Culture and entertainment on the island of Pag

The island of Pag offers cultural-art and entertainment content from which we recommend:

Novalja summer of culture
Novalja summer of culture begins right before Antonja the town of Novalja day (St. Anton day – June 13), with a multi day cultural-art, entertainment and sports shows.

There are numerous interesting happenings – art exhibits, classical music concerts, a cappella and ensemble performances, folklore groups, promotions and sales exhibitions of books, theatre shows, open air cinema shows, pop music concerts, shows, etc.

Within Novalja summer of culture, we recommend Novalja summer of music, within which there are classical music concerts, as well as Novalja theatre, which includes theatre shows.

A special place within Novalja summer of culture is taken up by Era gallery, where, for more than two decades, there are art exhibits of renowned local and international artists.

"Pag Slave"
The national drama is one of a kind in Croatia except Korčula Moreška. It has been preserved in the town of Pag as part of a tradition, and it is based on people and shepherds’ games which exist for centuries in Pag, and on "The Slave" by Hanibal Lucić. It is performed often during the summer. "Pag Slave" is about a purchase of an imprisoned girl, the granddaughter of governor Derenčin, who was defeated by Turks at Krbavsko field at the end of the 15th century.

Carnival (mesopust)
Winter carnival begins according to the catholic calendar on the first Saturday after Epiphany and it lasts until the first day of lent – Ash Wednesday. During that period, every Saturday, in hotels and restaurants, there are masked parties, which culminates on the last three days with a wild party and burning of the Jura doll (in Pag, it is Marko). He is to blame for all the trouble and evil which happened during the previous year. With the act of burning, the carnival ends.

Since the 1960s, there is a summer carnival in the town of Pag, which is a manifestation intended mostly for foreigners, and it lasts usually for one and rarely a few days. It usually takes place at the end of July.

Pag sheep and Pag cheese exhibition
Starting in 2001, it takes place every first weekend in July. The show has a competition part at the end of which shepherds are presented with a prize for the best sheep, and cheese makers for the best Pag cheese. At the end of the show, there is a tasting of Pag cheese for visitors and cultural – entertainment programme. This manifestation is becoming more and more important, as the awareness of traditional cheese production, as well as ecological characteristics develop. The town of Novalja and the island of Pag support this manifestation completely. It certainly is one of the reasons, besides the beautiful Straško beach, to visit camp Straško.

Lun olive fest
Since 2005, it has been taking place every spring in Lun and it contributes to the development and popularity of olive growing, which has been growing strongly in the last decade. The island of Pag, the town of Novalja and surrounding places are counted among modern manufacturers of olive oil, which is more and more popular.

Pag summer festival
In beautiful ambiance of Pag cathedral, atrium of Knežev castle, at the market and different churches, there are numerous concerts of renowned and young local and foreign musicians, a cappella groups, folklore ensembles and exhibitions.

Zrće
When one talks about entertainment, one should certainly mention the well known Zrće beach, on which there are parties in numerous clubs which are on 24 hours a day. Well known clubs such as "Papaya", "Calypso" and "Aquarius" offer lots of modern fun. Well-known world stars such as DJ Tiesto, Arman Van Helden, Junior Jack and many others are just a part of the repertoire during summer nights on the most well known beach in Croatia, and we can claim, the best party on all of the islands of Kvarner and Dalmatia.