Upcoming events include the following:

The annual Croatian Street Party will be held on May 26 at Croatian Hall in San Pedro where one can taste delicious food, and dance and sing to Croatian music.

On the eve of Croatian Statehood Day, May 29, the Los Angeles City Hall will be lit up in Croatian colors and there will be a display of the Croatian iconic red and white checkers on the U.S. Bank Building in downtown Los Angeles.

LA Councilmember Tim McOsker presenting Consul General Renee Pea with Proclamation. She is accompanied by Frane Jerković, President of the Croatian American Club in Southern California and behind her is Filmmaker and also US Rep for the USA to the Advisory Council of Croats Abroad. (Photo: Private album)

Croatian Statehood Day Celebration Concert by Klapa More Split, Croatia with a special guest on May 31 at St. Anthony’s Croatian Catholic Parish.

To conclude the Croatian month, there will be a wine tasting and event aptly named Zinfandel Story at the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, CA on June 1 with performances by the Klapa More from Split and Dalmatian singer Roko Blažević, who represented Croatia at the Eurovision song contest in 2019.