Štrudlafest 2023: The sweetest Croatian festival set to take place again

by croatiaweek
August 28, 2023
in Entertainment

(Photo credit: Demjan Rožman)

Waiting for a year for Štrudlafest is indeed a challenge. Those three sweetest days of the year are finally upon us, so mark the first weekend of September for a trip to Jaškovo – the strudel village that offers so much fun this year that you’ll want to stay all three days.

Štrudlafest kicks off on Friday, September 1st, with the premiere of the “Strudel Pub Quiz” hosted by Krešimir Sučević Međeral. In this quiz, sweet treats will surely be motivating for the contestants, but who knows – it might also be a concentration challenge for them.

Either way, in the evening, the lively Luka Nižetić awaits you, promising great entertainment at the opening of the sweetest festival.

Saturday is reserved for something we’ve been waiting for a long time. The competitors who have honed their rolling skills for years and trained to make the thinnest dough are returning to Štrudlafest this year. This year, you can expect the selection of the best strudel in Croatia, all under the guidance of an expert jury, including the friendly Domagoj Jakopović Ribafish.

(Photo credit: Demjan Rožman)

Alongside sweet bites, many kids will surely enjoy an exciting ZIP line with a view of Jaškovo on Saturday. Of course, there’s also the Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) ensuring their safety.

Sunday offers a full range of gastronomic workshops and activities, with the festival closing with one of the most promising local musicians – Filip Rudan.

(Photo credit: Demjan Rožman)

Of course, there are activities waiting for you every day at Štrudlafest. Relax with “Strudel by Kayak,” “Strudel by Horse,” or take a guided walk with “Strudel Step by Step,” which will introduce you to this picturesque region where you’ll visit a natural spring and learn everything you need for a good strudel. Of course, there’s also plate painting for strudel, which attracts a large number of curious participants every year.

This year, you can enjoy more than a hundred strudel flavors – from classic fruity and savory ones to those with cracklings, hemp, and lamb, and even ones with mushrooms and beer.

(Photo credit: Demjan Rožman)

One of the biggest hits of this year’s festival is Tesla’s strudel, which might inspire you for some innovations. To discover the actual connection between Tesla and strudel, visit Tesla’s Corner at the Nikola Tesla Experience Center. If that’s not enough, be sure to hop on the Žitna Ship, which is sailing all Štrudlafest lovers this year.

Strudels prepared at the gastronomic workshops can traditionally be bought at the Jak kao Jakov association stand, adding a charitable dimension to this event.

(Photo credit: Demjan Rožman)

The prelude to the events in Jaškovo is Štrudle Week, which lasts a whopping 2 weeks. From August 28th to September 10th, in 42 catering establishments, all strudel enthusiasts will have plenty of reasons to explore the Karlovac County.

And just when you thought you’ve seen it all, there’s a ranch with Scottish cattle, a corner for lamb on a spit, and a special group of curious visitors expected at “Teta Marica’s Courtyard.” She’s the golden ambassador of strudel from Jaškovo and will welcome every visitor with a wide smile in her courtyard, showing them the secrets of making homemade strudel.

(Photo credit: Demjan Rožman)

For the little ones, there’s a variety of activities this year, not only in the rich Kids’ Triangle but also in the Rally Kids Corner. There’s horseback riding, a train, Aquatikina’s froggy corner, old rural games like stone tossing and goat herding, and both young and old will search for the path to the strudels in the corn maze.