Advent in Zagreb evoking the childhood Christmas magic: Top 5 happenings for kids

(Photo: UO Loft)

Advent in Zagreb evoking the childhood Christmas magic: Our Top 5 list of 2021 events and happenings for kids

Voted the best Christmas fair in Europe for three consecutive years, this year a bit smaller in size but nevertheless rich in programs and activities that will engage visitors of all generations and all interests.

The main theme just as its playful visuals suggest is toys, and no better time than Christmas, and no better time machine for engaging kids and catapulting adults to the most exciting time of their life.

Craft Advent
Matica passage (Register of Croatian Craftspeople passage) Ilica 49

(Photo: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Craft Advent, with their children’s and humanitarian programme, taking place at Matica passage (Register of Croatian Craftspeople passage), on Ilica 49 is a must-visit this Advent in Zagreb for both young and old. 

Check out the display of traditional wooden toys and learn about this traditional Croatian tradition which has brought joy to generations. You can admire the colourful, imaginative creations all around the passage and in the children’s workshop, take photos with them in the special booths and buy the perfect Christmas present with a unique message.

Children’s programme 

The lower part of the passage will be used as a showroom and shop, while in gallery you can enjoy singing, with a children’s choirs singing Advent songs every Sunday, acting, reading, listening, creative workshops, where children can make toys, and all that helps make Christmas a special time of year for children. As it is the Year of reading in Croatia, a series of plays called Daddy Picture Book will be also held This isn’t just a classic reading from picture books: this fun daddy can read, act, sing, play, sometimes even be a little silly, but always educative on important topics such as healthy habits, the importance of reading and learning through play, smile and laughter.

Humanitarian programme

With it being a giving time of year, there is also a humanitarian programme at the Matica passage. In cooperation with Mali Teatar a Christmas play will be organised for the members of Children’s home with the kids being gifted Christmas presents. 

Little Museum of Wonders
December 1-31 2021, Little Museum of Miracles, Ilica 92
Admission: children 20 kn; adults 25 kn

Little Museum of Wonders

One upon a time on the ground floor of Ilica 118 there was a basket manufacture production founded by Mr Zvonko Prša. In 1946 Mrs Olga Volčanšek joined the manufacture and started to produce dolls made of jute and straw. Few more women came in and after a few years the toy manufacture was founded and was named Biserka, after mrs Volčanšek’s daughter who was a keen visitor of the premises.

Little Museum of Wonders (Private album)

During history generations of Croatian kids grew up with Biserka toys featuring worlds famous pop culture and cartoon characters. Just a few blocks away from the birthplace of first Croatian toys you can check interesting story of the most Croatian factory and check the toys that brought joy to generations of children.

Little Museum of Wonders (Private album)

Little Museum of Wonders (Private album)

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale – Jasmina and the Dolls
December 4 2021. – January 9 2022., Ethnographic Museum, Ivan Mažuranić square 14
Admission: adults 20 kn, pupils and students 15 kn; children up to 5 years free

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale (Photo credit: Etnografski muzej/Facebook)

Famous Croatian toy designer Jasmina Kosanovic has created a fairy-tale-like winter atmosphere at Zagreb’s Ethnographic Museum.

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale (Photo credit: Etnografski muzej/Facebook)

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale (Photo credit: Etnografski muzej/Facebook)

White fairies symbolising snowflakes and winter, little robins representing the warmth of home on a winter night, snow covered forest and little animals peeking behind pine branches. Every Saturday in December, Jasmina will explain to visitors how she creates her dolls and will also answer any questions. 

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale (Photo credit: Etnografski muzej/Facebook)

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale (Photo credit: Etnografski muzej/Facebook)

Jasmina Kosanovic’s Christmas Fairy Tale (Photo credit: Etnografski muzej/Facebook)

LOFT Children’s plays on Zrinjevac: Adventures of Christmas Elves
December 4, 5, 11,12,18,19 & 26, 4.30 PM, Zrinjevac park

(Photo: UO Loft)

Santa Claus and his hardworking elves are the main characters of a children’s play which tells seven stories about their adventures on the North Pole. Overcoming a number of adversities, such as broken sleighs, missing reindeers and letters from the kids ruined from a flood, the Christmas magic rescues the situation just in the nick of time.

(Photo: UO Loft)

(Photo: UO Loft)

(Photo: UO Loft)

Advent Fairy Tale in Backo Mini Express

November 27 2021 – January 8 2022., Mini Train Museum – Backo Mini Express, Gundulićeva ulica 4
Admission: children 30 kn; adults 35 kn

Located in downtown Zagreb on Gunduliceva Street, and covering an area of more than 350 square metres, the Museum of Trains hosts Backo Mini Express – which is the largest model railway construction in south-east Europe. Visitors to the Advent fairy tale in Backo Mini Express can see 200 trains with classic “choo-choo” sounds, more than 1500 metres of tracks, 100 metres of roads with cars, busses and lorries, all electric-powered. 

The complete program of Zagreb Advent for kids is available via link https://www.adventzagreb.hr/advent-for-kids