Exploring the delights of Croatia’s chestnut season in Sveti Ivan Zelina

The 25th Chestnut Festival was held in Croatian town of Sveti Ivan Zelina (Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

The 25th Chestnut Festival was held in Croatian town of Sveti Ivan Zelina near Zagreb on the weekend, gathering thousands of visitors and offering them an unforgettable experience of nature, gastronomic delights, and entertainment.

In response to the organisers’ call to arrive on foot, numerous visitors contributed to the preservation of the Zelina Mountain ecosystem. The path through the forest with informative wooden boards, providing interesting information about plant and animal species, ensured an educational experience along with natural beauty.

As a measure of delicious chestnuts, the organisers rewarded the first 200 participants who supported eco-friendly transportation to the natural treasure – Kladešćica, the peak of Zelina Mountain, thanking them for this act.

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

In addition to the aromatic chestnuts, the Chestnut Festival offered an entertainment program for all generations. The Amanita Association prepared an impressive gastronomic offer with mushroom goulash, bacon dishes, beans, barbecue, and cakes, along with a mushroom exhibition and music for all attendees. 

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

The motto and off-road club Sv. Ivan Zelina served top-quality beans by Zlatko Šuštić – Šuki along with chestnuts and prepared adrenaline entertainment.

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

In addition to the numerous gastronomic delights, family farms offered young wine, licitars, chestnut cakes, and pastries, while craft beer from Crafters Brewery was served for beer enthusiasts.

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

Tthe “Our Children” Society of Sveti Ivan Zelina organized numerous fun outdoor games and competitions for the kids. 

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

The Tourist Board of the City of Sveti Ivan Zelina provided prizes for participants in these activities, whilst Fit Form Association organised a group arrival, and other participants who decided to come by their cars.

”In addition to successfully implementing the new traffic regulation, the Town of Sveti Ivan Zelina and the Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina this year also encouraged the concept of ride-sharing to reduce the impact on the environment, which was embraced by numerous visitors, which delights us immensely,” highlighted Marinka Zubčić Mubrin, director of the Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina.

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

The Zelina Chestnut Festival is not just a celebration of tradition and chestnuts, but also an opportunity to connect with nature. The event attracted numerous visitors who left enriched with beautiful memories of a warm autumn day.

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

(Photo credit: MAT PHOTOGRAPHY for Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina)

The organizers of this event, the Town of Sveti Ivan Zelina and the Tourist Board of Sveti Ivan Zelina, thanked everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this event, with special thanks to the Sveti Ivan Zelina Police Station for ensuring a peaceful day and safe traffic without the presence of unregistered vehicles, which had disrupted the event in previous years.