Visit NovaljaSimple experience of joy
Visit NovaljaNovalja isn’t only July and August on Zrće. From carnival masks in February and trail races across the moonscape in spring to cheese festivals, open-air theatre and Advent on the square, this is what happens around town and across the island of Pag every year. We’re an independent local guide: dates come from the organisers, and we add them here as they’re announced.
The 2027 programme is being announced — here’s what happens in Novalja every year:
Novalja Carnival (Novaljski karneval)
Novalja, Trg Bazilike · Saturdays from mid-January to Shrove Tuesday · dates TBC
Masked dances, kids' afternoons and a closing masked parade through town, run by locals for locals.
Pag Winter Carnival (Paški zimski karneval)
Pag town · Saturdays from the first weekend after Epiphany to Shrove Tuesday · dates TBC
Masked "tanci" in the old salt warehouse and the election of the carnival prince.
Our guide
Life on Mars Trail
Metajna · late March · 2027: Saturday 20 March
A trail race and hike over the bare, bora-scoured "Martian" karst above Metajna, with 7, 15 and 25 km routes. Walkers welcome.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
En Primeur – the first young Pag cheese
Pag town, Knežev dvor · around 21 March · dates TBC
Tasting of the season's first young Pag cheeses, with a chef masterclass.
Our guide
Easter Breakfast (Uskršnji doručak)
Novalja, Trg Bazilike · Easter Monday morning · dates TBC
A free open-air breakfast of traditional Easter food with singing, held since 2001.
MarsOvca
Stara Novalja, Jadra beach · April · dates TBC
A ticketed beach feast where 25+ local hosts cook Pag lamb and sheep's cheese. It sells out.
Our guide
May Festival (Fešta od maja)
Novalja, Trg Bazilike · around 1 May · dates TBC
Local restaurateurs cook traditional dishes on the square with live music to open the season.
Feast of the Holy Thorn (Sv. Trn)
Pag town · early May · dates TBC
The Benedictine nuns bring out a relic of the crown of thorns, kept in Pag since 1443, for Mass and a procession.
Skutafest
Kolan · spring, date varies · dates TBC
A small village fair built around skuta, the fresh sheep's-milk curd left over from cheesemaking.
Our guide
Granfondo Pag – Cycling on the Moon
Start in Novalja · May · 2027: 15 May
An international road-cycling granfondo of about 100 km across Pag's lunar karst.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Pag Town Day (Dan Grada Paga)
Pag town · around 18 May · dates TBC
Pag marks its founding in 1443 with Mass, guided walks and a hike to the old town.
Our guide
Novalja Open – beach handball
Novalja · last weekend of May · dates TBC
The Croatian beach handball championship, now with international teams.
Spring Break weekends
Zrće beach · weekends from May to June · dates vary by organiser
Four-day student packages with club nights, pool and boat parties that open the Zrće season.
Our guide
Town Day & St Anthony (Antonja – Dan Grada Novalje)
Novalja · 13 June, with events all month
The town's patron-saint day: Mass, a free headline concert and two weeks of concerts, children's festival and local tournaments.
Lamb Festival (Fešta od janjetine)
Mandre · mid to late June · dates TBC
Spit-roast Pag lamb, local cheeses and island products on the Mandre waterfront, with a band.
Our guide
International Lace Festival (Međunarodni festival čipke)
Pag town · second half of June · dates TBC
Lace-makers from about ten countries join Pag's own, with exhibitions in churches, workshops and a fashion show.
Our guide
Pag Sheep and Cheese Show (Izložba paške ovce i sira)
Novalja, Ruža vjetrova · late June or early July · dates TBC
Breeders show their Pag sheep, cheesemakers compete, and there are tastings and a klapa concert.
Our guide
Hideout Festival
Zrće beach · late June to early July · 2027: 29 June – 2 July
The big UK-crowd house and techno week: pool parties by day, open-air club sets all night. 18+.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Metajna Day (Dan Metajne, "Dva Luja")
Metajna, riva · 2 July
A kids' programme on the waterfront, then a band, on the village's feast day.
Our guide
Pag Island Klapa Festival (Smotra klapa otoka Paga)
Pag town, Stari grad · early July · dates TBC
Klapa groups from all over the island sing a cappella in the ruins of the old town.
DropZone Festival
Zrće beach · first week of July · 2027: 3–8 July
A week for hardstyle fans: main stage at night, pool and boat parties by day.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Balkan Wave Festival
Zrće beach · early to mid July · 2027: 7–11 July
Five days of Balkan pop and urban music for a young regional crowd.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Verknipt Croatia
Zrće beach · mid July · 2027: 11–15 July
The Dutch hard-techno brand's rave holiday for the fast-BPM crowd.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Austria goes Zrće
Zrće beach · second half of July · 2027: 17–24 July
A German-speaking party week of EDM, hardstyle, Deutschrap and Schlager.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Novaljski trijatar
Novalja, summer stage · Sunday evenings, July–August · dates TBC
Croatian touring companies play mostly comedies under the stars (in Croatian).
