22 February-4 March 2025

22 February-4 March 2025

Tradition

Entry of the Door-to-door rounds of Kurenti on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

 

At its annual meeting, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the entry of the Door-to-door rounds of Kurenti on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Tradition

Entry of the Door-to-door rounds of Kurenti on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

At its annual meeting, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the entry of the Door-to-door rounds of Kurenti on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

News

Trajnostno na Kurentovanje
Notice about road closures - Kurentovanje 2025
Parade Routes
Kurentovanje 2025 Brochure
Carnival events around Ptuj 2025
Sustainable goals of Kurentovanje
19th Carnival Prince
Trajnostno na Kurentovanje
Notice about road closures - Kurentovanje 2025
Parade Routes
Kurentovanje 2025 Brochure
Carnival events around Ptuj 2025
Sustainable goals of Kurentovanje

Kurentovanje in Ptuj

22 February-4 March 2025

02.02.2025
Sunday, at midnight
KURENT'S / KORANT’S JUMP
The carnival season kicks off with an especially mystical event. At midnight the Kurents first don their bells by the fire, and start chasing away the winter and evil.
03.02.2025
Monday, 11.00, Ptuj Wine Cellar
PRESENTATION OF THE MISTIK WINE
Od začetka februarja do konca Kurentovanja
10.00-20.00, mestna tržnica
PUSTNI KROFI
Od začetka februarja do konca Kurentovanja se bodo pustni krofi vsak dan (razen v primeru slabega vremena) med 10.00 in 20.00 prodajali na mestni tržnici.
22.02.2025
Saturday, 9.00-16.00, old town centre
EX-TEMPORE PTUJ KARNEVAL 2025 ART SYMPOSIUM
Artists will capture the carnival feel of Slovenia's oldest town on their canvases.
22.02.2025
Saturday, 11:00, parade route
OPENING ETHNOGRAPHIC PARADE
22.02.2025
Saturday, 10 AM onwards, Ptuj marketplace
LOKALKO - local craft fair
A fair of local artisans, where you can discover unique products by Slovenian craftsmen and creators. By visiting the fair, you will support Slovenian creators, and you will find carefully crafted souvenirs, traditional handcrafted items, and creators who tell unique stories through their work.
23.02.2025
Sunday, 17:00-18:00, Mestni trg square
CARNIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
23.02.2025
Sunday, 18:00, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: WHIP-CRACKERS, RUSA, KURENTS, and KORANTS
24.02.2025
Monday, 17:00-18:00, Mestni trg square
CARNIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
24.02.2025
Monday, 18:00, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: PLOUGHMEN, THE OLD WOMAN CARRYING THE OLD MAN, KURENTS, and KORANTS
25.02.2025
Tuesday, 18:00, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: GYPSIES, KURENTS, and KORANTS
Event partner: Cestno podjetje Ptuj d.d.
25.02.2025
Tuesday, 17:00-18:00, Mestni trg square
CARNIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
26.02.2025
Wednesday, 18.00, parade route
DAY OF KURENT AND KORANT GROUPS
Every year during Kurentovanje, Wednesday is reserved for the Day of Kurent and Korant Groups. At 6 PM, the Mestni Trg square will be filled by hundreds of horned and feathered Kurents/Korants. Event organizer: Ptuj Public Institute, organizational support: Association of Kurent Societies
27.02.2025
Thursday, 17:00-18:00, Mestni trg square
CARNIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
27.02.2025
Thursday, 18:00, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: SPEARMEN, FAIRIES, COCKERELS, BEARS, SERFS, KURENTS, and KORANTS
Event partner: Nova ljubljanska banka d.d.
28.02.2025
Friday, 17:00-18:00, Mestni trg square
CARNIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
28.02.2025
Friday, 18:00, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: JÜREK AND RABOLJ, LOG-HAULERS, KURENTS, and KORANTS
Event partner: Talum Kidričevo d.d.
01.03.2025
Carnival Saturday, 10 AM till evening, Ptuj marketplace
