20 Years of CroatiaFest

How It All Began

It all began with idea inspired by a group of Northwest Croatian American Community leaders and has become one of the premier festivals in the series of Festal ethnic festivals at the Seattle Center. In 2004, the footprint was designed and established by CroatiaFest’s first coordinator Alma Plancich, who set the standard of excellence and first-class programing.  From that blueprint, we have been able to expand the festival to the extent that we are “bursting at the seams”.   
CroatiaFest is a one-of-a-kind Croatian festival in the United States as it is free and open to the public.  In the past 20 years CroatiaFest has showcased the Croatian heritage and culture.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 20 YEARS

OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS 
Over 40 performers of the Folklorno Društvo Kumpanija Sword Dancers and Klapa Vela Luka, traveled from Vela Luka Croatia to CroatiaFest in coordination with the Anacortes Sister Cities Association.   On its first American tour, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra performed with Bravo! Vancouver Chorale & Sno-King Chorale a variety of music by Croatian and American composers, as well as a traditional classical repertoire.
In addition to our local talented Croatian dance and music ensembles, we introduced groups from San Pedro, Sacramento, San Jose, Pittsburg, Chicago, New York, and Canada to Seattle audiences.  

HISTORICAL DISPLAYS AND ART GALLERY
Over the past 20 years we have been able to document and preserve the history of the Croatian immigrants who settled in the Pacific Northwest and Eastern Washington through a series of museum quality panels and video tours and interviews.  Over the years we have featured the impact that Croatians have had in fishing and maritime industries, coal mining in Eastern Washington, Croatian Women; Tradition Bearers, Croatian Wives And Wives-To-Be: How They Came To America, achievements of Pacific Northwest Croatia-American athletes with stories and photos and live round table discussions.  Photo and story panels were created around Croatian restaurants and fraternal organizations, Croatian/American inventors and entrepreneurs, family trees, wedding stories featuring family wedding photos with two beautifully preserved 1930’s era wedding gowns. Through the coordination with the Croatian Embassy in Washington DC, a traveling photographic exhibit of Lighthouses of Croatia, a series of 29 photographs culled from the permanent archives of Plovput, Split was on display in the CroatiaFest Gallery.  A display of antique Croatian costumes and tambura instruments highlighted the Gallery walls along with photos of past tambura orchestras and kolo groups.  A variety of local Croatian and Croatian/American artists have also displayed their art.   

FOOD AND MERCHANT VENDORS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
When told NO, we said WHY NOT!  Because of this attitude, we were able to present traditional BBQ lamb on the spit, a display which is an attraction to many attendees to the Seattle Center Campus.  Povitica, sarma, grilled čevapčići, and made to order palačenka have continued to be our staple Croatian food that is enjoyed by the thousands who attend the festival.   We also introduced a tasting of imported Croatian wines and wines produced by Croatian/American vintner’s which has now evolved into this year’s Konoba Wine Room. 

CroatiaFest merchant vendors have brought to the festival a beautiful array of imported Croatian foods and products, Croatian themed gifts and handcrafted items for purchase.

Cooking demonstrations by real Croatian cooks who prepare family recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation has been a very popular attraction since it’s inception.  

  
INFO AND INTERACTIVE
Information about Croatian travel, Croatian language and dialects, genealogy, translation of Croatian letters and documents, and access to the Croatian Consulate Office of Los Angeles to renew passports and apply for Croatian citizenship.  

Kids activities with take home souvenir crafts and prizes

VIDEO AND ARCHIVING
With the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, CroatiaFest in person festival had to be cancelled.  That did not deter us.  For two years we produced a first-class video on line virtual festival with interviews, music, dance, cooking demonstrations and much more.  We were able to archive historical visits, tours and interviews with the Croatian communities of Riverside in West Seattle, Anacortes, Roslyn, Ronald, Cle Elum and Gig Harbor.  

APPRECIATION
CroatiaFest has had the honor of the Croatian Ambassador to the United States from Washington DC and the Croatian Consul General of Los Angeles attend the festival every year.  

The range of outstanding main stage entertainment by local Pacific Northwest and Canadian dance and musical groups that have been with the festival since the beginning.

The hundreds of same day volunteers who donate their time with set up, break down and who man the food and vendor booths, and much, much more.

Honorary Consul Dr. Frank Brozovich who assembled Croatian community leaders, John A. Morovich for the idea and inspiration, and the umbrella of Ethnic Heritage Council for the festival production.  

Last but not least, the CroatiaFest Planning Committee and Board of Directors, who volunteer their time, talent, and expertise without pay or compensation to produce a premier festival that has been enjoyed by thousands of attendees over these past 20 years.