Saturday, 2^nd February

Grajena, at midnight
4^th TRADITIONAL KURENT’S JUMP
Kurent’s jump at the beginning of carnival when, traditionally, Kurents put on their bells for the first time in the season and start with their mission – chasing the winter away (organiser: Cultural society Grajena)

Markovci, at midnight
6^th WHIP’S CRACK
The first crack of a whip announces the carnival in Markovci (organiser: Ethnographic society Korant Markovci)

Lancova vas near Vaški dom, at 11pm
WITH CRACKING AND JUMPING INTO THE CARNIVAL TIME
The carnival time on the Drava Field starts with the first whip’s crack in the village of Tržec, and the first Kurent’s jump in the village of Lancova Vas

Sunday, 3^rd February

Mali Okič – Slatina (Cirkulane) at 2pm
GATHERING OF “RUSA” AND “ŠARGA”
Presentation of these traditional animal masks originating from Haloze and Drava and Ptuj Fields
(Organiser: Society for ancient customs Mali Okič)

Saturday, 9^th February

Cirkulane, at 10am
20^th CARNIVAL IN CIRKULANE
The carnival parade consists of groups from kindergarten, primary school and other neighbouring villages and communities. The most typical ethnographic carnival masks in the parade are: “the old woman carrying the old man”, “rusa”- the animal, and ploughmen from Haloze. All groups are offered food, and the most original and beautiful ones are awarded. (Organiser: Tourist association Cirkulane)

Markovci, at 1pm
22^nd CARNIVAL IN MARKOVCI
The main reason for the carnival in Markovci is to preserve the extremely rich cultural heritage of ethnographic and carnival masks originating from Drava and Ptuj area. The carnival parade starts from the inn Ambiente, passes through the villages of Zabovci and Markovci to the municipal building where each group presents itself. The parade ends in the carnival tent (industrial zone in Markovci), where meals will be served and the most original masks awarded. Organiser: Ethnographic society Korant Markovci

Majšperk, at 1pm
13^th CARNIVAL PARADE IN MAJŠPERK
The carnival parade in Majšperk traditionally starts at Breg near Majšperk, winds to the primary school building where all groups present themselves, while the party takes place in front of the Fire-brigade headquarters in Majšperk, where the most beautiful masks worn by children and adults are chosen. (Organiser: Primary school Majšperk and Majšperk Community)

Sunday, 3^rd February

Podlehnik, from 5 to 7pm
CRACKER’S DAY
Cracking of the whip as it used to be done; the performance ends in front of the communal hall in Podlehnik (organiser: Cultural and Folklore Society Podlehnik)

From 10^th to 12^th February

Podlehnik, every day from 9am to 4pm
PLOUHMEN’S TOUR OF THE VILLAGE: FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
The ploughmen will make a traditional tour of the village passing from one house to another to make the first furrow and wish abundant crops by chasing away everything bad and evil and calling for happiness (organiser: Cultural and folklore society Podlehnik)

Monday, 11^th February

Videm near Ptuj, at 3pm
18^th CARNIVAL IN VIDEM
The parade consists of traditional carnival masks, modern carnival groups, guests from Croatia and neighbouring communities. Every year, primary school children create their own mask and join the parade, which starts at Šturmovec, continues to the centre of the village and to the square in front of the primary school. (organiser: Folklore society Lancova Vas, section: Koranti)

Dornava, at 2pm
17^th CARNIVAL IN THE WAY OF DORNAVA
International carnival parade starts at the Fire-brigade headquarters in Mezgovci near Pesnica river and continues to the Fire-brigade headquarters in Dornava where each ethnographic and carnival group presents itself. At the head of the parade will be Prince of the Carnival, Miroslav Slodnjak, knight of Dornava. (organiser: Dornava Community)

Tuesday, 12^th February

Bukovci, at 2pm
16^th CARNIVAL IN BUKOVCI
The carnival parade starts at Zmazek’s and passes through the village, to the market in the centre, where all masks and groups present themselves. After the parade, all groups are offered food followed by the carnival dance held in the Cultural – sports hall Bukovci. (organiser: Cultural society Bukovci)

Stojnci, at 1pm
14^th CARNIVAL IN THE WAY OF STOJNCI
performances of carnival groups, of “Fuš godba”, gypsies, individual carnival masks and Kurents. The parade will be headed by their local prince, Don Frenk I. (organiser: Cultural-artistic society Maska Stojnci)

Krajevna dvorana Podlehnik, at 3pm
BURIAL OF THE CARNIVAL
Traditional burial of the carnival and the carnival party during which traditional dishes from Haloze are served; organiser: Cultural and folklore society Podlehnik

Cirkovce, at 3pm
21^st CARNIVAL IN CIRKOVCE
The carnival parade, consisting of kindergarten and primary school children, and various societies based in the region of Kidričevo, starts at the cemetery and ends at the primary school building. Ethnographic part of the parade is dedicated to the local carnival habit: the hauling of the log, performed by the folklore group Vinko Korže. Every year, the parade features also Kurents, “rusa”, whip-crackers, spearmen, and other carnival masks from the region. Every year, the villagers also crown their “carnival emperor”. (organiser: Kidričevo Community, Cultural society Cirkovce, Folklore group Vinko Korže)

Cirkovce, from 10pm to midnight
THE LAST SOUND OF KURENT’S BELLS
Kurents form a big circle in the middle of which stands their leader who makes his entire body shake by turning it convulsively from right to left, and jumps with both feet at the same time. Everybody tries to imitate his movements. Suddenly, the leader lifts his club and points it toward one of the Kurents who immediately stops ringing his bells. The same procedure is repeated several times until the last Kurent stops ringing his bells. At this precise moment the leader in the middle of the circle performs the so-called “shower”. Slowly, he stops ringing his bells, and when the silence is complete, he takes off his cap; the others follow him. Sad and tired of having rung their bells for so many days, Kurents start taking them off, then they take off their coat and thus say “goodbye” to their Kurent outfit for a year. In the perfect silence, the tower clock strikes midnight and the Ash Wednesday begins. (organiser: Kidričevo Community, Cultural society Cirkovce, Folklore group Vinko Korže)