Vinkovačke jeseni

The festival Vinkovačke jeseni takes place in Vinkovci in September. It was founded in 1966 and soon
became the largest and most famous cultural event in the city of Vinkovci, all of Slavonia and even
the entire continental part of Croatia. The reason for the founding of this festival is that autumn is
the season that Slavonians are most rewarded for their hard work. In the last 40 years, the festival
has achieved more than anybody expected. In the time that it has existed, it's become increasingly
enriched, which is why it can be considered as one of the most important festivals of this kind in the
whole of Croatia. The festival tries (and in my opinion, succeeds) to explain the manner of the
Slavonian people, their sense of humor, and the overall Slavic lifestyle. During the duration of the
festival, the audience learns about the folklore of Slavonia and about the foreign folklore that is also
a part of it. The stage is temporarily made for the duration of the festival and was conceived as an
open-air stage. The costumes and set design are thematic, so the beauty of the shapes and colors of
the costumes and the sounds of tambourine and bagpipes come to the forefront. The most visited
event during the festival is the parade at the start where groups of people (dressed in their folklore
dresses and suits) walk down the streets of Vinkovci, and the audience watches the progress as they
pass.