2019 OUTSTANDING CROATIAN

Zvonimir Aničić

CroatiaFest 2019 is pleased to honor Zvonimir (Zvone) Aničić as the 2019 Outstanding Croatian Award recipient.  Zvone was born in Vancouver, BC, Canada as the third child of Croatian emigrants from Sumartin on the Island of Brač. In 1984, Zvonimir  joined the folklore ensemble “Tamburica Orchestra Kardinal Stepinac” (TOKS), and is currently the President and Music Director.  Every year for the past 16 years, Zvone and TOKS have traveled the long distance from Canada to Seattle to perform at CroatiaFest.  On Sunday, October 6th, the Croatian Ambassador from Washington DC, Pjer Ŝimunović, will present Zvone with a signed certificate recognizing his many achievements. 

RAKIJA BEND RETURNS TO CROATIAFEST 2019

Back by popular demand, the famed Rakija Bend of Chicago returns to CroatiaFest for two performances on the main stage on Sunday, October 6, 2019, at the Seattle Center Armory.

In addition to their Sunday performance at CroatiaFest, Rakija Bend will share the stage with our own Sinovi on Saturday night, October 5th at the Russian Community Center for a dance and sing-along. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Admission $10.00 per person at the door. Ala carte menu catered by the Seattle Jr. Tamburitzan Parents with no host bar featuring Karlovacko Pivo and a variety of wine and soft drinks for your enjoyment. Make your plans to attend this annual kickoff event.

CROATIAFEST WELCOMES CROATIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE FROM CHICAGO

KUD Hrvatska Baština

CroatiaFest is pleased to welcome KUD Hrvatska Baština, a new Croatian dance and music ensemble from Chicago, to perform at this year’s festival on October 6th at the Seattle Center Armory.   

KUD* Hrvatska Baština was formed in January 2015.  The group consists of 30 to 40 active members.   During the summer of 2018, KUD Hrvatska Baština toured Croatia and Hungary.  With stops in Pečuh and Mohač, they were able to further their collaboration with the Croatians of Hungary. Jozsef Szavai, director of KUD Tanac and Andor Vegh, former musical director of KUD Tanac both worked with the group on preparing their current project: Šokačke igre iz Mohača and Šokačke igre iz Podunavlja. They will be performing both choreographies at CroatiaFest 2019.

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
• Art Gallery
• Wine Cellars
• Genealogy
• Croatian Consulate Day
• Informative Lectures

Festival Highlights

October 5, 2019 - Saturday Evening Events

Croatian Mass - Join us for Croatian Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 732 18th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112.  Traditional Croatian Catholic hymns will be sung accompanied by tamburiza musicians. 

Croatian Dance Party - Dance and Sing-along at the Russian Community Center (across the street from St. Joseph). Admission is only $15, 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 your favorite beverages.  Come dance and sing along to new as well as the old standard Croatian songs.

October 6, 2019 - All-Day Festival

Festivities begin at Seattle Center Armory with opening ceremonies at noon. The festival will include:

MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT:  All day performances by some of the finest Croatian Music and Dances Ensembles from the United States and Canada. 

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.

CROATIAN CONSULAR DAYS: Don't miss this chance to get or renew your important Croatian documents, passport or citizenship in Seattle. Phone: Croatian Consulate Office in Los Angeles 310-477-1009.

CULTURE: The Art Gallery displays various genre of works created by local Croatian artists. Original antique Croatian costumes can be viewed throughout the gallery. 

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.

HISTORY:  Exhibition panels feature the history 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, BBQ wild caught salmon, tradtional peka 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 to the CroatiaFest Wine Cellars located on the 3rd floor of the Armory to enjoy a glass of fine wine or into the newly expanded Quincy's Bar to enjoy your favorite beverage.

CROATIAN WINE CELLARS:  Would you like a good glass of wine to go along with your sarma or lamb sandwich?  Or, just take a break from all of the festival activities to sit and relax and enjoy a glass of wine? Make your way upstairs to the CroatiaFest Wine Cellars located on the 3rd floor of the Armory.  You can bring your favorite entrée that you’ve purchased from one of our several Croatian food vendors or just come in to sit and purchase a glass of wine from Croatian-American winemakers Richard Kinssies, owner of Seattle Wine Outlet and Seattle Wine School and Jason Morin of Ancestry Cellars, as well as Sunce Winery of Santa Rosa.  With your $15.00 entry fee, you will receive a souvenir CroatiaFest wine glass and two drink tokens. You can also use your tokens to buy a shot of Sljivovica or Maraskina.  And as an extra bonus, Bonaca, Dave and the Dalmatians and Klapa DoWapella will entertain you with your favorite Croatian songs. 

We invite you to visit our website: www.croatiafest.org to pre-order your tickets or you may purchase tickets at the door!  Must be 21 years and older with ID for admittance.

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 your favorite beverage in the newly expanded beer garden.

MERCHANT VENDORS:  A variety of Croatian goods and souvenirs for your shopping pleasure.

INFORMATION BOOTH: Stop by the CroatiaFest Information booth to pick up the beautifully designed souvenir program, take a handout of the schedule of the day’s activities, or purchase tickets to the wine tasting. Our staff of volunteers are ready to answer your questions.

GENEALOGY: An opportunity to speak with an expert genealogist about tracing your ancestral Croatian roots.