PHOTOS: The unique potato festival in Croatia a hit again

by croatiaweek
July 29, 2022
in Entertainment

The unique potato festival in Croatia a hit again (Photo credit: David Ruzic)

The traditional festival dedicated to the potato – Gramperijada – was held for the 18th time last night in Kaštelir, Istria.

A large number of locals and tourists enjoyed and evening with potato delicacies, interesting children’s competitions and good music.

The festival, organised by the Kaštelir-Labinci Tourist Board and the Kaštelir-Labinci Municipality, got its name ‘Gramperijada’ from gramper, which is the Kašteliri name for potato.

(Photo: TZ Kaštelir-Labinci)

Only the people of Kaštelir call the potato gramper, and the story goes that the name was created at the time when Napoleon’s soldiers lived in this area and distributed boiled potatoes to local children.

An older soldier cook in French would be a grand-père, so it is assumed that the most memorable name for children remained that name, which quickly became synonymous with potatoes.

Be that as it may, gramper has remained in the local Kaštelir dialect to this day, and in addition, Kaštelir potatoes are known for their excellent quality.

(Photo credit: David Ruzic)

So it’s no surprise that at this year’s Gramperijada, visitors feasted on as many as 32 different potato-based dishes prepared by local residents, as well as foreigners from Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia.

(Photo credit: David Ruzic)

(Photo: TZ Kaštelir-Labinci)

Members of the Mladi za sve Association, the Grom Fire Department, the Vitis Association, and the local handball and soccer club fried delicious Kasteli fries all evening, and everyone could donate as much as they wanted for their efforts.

(Photo: TZ Kaštelir-Labinci)

Kaštelir also hosted the members of the Herešin Women’s Association from Koprivnica, whose hardworking hands prepared as many as 15 different potato dishes, while at the same time they offered homemade cakes and kneaded and baked scones. The visitors also rewarded them with donations for the fantastic presentation of local dishes.

(Photo: TZ Kaštelir-Labinci)

he unique potato festival in Croatia a hit again

(Photo credit: Ester Diklic)

Visitors could also taste top wines of the region, craft beer from local producers, craft cocktails, excellent prosciutto, and buy local fruit and vegetables at the stands.

(Photo credit: David Ruzic)

An amusement park was organised for children, and about fifty of them participated in the super fun Gramperolympiad, a competition for the kids. Everyone received ice cream and a certificate of appreciation as a reward.

(Photo credit: David Ruzic)

The exhibition of gramper with unusual and funny shapes was extremely interesting, the performance of VES “Nigrignanum” of the Labinci Italian community was also excellent, and at the end of the evening, the atmosphere was lifted by an excellent concert by the group Night Express, to whose music everyone sang and danced.