Novalja Music Summer in the Courtyards
Old Novalja · Wednesday evenings, July–August · dates TBC
Intimate classical recitals in the stone courtyards of the old town.
Vridne ruke
Novalja, Ruža vjetrova · first half of July · dates TBC
Taste and buy home-made products from Pag's shepherds and cheesemakers, then a concert.
Karmenica – Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Kolan and Vlašići · 16 July
Votive feast with Mass and a procession with the statue of Our Lady, then a village fešta. In Kolan it is also the Municipality Day.
Gajac Day (Dan Gajca)
Gajac · around 22 July · dates TBC
Village games like bocce, tug-of-war and kids' swimming, ending with a concert.
Pag Summer Carnival (Paški ljetni karneval)
Pag town · last week of July · dates TBC
Croatia's oldest summer carnival: masked parade, Pag folk costumes and the big Paško kolo dance on the square.
Our guide
Island Products Fair "Od Luna do Fortice"
Vlašići · last Sunday of July, evening · dates TBC
Island cheese, wine, olive oil, honey and crafts, with klapa and live music.
Fishermen's nights (Ribarske večeri)
Zubovići, Šimuni and other harbours · July–August · dates TBC
Fish fried on the harbour and a klapa or band: a proper village fešta.
Victory Day (Dan pobjede) & Our Lady of the Snows
Novalja and Mandre · 4–5 August
A national holiday: a free evening concert in Novalja, while Mandre celebrates its church feast with Mass and a concert on the waterfront.
PagArtFestival
Pag town · first half of August · dates TBC
Classical concerts in the old-town ruins, the salt warehouse and on a boat, founded by pianist Lovro Pogorelić.
Our guide
Barrakud Festival
Zrće beach · second week of August · 2027: 9–12 August
Techno and house parties day and night, plus boat parties, on Zrće since 2012.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
Assumption Day (Velika Gospa)
Pag town · 15 August
Pag's biggest church feast: the statue of Our Lady is carried in procession from the old town, with a klapa evening on the square and a dawn hike up Sveti Vid.
Our guide
Rockin' in the Fields
Novaljsko polje · late-August weekend · dates TBC
A small blues and rock weekend in the fields outside town.
Cheese Festival (Fešta od sira)
Kolan · last Friday of August or early September · dates TBC
Forty-plus cheese producers fill the square, with tastings and a free concert.
Our guide
Burafest
Pag town · last days of August · dates TBC
A family festival with children's theatre, workshops and evening concerts.
End of the Zrće season
Zrće beach · late August to early September
The clubs throw their closing parties as the season winds down.
Our guide
Mala Gospa – Nativity of Mary
Pag town · 7–8 September
The statue of Our Lady is carried back to the old town in a procession, with a town-band concert and a klapa evening.
Our guide
Pag Salt Month (Misec paške soli)
Pag town and the salt works · September · dates TBC
Visits to the salt works and themed weeks around Pag's "white gold", ending with a dinner on the old waterfront.
Our guide
Squid Days (Dani liganja)
Šimuni · late September or early October · dates TBC
Squid fishing from shore and boats, a brudet cook-off and a net-mending race.
Lun Day (Dan mjesta Lun)
Lun · 2 October
Parish Mass and an evening get-together in the olive village.
Our guide
St Luke's Week (Lučina)
Kolan · the week before 18 October
Kolan's patron-saint week: concerts, exhibitions, bocce and a festive Mass on 18 October.
Olea Trail
Stara Novalja · mid-November · dates TBC
An off-season trail race through olive groves and along the coast, from 12 km to a marathon.
Official site ↗ · Our guide
"Pisma nakanat" folk singing festival
Novalja, culture centre · around 25 November · dates TBC
Pag's traditional two-voice "na kanat" singing, a rare chance to hear it live.
Advent in Novalja (Advent u Novalji)
Novalja, Trg Bazilike · December Saturdays
Santa's house, local food fairs and Saturday concerts on the square.
Advent in Pag (Advent u Pagu)
Pag town · from the first Advent weekend to 31 December
Candle lighting, concerts and a Christmas Eve party on the square.
Novaljski raspivani Božić
Novalja, St Catherine's church · 26 December
Klapas and choirs from across Pag sing Christmas songs.
New Year's Eve on the square
Novalja, Trg Bazilike · 31 December, from 21:00
A free open-air concert with a Croatian headliner.
Free guided town walk
Novalja · several evenings, June–September
A free walk through Novalja's history: the Roman aqueduct, basilicas and old streets.
Our guide
Pag Summer Outdoor
Whole island · April–October
Low-cost guided SUP, kayak, bike and hiking sessions run by the island's tourist boards.
Our guide
Dates are approximate and change from year to year — always check with the organiser before you plan your trip around an event.
Full official calendar: visitnovalja.hr · Pag town: tzgpag.hr · Kolan and Mandre: kolan.hr