KURENT FAIR
A corner where you can enjoy the flavors of culinary delights, find souvenirs from the Kurentovanje festival and the Lokalko craft fair, experience a great atmosphere with a DJ, and have fun on a bouncy house with the little ones. From 2 PM to 5 PM, don't miss the Carnival festivities with a variety of activities for children.
01.03.2025
Saturday, 10:00, Town Hall
EX-TEMPORE
Award-giving ceremony and the exhibition opening of the participants' current production marking 65 years of Kurentovanje. The exhibition of the prize winners and finalists will be on display at the Magistrat Gallery and the Small Gallery of Ptuj City Gallery.
01.03.2025
Saturday, 11:00 a.m., Mestni trg square
SATURDAY CARNIVAL PROMENADE
Putting on costumes is deeply rooted in the life of the city. You are welcome to put on a costume yourself and join the carnival promenade along with Ptuj's townspeople, Romans, medieval merchants, and many other carnival characters.
01.03.2025
Saturday, 12:30, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: KURENTS and KORANTS
Partner dogodka: Perutnina Ptuj d.d.
01.03.2025
Saturday, 15:00, Mestni trg square
CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL BALL
We invite all children to come to the town centre and join the largest outdoor carnival ball in costumes and masks!
01.03.2025
Saturday, 10 AM onwards, Ptuj marketplace
LOKALKO - local craft fair
A fair of local artisans, where you can discover unique products by Slovenian craftsmen and creators. By visiting the fair, you will support Slovenian creators, and you will find carefully crafted souvenirs, traditional handcrafted items, and creators who tell unique stories through their work.
01.03.2025
Saturday, 19.00, Mestni trg square
NIGHT SPECTACLE: fire show, Krampuses, Kurents, and Korants
The night has its own power - even for the carnival! It will attract many mysterious characters to the carnival-decorated streets of Ptuj and conjure up a spectacular play of darkness and light.
02.03.2025
Sunday, 10 AM till evening, Ptuj marketplace
KURENT FAIR
A corner where you can enjoy the flavors of culinary delights, find souvenirs from the Kurentovanje festival and the Lokalko craft fair, experience a great atmosphere with a DJ, and have fun with the little ones on a bouncy house. Don't miss the Carnival frolicking (approximately between 4 and 6 PM).
02.03.2025
Sunday, 13:00, parade route
INTERNATIONAL CARNIVAL PARADE
03.03.2025
Monday, 10:00, parade route
CHILDREN'S PARADE
Children's carnival parade organized together with Ptuj Kindergarten, and attended by children aged 3–6 from all over Slovenia who summon the spring walking through the streets of the oldest Slovenian town. Entry to the Carnival Hall allowed only to participating children and kindergarten staff.
03.03.2025
Monday, 17:00-18:00, Mestni trg square
CARNIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
03.03.2025
Monday, 18:00, Mestni trg square
MEET TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL CHARACTERS: KURENTS and KORANTS
Event partner: Zavarovalnica Triglav d.d.
04.03.2025
Tuesday, 12 AM onwards, Mestni trg square and old town centre
SHROVE TUESDAY
In Ptuj, the farewell from the carnival season is especially festive. We stop working at noon and meet at numerous parties around the city. Why don’t you join the unique urban carnival celebrations that can last until wee hours. A DJ will entertain us. The handover of power along with the Burial of the Carnival takes place at 1 PM.

Experience Kurentovanje

Ptuj is a city where thousands of years of history, heritage and culture are intertwined. Kurentovanje takes the highest place among the most visited experiences, when the city is transformed into the largest open-air ethnographic museum of intangible cultural heritage. It is an excellent opportunity not only to see the largest international carnival festival in Slovenia, but also to experience the many experiences that the oldest Slovenian city has to offer.

