12th Annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza in Los Angeles a Success
- by croatiaweek
- in News
12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza held in L.A last weekend
The 12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza has taken place in Los Angeles last weekend under the title ‘Domovina u Mom Srcu’ (Homeland in My Heart).
The first Festival of Folklore and Croatian Culture was held in 1996. The original festival was created and organised by a veteran of the professional folk ensemble “Lado” Zagreb, Željko Jergan and the head of the “Sv Ante Kolo Ensemble” Heidi Granić. Granić has been tirelessly leading the “Sv Ante Kolo Ensemble” since 1980.
12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza
For the past 12 years, Los Angeles has regularly hosted the reunion of Croatians from all over the United States and Canada. Last year a young group of Croatians from New Zealand, the “Tarara Folklore Ensemble”, also came to the event.
The goal of the organisers is to invite folklore groups from Croatia to next year’s extravaganza.
The Festival of Folklore and Culture, which has grown into the largest gathering of young Croatians on the West Coast of America, was this year organized by Granić, Marija Baškovic, who is president of the Sv Ante Kolo Club, and Katica Ban, president of the Croatian children’s school, along with the support of all parents and parishioners.
12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza
This year’s program was designed by Željko Jergan.
12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza
The hall was packed out this year as guests partied with song and the sound of the tamburitza until the early hours of the morning.
The 2-day event was attended by a number of Croatian cultural ensembles, including “Vila Velebita” Calgary, Canada; “Hrvatska Zlatne Zice” Calgary, Canada; “Koraci” San Hose, CA; “Ljeljo” Pittsburgh, PA; “Hrvatska Loza” Chicago, IL; “Skalinada” Sacramento, CA; “Tamburaški Orkestar Kardinal Stepinac” Vancouver, Canada; “Sv Ante Kolo Club Croatia” Los Angeles, CA and the vocal group “Izvor”from San Pedro, CA.
12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza
12th annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza
The gathering concluded with a Mass and lunch on Sunday.
