Slovenia hosts annual folklore festival

Slovenia’s oldest town, Ptuj (pronounced Petooey), will host the annual Kurent Festival between 14th and 24th February, with the main celebrations taking place on the weekend of 20th.

Considered to be the country’s most important carnival, the Kurent includes many musical and artistic events, as well as street theatre, a masked ball and a carnival parade with participants clanging various instruments to ward off evil spirits. Other revellers smash clay pots on the ground to bring good luck and health.

The unusual folklore event also features a procession of Kurenti dressed up in quirky costumes vaguely resembling the Wombles, with spooky masks made of sheepskin, feathers, beads and cowbells. Said to possess mystical powers, they chase away winter and welcome in the spring.

Specialist tour operator, Just Slovenia, has four nights from £533 per person including flights from Gatwick to Ljubljana, car hire and bed and breakfast accommodation at the Garni Mitra Hotel in Ptuj.

For more information, log on to Justslovenia.co.uk.