Small Croatian Island of Susak Celebrating 31st Emigrants’ Day

Susak

Tomorrow is big day for the small island of Susak…

On Sunday 31 July 2016 the sleepy island of Susak, which is located in the Kvarner Bay and southeast of the Istrian peninsula, comes to life as it celebrates Emigrants’ Day – a traditional that has been going on in the last weekend of July over 30 years.

Susak, which is only around 3km long and 1.5km wide, is renowned for the large number of people who have emigrated from the island abroad, mainly to the America. Today in America over 2,500 people from Susak are estimated to be living. A large majority are in New Jersey. Only a small percentage of natives still reside on the island, around 130 permanent residents, but that booms during the summer as many islanders currently living in America return for summer holidays.

Festivities will go on all day and well into the night on Sunday as the 31st Emigrants’ Day is celebrated. After a mass at the St. Nicholas church, beach volleyball and futsal tournaments, a mini-Olympics for the kids, exhibitions, folklore performances, and concerts will be held as the party goes on well into the night.

A special free boat will transport interested visitors to Susak from the island of Lošinj. The boat will leave Mali Lošinj at 6 pm and return at midnight.

(photo credit: Vist Losinj)