After the past two extremely successful carnivals featuring the traditional masks and characters of the Cetina region, we eagerly expect the same this year. This year’s carnival, organized by the Town of Sinj and the Sinj Tourist Board, will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017.

Our town has the honor to host the traditional carnival parade for the third time. Even for one day, the town will be taken over by Didi, the traditional parade with a strict schedule and rules of conduct deeply embedded in the local tradition. The Didi have a long tradition of performing and are the best conveyors and keepers of the traditional festive customs of the Cetina region settlements. The impressive figures demonstrate their strength and endurance by carrying sheep skin (mišina) on their heads at the height of a meter and a half, and bells around their waists. They are dressed in old clothing sewn with colorful details. They embody the ritual battle between the good spirits and winter, which they chase off with noise and jumping every year in the time of Lent.

Carnival customs such as this one exist in other parts of Croatia as well, but the value of the yearly carnival parades in the villages under the Kamešnica mountain was officially recognized by the Croatian Ministry of Culture. The parades are now protected as Croatian intangible cultural heritage.

Considering how the town of Sinj has always preserved and valued its rich cultural heritage, this carnival parade sets out to popularize the aforementioned tradition of carnival customs which are unique in the whole of Europe.

Besides the traditional carnival characters, a number of other groups will be participating in the parade, enriching the overall experience with their comic performances.

This year’s parade will also feature the traditional characters of the Neorić and Sutina settlements. Their characteristic is the 10-meter-high flag carried by the proud flag-bearers.

The jolly parade from over 20 different villages of the Cetina region will be led by noisy, colorful and defiant rams starting at 3 p.m. on the following route: NK Junak – Put Šumarije – Put Piketa –Miljenka Buljana Street (up to the bus terminal) – Put Ferate –Kneza Branimira Street – Brnaška Street – Kralja Tomislava Square.

The highlight of the parade will be on Sinj Pijaca where the groups will be presented. After the presentation an organized entertainment program will follow, lasting from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.