This year's Garden Festival has already been and gone, unfortunately, but if you're planning on attending next year's (the dates of which have already been set - 6th-13th July 2011) then carry on reading for travel and attendence advice.
See also The Guardian's review of the 2010 event: Garden Festival (18th July 2010)
The Festival
The Garden Festival is probably one of Croatia's most well-known festivals and is frequently mentioned in the travel press as one of Europe's top festivals. It's also the first in a trio of summer festivals all held in the same setting - the wonderful village of Petrcane, which is near Zadar.
This dance music festival takes place over a couple of weekends at the beginning of July, between 2nd and 11th July 2010 - hence its tagline of "Double Whammy 2". ('2' as the same was done last year!)
Now in its fifth year, the event has strongly established itself on the European festival scene. Although, quite frankly, a dance music festival on the wonderful Croatian Adriatic coast is always bound to be a winner!
A rather extensive line-up of live acts and DJs has already been announced, including Mr Scruff, Moodymann, 2020 Soundsystem, Flithy Dukes, Crazy P and Horse Meat Disco. There's also a few listing of their usual Argonaughty Boat Parties, not to mention the festival after-parties at Barbarella's Discotheque on the onsite.
As the festival is held over two weekends at the beginning of July, a number of travel options may be open to you. You could a) attend the festival as a long weekend break, b) attend one of the weekends and then spend some time travelling elsewhere on the Croatian coast or c) attend both weekends and spend the time inbetween (and even either side of the festival) exploring other nearby towns and resorts. (Option c is certainly my favourite!)
Or - for those really keen festival goers - how about attending the first weekend of this festival and then heading over to the Exit Festival in Serbia, which runs from 8th to 11th July 2010?
The Garden Festival was recommended by the Independent in its guide to "the
most exciting nightspots in 2010":
Out of the way grandma, Malta is for clubbers (24th January 2010); named as one of the festivals "best for sun and coast", also by the Independent:
Combine your holiday with music for a total adventure (13th May 2010)
Tickets for the Garden Festival
Tickets are available now on the Garden Festival's website. It's possible to buy tickets for just one of the weekends, or both!
Tickets are also available for assorted boat parties and after-parties.
Accommodation for the Festival
The Garden Festival site is located within the grounds of the 4* Hotel Pinija, so this would be the easiest accommodation option although - understandably - the hotel does tend to get booked up pretty quickly!
The festival website also have a very useful accommodation section which presents lots of options.
You can also search for accommodation in and near Petrcane using the search box below:
Getting to Petrcane
Zadar Airport is the nearest to the village of Petrcane, at about 15 miles/24km away. Please see our Getting to North Dalmatia section for details of which airlines fly to Zadar from the UK and Europe.
There are buses that are timed to coincide with flight arrivals to Zadar Airport that will take you to the main bus station in Zadar. You can then take another local bus to Petrcane - or elsewhere, depending on where you are staying!
The people behind the Garden Festival may also be organising direct return charter flights from Manchester to Zadar (flying Wednesday - Wednesday) for both of the weekends of the festival. The price for this is approximately £325 inc. taxes, which includes a weekend festival pass. Contact info@thegardenzadar.com for more info, but be sure to do so fast! Split is another possible airport to fly if you'd like some more options - see our Getting to Split page for air routes and more.
Alternatively, take a look at our Getting There & Travelling Around sections for other possible options of reaching Croatia and then travelling to Petrcane. More info
There's full information about the festival on its official website: Garden Festival
Images thanks to Damo at Tandem PR. |