Experience Kurentovanje

Ptuj is a city where thousands of years of history, heritage and culture are intertwined. Kurentovanje takes the highest place among the most visited experiences, when the city is transformed into the largest open-air ethnographic museum of intangible cultural heritage. It is an excellent opportunity not only to see the largest international carnival festival in Slovenia, but also to experience the many experiences that the oldest Slovenian city has to offer.

Find a Kurent!

Be it on Shrove Tuesday or an ordinary hot summer day, you can run into a Kurent at every step while exploring the old town center. Visitors can find them decorating the town’s facades, at the museum at the mighty Ptuj Castle, at the Tourist Information Center, or in one of the town’s traditional inns.

ethnofest

PTUJ CITY

In the Ptuj-Ormož Regional Museum, you can meet the kurent/korant over time in the collection of traditional carnival characters, as well as many other traditional carnival masks from the Ptuj and Drava fields, Haloz and Slovenske gorice. In the TIC, you can get tourist information, a map of the city and its surroundings, as well as a wide range of tourist publications, many unique souvenirs, or book a guided tour of the city.

ethnofest

TIC PTUJ

Many visitors also visit the tourist information center because of Kurent / Korant. This conjures up the atmosphere of Kurentovanje in the so-called Kurent corner, where, in addition to Kurent's work - Kurentija, they can also watch promotional films about Kurent and Kurentovanje. Many admirers of this mysterious carnival character are convinced of its uniqueness right after visiting Tic and decide to visit the next Kurentovanje. 

ethnofest

MIHELIČ GALLERY

France Mihelič is one of the most important Ptuj painters of the 20th century. The artist taught drawing at the Ptuj Gymnasium in the years 1936-1941. The picturesque surroundings, and especially the demonic kurent, were the central motifs of his artistic creations. The Mihelič Gallery in the former defensive tower along the Drava, where the painter's graphic collection is housed, is also named after him. The gallery is also intended for exhibitions of contemporary art, with an emphasis on Ptuj authors.

ethnofest

JADRANSKA STREET

On Jadranska ulica in the old town center, you can see interesting depictions of alleged Kurent masks on the facades of houses (Jadranska ul. 4 and 6). The facade of these houses was last restored in the 18th century.

ethnofest

BAR SIMA

The legendary Sima Coffee Bar is considered the so-called Prince's Fortress, where the new Prince's Guard traditionally gathers after the inauguration at the time of St. Martin's Day. The mandate of the Prince of the Ptuj Carnival lasts for two years. Inside the Sima bar, it is possible to relive the memories of the past Kurentovanja in Ptuj, as the walls are decorated with many photographs and memorial plaques on the theme of carnival in the city.

ethnofest

GOSTIŠČE PRI TONETU

In the popular Ptuj coaching inn with a long tradition, you can meet a life-size Kurent in the lobby of the inn. While admiring Kurenti, you can also try a delicious buckwheat cake according to a home-made recipe or some other traditional dish from the rich menu.

Find a Kurent!

Be it on Shrove Tuesday or an ordinary hot summer day, you can run into a Kurent at every step while exploring the old town center. Visitors can find them decorating the town’s facades, at the museum at the mighty Ptuj Castle, at the Tourist Information Center, or in one of the town’s traditional inns.

Legend:

PTUJ
CASTLE

TIC PTUJ

MIHELIČ
GALLERY

JADRANSKA
STREET

BAR SIMA

GOSTIŠČE PRI
TONETU GUESTHOUSE

1
ethnofest

PTUJ CITY

In the Ptuj-Ormož Regional Museum, in the collection of traditional carnival characters, you can meet the Kurent / Korant through time and many other traditional carnival masks from Ptuj and Drava fields, Haloze and Slovenske gorice. In the TIC you can get tourist information, a map of the city and its surroundings and a wide range of tourist publications, many unique souvenirs or book a guided tour of the city.

