Family fun at Slovenia’s Pippi Longstocking festival

The adventures of freckle-faced children’s character, Pippi Longstocking, have long had international appeal, ever since the first books by Astrid Lindgren were published way back in 1945.

In Slovenia the character’s popularity will be particularly evident between 21 and 27 September in Velenje, when the country’s largest children's festival will be held in her honour.

Many of the activities during the 18th Pippi Festival in Velenje, situated north-east of the capital, Ljubljana, will take place on Lake Velenje, however, it’s expected that the entire town will bear Pippi's freckled stamp.

More than 100 creative workshops will be held throughout the week, as well as dance displays and concerts, street theatre and Pippi Exhibits. In addition, Pippi will take youngsters on a hiking tour and organise a sailing regatta on the lake. There will also be a café serving Pippi's Pancakes and an amusement centre and playground, as well as numerous other attractions featuring the fiery red-head with her unfeasible, crazy plaits.

Specialist tour operator, Just Slovenia, can arrange holidays to nearby Urska Farm in the Pohorje Hills, where guests receive the best of Slovene hospitality from hosts Vilma and Tone, who are well known for their wonderful home-cooking and wine produced from their own grapes. The farm, where guests are encouraged to help with the animals, also features a small ‘wellness centre’ complete with sauna and Jacuzzi.

Prices for a family of two adults and two children under 12 years start from £1640 and include return flights from Stansted, car hire, and seven nights’ accommodation in a family room at Urska, with breakfast.

For further information log on to Justslovenia.co.uk. For more details about the Pippi Festival, visit Pikinfestival.org/ang.php.