STA, 2 February 2021 - Slovenia's biggest festival, Kurentovanje, which draws large crowds to the medieval town of Ptuj every year, will only take place online this year. It seems that Kurents, one of the most iconic Shrovetide costumes in the country, are not scary enough to drive away the coronavirus epidemic like they do with winter every year.
Starting today, the festival will run until 16 February and will feature online events focusing on the history of the event and the tradition, as well as highlights of the previous editions.
Talking to the press last week, Ptuj Mayor Nuška Gajšek expressed belief that neither the locals nor other fans of the carnival will forget the tradition. Instead, they will have an even greater appreciation for it, she believes.
Among other things, the festival will feature competitions for best doughnut, which are traditionally eaten around Shrovetide. On Shrove Sunday, usually when the main parade was held in Ptuj, fun ethnographic events will be taking place online, while on Shrove Tuesday comedian Tadej Toš, a native from Ptuj, will bring the festival to an end.
A new brand of wine, Kurent's Mistik will also be launched and an interactive online game, Kurent's Symphony, will be released next week.
Like every year, the postal operator Pošta Slovenije will launch a carnival stamp, while local media have been invited to feature tradition-related content in the period before Lent.