2
ethnofest

TIC Ptuj

Many visitors also visit the tourist information center because of Kurent / Korant. This conjures up the atmosphere of Kurentovanje in the so-called Kurent corner, where, in addition to Kurent's work - Kurentija, they can also watch promotional films about Kurent and Kurentovanje. Many admirers of this mysterious carnival character are convinced of its uniqueness right after visiting Tic and decide to visit the next Kurentovanje. You can also get to know Kurent's story in an interactive way with the help of the mobile application for augmented reality Travel AR Slovenia - Ptuj.

3
ethnofest

MIHELIČ GALLERY

France Mihelič is one of the most important Ptuj painters of the 20th century. The artist taught drawing at the Ptuj Gymnasium in the years 1936-1941. The picturesque surroundings, and especially the demonic kurent, were the central motifs of his artistic creations. The Mihelič Gallery in the former defensive tower along the Drava, where the painter's graphic collection is housed, is also named after him. The gallery is also intended for exhibitions of contemporary art, with an emphasis on Ptuj authors.

4
ethnofest

JADRANSKA STREET

On Jadranska ulica in the old town center, you can see interesting depictions of alleged Kurent masks on the facades of houses (Jadranska ul. 4 and 6). The facade of these houses was last restored in the 18th century.

5
ethnofest

BAR SIMA

The legendary Sima Coffee Bar is considered the so-called Prince's Fortress, where the new Prince's Guard traditionally gathers after the inauguration at the time of St. Martin's Day. The mandate of the Prince of the Ptuj Carnival lasts for two years. Inside the Sima bar, it is possible to relive the memories of the past Kurentovanja in Ptuj, as the walls are decorated with many photographs and memorial plaques on the theme of carnival in the city.

6
ethnofest

GOSTIŠČE PRI TONETU

In the popular Ptuj coaching inn with a long tradition, you can meet a life-size Kurent in the lobby of the inn. While admiring Kurenti, you can also try a delicious buckwheat cake according to a home-made recipe or some other traditional dish from the rich menu.

Experience Ptuj

Whether summer or winter, Ptuj offers cultural experiences 365 days a year. A walk through the oldest Slovenian town takes you past Roman monuments to the beautiful facades of medieval buildings. Paved streets and squares lead to one of the most magnificent castles in Slovenia, from where the view extends to a mosaic of brick roofs of medieval buildings, monasteries and churches.

Experience Ptuj

Whether summer or winter, Ptuj offers cultural experiences 365 days a year. A walk through the oldest Slovenian town takes you past Roman monuments to the beautiful facades of medieval buildings. Paved streets and squares lead to one of the most magnificent castles in Slovenia, from where the view extends to a mosaic of brick roofs of medieval buildings, monasteries and churches.

History of Ptuj

At the lively crossroads of trade routes, where it was possible to cross the Drava safely, people settled as early as the end of the third millennium BC. In the late Iron Age, the area was inhabited by Celts, and the city experienced its greatest prosperity with the arrival of the Romans. At that time, in the area of Poetovione, which was one of the most important seats of the Roman army, archaeologists estimate that about 30,000 people lived there.

In the middle of the 5th century, the territory was ravaged by the Huns, and the unoccupied territory was gradually invaded by the Slavs. At the end of the 8th century, Ptuj came under Frankish rule, and towards the end of the 9th century, the Archdiocese of Salzburg took over power.

History of Ptuj

At the lively crossroads of trade routes, where it was possible to cross the Drava safely, people settled as early as the end of the third millennium BC. In the late Iron Age, the area was inhabited by Celts, and the city experienced its greatest prosperity with the arrival of the Romans. At that time, in the area of Poetovione, which was one of the most important seats of the Roman army, archaeologists estimate that about 30,000 people lived there.

In the middle of the 5th century, the territory was ravaged by the Huns, and the unoccupied territory was gradually invaded by the Slavs. At the end of the 8th century, Ptuj came under Frankish rule, and towards the end of the 9th century, the Archdiocese of Salzburg took over power.

Mobile application AR Ptuj:

Under the patronage

Disclaimer: The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of views contained in this brochure and for opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit UNESCOus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

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