CroatiaFest
CroatiaFest is held in the Seattle Center Armory and features continuous live performances on the main stage. In addition to the wonderful music, dance and food that make our culture so unique, there are food demonstrations and vendors selling Croatian merchandise.
The festival will feature:
- Music & Dance Performances
- Croatia Travel Today
- Historical Exhibits
- Souvenirs of Croatia
- Market Place
- Cooking Demonstrations
- Authentic Food
- Crafts for Kids
Croatia Wine Tasting Event
Croatian Wines! These wines are on the rise around the globe. We will concentrate on three of the twelve wine growing regions of Croatia: Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia. We will taste three white wines, Grasevina, Posip and Malvasia. Then we will move onto five reds, Plavac Mali, Babic, Teran, Crljenak and Zinfandel. These Croatian wines are all indigenous and all 100% of the varietal. We will then learn of Croatia’s wine relationship with Italy and California based on recent discoveries by UC Davis.
We are fortunate to have these wines in our area to enjoy with food, especially with seafood and grilled meats.
Come to the tasting and enjoy Croatian wines and discover the Mediterranean area surrounding Croatia the way it once was.
Prior to and following the tasting you will be able to meet Washington State and California vintners that have Croatian roots similar to the Croatian roots of Mike Grgic(h) of Grgich Hills Estate, Rutherford, CA. Other attractions will take place in the Wine Cellars room during the day including the opportunity to purchase wines.
The Croatian Wine Tasting Event begins at 2:30 pm on Sunday, October 2nd at the Seattle Center Armory. Doors will open at 2:00 pm. With your $15.00 ticket, you will enjoy private klapa performances, wandering musicians to set the tone, and a Croatia Fest souvenir wine glass. Purchase your ticket (s) on line at www.croatiafest.org or purchase them at the information booth the day of the festival. You must be 21 years of age and must have ID to be admitted to the event. Seating is limited to 65 people, so purchase your tickets ea
CroatiaFest Welcomes Rakija Bend
Back by popular demand , Rakija Bend from Chicago Il., will be the headline orchestra for CroatiaFest 2016! They will be performing at both the Saturday night kick off dance and sing-along at the Russian Community Center and on the main stage of the Armory on Sunday, October 2nd. The orchestra is made up of six very talented singers and musicians: Ivan Mulac, Ryan Werner, Steve and Dan Ovanin on tambura, Mate Mulac on accordion, and vocalist Petar Naumovski. Their repertoire consists of a large selection of traditional Croatian kolos as well as modern songs that are popular with both young and old. They are not to be missed! Be sure to set aside the entire weekend of October 1st & 2nd to enjoy this fun and talented band.
Croatian Vigil Mass
Please join us in the celebration of a traditional Croatian Tamburitza Mass on Saturday, October 1st, 5:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 732 18th Ave East, Seattle. Croatian liturgical music will be provided by Sinovi and Žumberčani Tamburitza Orchestras.
Croatian Genealogy
CroatiaFest welcomes our beloved genealogist, Barbara Starkey from Utah. Barbara is a professional genealogist specializing in all types of genealogical research in Europe (Croatian, Italian, German, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, French, and Scandinavian) and US research. She has over 30 years of experience.
Barbara is offering a “pre-CroatiaFest” package to our community!
For a pre-paid amount of $100 (50% off of her regular rate!) she is offering four hours of research for you and will schedule time with you during the festival, in person, to go over her researching findings. Click here to download a esearch request form.
Interested in doing research on your own? Join Barbara at CroatiaFest this year as she will be giving a presentation on Croatian marriage records “Marriage Records: The Link Across Generations” at 2:00 and 4:00 pm in the 3rd Floor Gallery.
CroatiaFest Wine Cellars and Tasting
SEATTLE CENTER ARMORY3RD FLOOR WEST LOFT #2
DOORS OPEN 2:00 – 4:00
ADMISSION $15.00 EACH
21 AND OVER WITH ID
Purchase prepaid tickets here.
A prepaid list will be checked at the entrance.
Space is limited.
