Quietly, on tiptoe, Advent time is arriving, and Novi Vinodolski can hardly wait to dress in its Advent finery and for the very first time to conjure up a completely different atmosphere for its visitors through its decorations and programme.

The city centre will be adorned, there will be a beautiful Santa’s House, a colourful Christmas train, many photo corners, Advent kod Mažuranića and Zdravica Novoj, gourmet offerings, children’s, entertainment and cultural programmes — all part of Novi Advent, which visitors can enjoy for the rest of December.

On the first Advent Sunday, the lights in the town will be switched on with a lecture by a nun about the meaning of light, followed by performances by children from the Fijolica Kindergarten, Ivan Mažuranić Primary School, and the choir of the church of St. Philip and St. James. The group Katz’n’Dogz will also perform, alongside the food delights. On that day, Gallery Turnac will open its doors too — briefly “borrowed” by Santa Claus so he can discover what children wish for this year and deliver their gifts in time. Still, part of the lighting will remain a surprise until mid‑December.

Throughout December there will be workshops, screenings of Christmas films and cartoons, magic shows and much more. As Christmas approaches, Advent kod Mažuranića will come alive as the rest of the lights are switched on. A rich programme will take place at Trg Ivana Mažuranića: many musical guests, a stand‑up show, a gastro show by our well‑known chef Damir Tomljanović and MasterChef contestants, a creative food offering in the huts, a proper Christmas party on Christmas Eve, children’s performances and the arrival of Santa Claus — all set to warm up the beautiful square and temporarily turn it into the heart of Christmas magic.

From the very start of Advent — from the lighting of the first Advent candle — music will play throughout the town centre to make the atmosphere even more beautiful. We invite you to find the lovely photo‑point in Ivan Mažuranić Park, in the most beautiful location by the sea, near the islet of Sveti Marin.

As always, on the last day of December — and this year also the last day of our Advent — we will bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one in the afternoon in Novi Vinodolski! Two stages with top local performers, a rich children’s programme, gourmet and wine offerings, bags of laughter and wonderful mood — these are just some reasons why you should spend New Year’s Eve at noon in Novi Vinodolski!

This year the Zdravica Novoj concept will be somewhat different: at Trg Ivana Mažuranića there will be three Advent huts, Lovačko društvo Košutnjak with its specialities and members of the Ružica Vinodola association with mulled wine; at the top of Korzo hrvatskih branitelja, by Santa’s House, our valuable association 51+ will hand out doughnuts, and the children will be entertained by animators from LA LA LAND! To ensure parents can keep an eye on them, the quartet Unique will entertain everyone at Trg Vinodolskog zakona, where there will also be Lovačko društvo Gradina and mulled wine by Ružica Vinodola. Mugs will be sold at three locations — at the entrance to Trg Ivana Mažuranića, on Korzo hrvatskih branitelja, and beside the Turnac Gallery / Santa’s House. The central event — the countdown and New Year’s Eve at noon — will take place at Trg Ivana Mažuranića, where the joyful noon New Year will be welcomed, and the celebration continues throughout the city.

The best promoters of each project and destination are the people who see that special corner in a way maybe someone else can’t. That’s why from 27 November until Christmas, midnight on 25 December, there will be a photo contest — the three best photographs will be rewarded. Photos of Novi Advent can be sent to email info@tz-novi-vinodolski.hr, (each person may send only one photo), and all photos will be published in an album on the Facebook page of TZ Grada Novi Vinodolski on Tuesday, 27 December, without the authors’ names. The three photos with the most “likes” will go on to scoring with a judging committee, which will also receive the photos anonymously and choose the three best. The overall score will determine the winners, who will receive lovely prizes.

“I am proud of my fellow citizens, and of everyone who has taken part in creating a real Advent story that for the first time will take place in Novi Vinodolski in this way. Novi Advent is an example that there are desires, will and ideas for bringing winter Novi to life. Decorations are made by our citizens, creatives, people for whom this is work but also hobby; special thanks also go to the Cultural Centre, KTD Ivanj, Ivan Mažuranić Primary School, Kindergarten Fijolica, Parish of St. Philip and St. James, the Public Library, the National Museum and Gallery, Association 51+, Association Ružica Vinodola and Hunting Societies Košutnjak and Gradina. All of them are part of this large and comprehensive project organized by the Tourist Board of Novi Vinodolski and the City of Novi Vinodolski.”

As someone who was part of organizing Advent in Crikvenica, I saw that people truly want to spend this time together, among friends and family, in a beautiful setting of aromas, tastes and the feeling of Christmas warmth. Why shouldn’t Novi Vinodolski also give its citizens and visitors the chance to spend this time in their own town? That’s the idea I followed, with great help and support from everyone involved in organizing. I really can’t wait to see Novi in its Advent finery and invite everyone to visit our Novi!

The name Novi Advent is actually two‑fold — “novi” because it’s something new, but also because it takes place in Novi; and to connect the programme segments with what we are best known for — our rich history — the central part of the programme held outdoors is called Advent kod Mažuranića. And of course Zdravica Novoj — which speaks for itself, as every year we note increasing numbers of visitors, so we decided to extend it across the whole city centre,” said Tena Peričić, Director of the Tourist Board of the City of Novi Vinodolski.

And what to wish at the end? Just a bit of nice weather — there’s no doubt that this Novi Advent will be truly beautiful!