Porečko ljeto: Over 100 Concerts, Performances, and Exhibitions This Summer in Poreč

Poreč has unveiled the program for Poreč Summer (Porečko ljeto), offering a plethora of events for residents and visitors of all ages and tastes.

“Throughout the summer season, Poreč will host over a hundred concerts, performances, and exhibitions at various locations in the city. By selecting different venues, we enhance the diverse offerings that make Poreč a truly exceptional destination on the Adriatic. During the summer months, the entire city transforms into a summer stage, and our goal is to provide unforgettable moments for our guests in our destination,” announced Nenad Velenik, the director of the Poreč Tourist Board.

On Saturday, June 10th, starting at 6:00 PM, the Feldbach Music School Big Band from Austria, accompanied by the Pula Big Band under the direction of the renowned jazz trumpeter Branko Sterpin, will perform at Trg Slobode. The Feldbach Big Band will enchant the audience with a series of jazz classics featuring their vocal soloists, while the Pula Big Band will perform compositions from the repertoire of the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Treasures of the Adriatic Undersea World

From June 13th to 15th, the unique exhibition “Treasures of the Adriatic Undersea World” (“Blago jadranskog podmorja“) will take place at Peškera. It showcases shells of Adriatic shellfish and snails, crab shells, as well as skeletons of sponges, corals, and sea urchins. This exhibition, originating from the imaginative concept of a young Croatian author, is set up inside a 12-meter bus, allowing it to travel to various destinations and educate people about the need to protect the Adriatic Sea and its biodiversity. The exhibition comprises 225 original exhibits representing 65 species of marine organisms, displayed in specially lit showcases with both popular and scientific names. Above each exhibit, there is an underwater photograph showcasing the organism’s natural appearance.

Local Bands Concerts

Music on the Square offers a series of concerts featuring local bands presenting various musical genres, from jazz to rock and blues. The performances take place at the main square (Trg slobode) on June 20th, July 11th and 25th, and August 15th and 22nd, from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

La mula de Parenzo Tour

One of the new additions this tourist season is the interpretative historical walking tour called “La mula de Parenzo Tour” featuring the most popular Poreč native. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about interesting events and individuals from Poreč’s past, spanning over a hundred years. Characters such as an old fisherman, a fish vendor, a female merchant, and even the renowned American writer Ernest Hemingway will share stories about the city’s history. During the tour, visitors will make stops at various points, including the North Tower (Sjeverna kula), Marafor Square, the city’s waterfront, the Fisherman’s Square (Ribarski trg), and finally back to the La Mula de Parenzo Center. Guests can enjoy the panoramic views of Poreč, learn about its fishing traditions, and discover the connection between the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway and the city’s history. Actor-guides will introduce visitors to the rich history hidden behind a traditional folk song. Reservations for this tour are required, and all information will be available on the Poreč Tourist Board’s website. The tour lasts 45 minutes and is conducted in Croatian, English, Italian, and German. The tour dates are June 21st, July 12th and 26th, August 16th and 23rd, and September 6th and 27th.

World Music Day

On Wednesday, June 21st, on World Music Day, at the square as part of the bar ‘La Vecia Cantina,’ starting at 9:00 PM, the best European Soul-Funk musicians from Amsterdam and Zagreb, led by frontman Mirza Tetarić, will perform. They come as part of the special project ‘Sounds of the Streets,’ through which the city of Poreč aims to bring the sounds of European and world metropolises closer to its citizens and tourists. The musicians from the Soul Shadows band are residents of Amsterdam’s Bourbon Street club, which has hosted almost all the greatest musicians of the 20th century, including the Rolling Stones, Prince, Sting, B.B. King, ZZ Top, Joss Stone, and more. The band members have shared the stage with almost all of them. More recently, they have performed with Mario Biondi and Beyoncé.

Magic Is in the Air

Another novelty this year is the program ‘Magic Is in the Air’ every Saturday in Olga Ban Park. It showcases silk dancing that highlights the dancers’ body flexibility and impressive gymnastic-acrobatic skills in the air, accompanied by numerous additional stage lighting effects, enchanting music, and attractive costumes.

Mornings at Trg slobode will be enriched by the lively and always cheerful group Baredinosauri, who will entertain visitors from 10:00 AM on July 8th and 15th, as well as August 5th and 12th. For years, they have been a symbol of Poreč, and the organizers wanted to introduce the guests of Poreč and its surroundings through morning matinees.

The performance “Melting Sunset,” featuring fire prop dancing, will be held on Obala m. Tita as a farewell to the sunset. The relaxing and mesmerizing atmosphere, accompanied by ambient music, will offer visitors the opportunity to witness an attractive conceptual dance performance against the backdrop of a beautiful natural setting on July 10th and 24th, as well as August 7th and 21st.

On Tuesday, July 4th, the popular Tomislav Bralić & klapa Intrade will perform at Trg slobode. Tomislav Bralić, a fantastic singer from Bibinje, has marked the past few years with a series of hits and songs that have quickly become iconic.

At Trg Matije Gupca, on July 16th and August 13th, starting at 9:15 AM, there will be a play for the youngest audience called ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’ We all know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but this one has a little twist. Can Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf get along and become friends in the end? In our story, that’s possible, along with many other impossible things, beings, and occurrences.

Tribute Bands at Porečko ljeto

As part of Poreč Summer, popular tribute bands that are currently performing on major stages across the EU will also be featured. Therefore, Queen Real Tribute, Bad Medicine (Bon Jovi tribute band), and Liveplay (Coldplay Tribute band) will come to Poreč on July 13th and August 3rd and 10th.

Parni Valjak in Poreč

“For the end of the summer, we have prepared a big surprise concert for all our fellow citizens and numerous guests of Poreč and its surroundings. In collaboration with the city of Poreč, our two tourist companies, and the Tourist Board, we have organized a spectacular concert by Parni Valjak feat. Igor Drvenkar on Poreč’s waterfront on September 30th to mark the end of the tourist season and World Tourism Day,” says Nenad Velenik, director of the Poreč Tourist Board.

He adds that parallel events are taking place as part of the Poreč Summer program, such as Skydive Boogi Summer parachute jumps, Futsal Week June Cup, Poreč Judo Festival, Vina Poreča (a new event bringing the best winemakers of Poreč to M. Gupca Park), UEFA Futsal U19 hosted by Poreč, Jazz in Lapidarium, the concert season in Euphrasian Basilica, Mediterranean Summer Tango Festival, Luka Cindrić Handball Camp, HRS tournaments, 63rd Annale, 23rd Street Art Festival, Tunalicious Street Food Festival, Poreč Dolphin, Promo Arh, and other events.

All programs are published in the event calendar on the website of the Poreč Tourist Board www.myporec.com, on the website of the regional tourist board www.istra.hr, as well as on the Moove app. Additionally, the Poreč Tourist Board prints a monthly version, available at the reception of the Information Center.