Festival Schedule
October 2, 2016
12:00 PM
Opening Ceremonies - 12:20 PM
Zavičaj - 12:30 PM
CroatiaFest Information Booth - Consular Days -
Marketplace -
Cutout Photo Opportunity -
Letters and Personal Documents Translations and "Kako Se Kaže" -
Croatia Today -
Kid's Activity -
Croatian Costumes -
Rodoslovlje -
Historical Display -
Bobbin Lace -
Hrvati, a Documentary -
Children of Ellis Island, a Documentary -
12:40 PM
Tamburaški Orkestar Kardinal Stepinac - 1:00 PM
Dave & Dalmatians - Croatian Immigrant Experience -
1:15 PM
Seattle Junior Tamburitzans - 1:30 PM
Live Skype Tour of Coral Business - 1:35 PM
Tamburaški Orkestar Kardinal Stepinac - 1:55 PM
Skalinda - 2:00 PM
Brudet Sa Kumpirima - Croatian Wine Cellars -
2:10 PM
Outstanding Croatian Awards - 2:15 PM
Bonaca - 2:20 PM
Rakija Bend - 2:30 PM
Genealogy - Live Skype with Costume Maker -
2:40 PM
Koraci - 2:55 PM
Participatory Kolo Dancing - 3:00 PM
Puzi - Dave & Dalmatians -
3:15 PM
Ruže Dalmatinke - Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble -
Bonaca -
3:30 PM
Book Reading & Lecture - Croatian Cinema -
3:40 PM
Žumbercani Tamburitza Orchestra - 4:00 PM
Genealogy - 4:10 PM
Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble - 4:35 PM
Radost Folk Ensemble - 4:55 PM
Skalinda - 5:15 PM
Rakija Bend - 5:40 PM
Sinovi Tamburitza Orchestra - 5:50 PM
Tamburaški Orkestar Kišobran - 6:00 PM
Sinovi Tamburitza Orchestra - Tamburaški Orkestar Kišobran -
Festival Highlights
Saturday, Oct. 1 - Saturday Evening Events
Croatian Dance Party - Dance and Sing-along at the Russian Community Center (across the street from St. Joseph). Admission is only $10, and there will be Croatian food available for a la carte purchase catered by the Seattle Jr. Tamburitizan parents. A no-host bar will feature a variety of wines and imported Croatian Karlovacko Pivo. Come dance and sing along to new as well as the old standard Croatian songs and kolo dance to the music of Rakija Bend of Chicago, IL and Sinovi of Seattle.
Sunday, Oct. 2 - All-Day Festival
Festivities begin at Seattle Center Armory with opening ceremonies at noon. The festival will include:
Fun for Kids:
CroatiaFest invites families with children to stop by Kids Activity Booth on the main floor of the Armory to engage in one of the many crafts that will be available for the young ones. Planting žito (wheat) on the feast of St. Lucia, Dec. 13., is a Christmas tradition in Croatia. We will have special planting pots for the children to decorate as well as žito planting packets with instructions for the kids to take home with their masterpiece. It is fun for families to watch their žito grow during the Advent season. Children can also create their own Licitar Hearts or decorate wooden picture frames.
Croatian Consular Day: Don't miss this chance to get or renew your important Croatian documents, passport or citizenship in Seattle. By appointment only, from noon until 3 pm. more info
Culture: Experience the music, exquisite costumes and traditional dances performed all day on the main stage by various Croatian musicians, dance ensembles and singing groups.
Traditions: Two different cooking demonstrations will take place in the new John Sarich Memorial Cooking Stage located upstairs on the 3rd floor of the Armory sponsored by Chateau St. Michelle.
History: Exhibition panels will feature the history of Croatia inspired by the book "Croatia Land and People" and exhibits of Croatian Americans who have contributed to the building of the United States of America., immigrant stories and photo display.
Homeland: Plan your next trip to Croatia by spending some time at the Croatia Travel Today booth. Once again a representative from Adriatic Tours from Los Angeles will be on hand to answer your questions, book your flight and give you guidelines to help with your travel plans.
FOOD ! FOOD! FOOD! CroatiaFest will have seven food booths at this year's festival, four outside and three inside the Armory. Outside: Traditional BBQ lamb on the spit, grilled čevapčići with ajvar, Croatian style sausages and cheese & meat filled burek. Inside: Sarma (cabbage rolls), povitica (walnut roll) palacinke (crepes). Follow your nose and stop by each booth to enjoy traditional and delicious Croatian cuisine. You are welcome to bring your entree into the newly expanded Quincy's Bar to enjoy a Karlovacko Pivo (or your favorite beverage).
The Armory food vendors around the perimeter of the building are planning a special Croatian themed item on their menu.
CROATIAN WINE CELLARS Wine presentation and tasting of imported Croatian wines 2:30 – 3:30, cheese and crackers, music, souvenir CroatiaFest wine glass. Doors open 2:00 – 4:00. Admission $15.00 each. Must be 21 years and older with ID for admittance. See “Events” link for more details
QUINCY’S EXPANDED BEER GARDEN You are welcome purchase food at anyone of CroatiaFest’s seven food booths (4 outside and 3 inside the Armory) or from anyone of the Armory food vendors along the perimeter of the Armory and take your entrée into Quincy’s to enjoy a Karlovačko Pivo or your favorite beverage in the newly expanded beer garden.
Our merchant vendors will be back with a variety of Croatian goods and souvenirs for your shopping pleasure.
