Here are the best selection of the year's events in the Kvarner Riviera, including those in Rijeka and Opatija!

January
The Rijeka Carnival takes place from mid-January with various festivities, from parades and concerts, to exhibitions and balls. The carnival draws an impressive number of participants and easily attracts over 100,000 spectators, making it one of the larger carnivals in Europe. The first major event is the Rijeka Queen Carnival Queen Pageant and Handover of the Town Keys is the first major event of the carnival, which takes place on 20th January 2012.

The Carnival Snowboard Session takes place on 28th January 2012 in Rijeka as a one-day competition with Croatian and European boarders taking part on a specially constructed course (with snow!) right in the centre of the city.

February
The 16th Children's Carnival Parade will take place on 11th February 2012, with many groups of kids assembling on the Korzo in Rijeka to take part.

On the following weekend to the above, the main International Carnival Parade takes place on Sunday 19th February 2012, now in its 29th year. Numerous participants and floats take part in a mixture of traditional and more modern celebrations, delighting the Croatian and foreign audience.

March
The 6th DORF Festival, a festival on rock documentaries, should take place in mid-March in Rijeka, with screenings of international rock documentaries.

April
The 11th Rijeka Half Marathon (& 15th "Homo si tec" road running event) is to take place in April 2012.

The first concert of the third Festival Kvarner should take place at the end of April. The Festival Kvarner is a series of concerts taking place in the town over the next few months - see the full listing on their website; a full schedule should be released soon.

May
Rijeka hosts the 19th International Small Scenes Festival at the beginning of May with theatre performances from both Croatian and foreign groups.

The 39th Croatia Rally should take place over a weekend towards the end of May in much of the Kvarner region, with the race starting and finishing in Rijeka.

June
The two-day sailing regatta Fiumanka sees boats sail from Rijeka to Omisalj and back, with lots more fun and games for participants and spectators besides! This takes place at the beginning of June.

MaLIK Fest - a multimedia festival of myths and legends from Kvarner and Istria - will take place at the wonderful Trsat Castle near Rijeka in mid-June.

July
Rijeka Nights is an almost month-long festival running starting at the end of June each year. This wonderful event will include a number of theatre, music, operatic and other performances at a variety of venues throughout the city.

The Kastav Cultural Summer takes place in the town of Kastav (in inland Kvarner, close to Opatija) with Croatian and international participants performing a variety of film, music and theatre works. The event runs from the beginning of July to the end of August

The two-day Uskok Days in Senj, near Rijeka, harks back to a time long ago with festivities taking on a medieval twist. Fun, games, music, arts and crafts take place in mid-July.

The Hartera Music Festival returns this year on 20th & 21st July 2012, once again held in the grounds of a former paper factory! Previous years acts have included SBTRKT, The Klaxons and Erol Alkan, this year's have yet to be announced - watch this space.

The Liburnia Jazz Festival in Opatija is the largest jazz event in Croatia, with the 12th festival taking place in 2012. Held over three days, there are a number of jazz concerts at various locations across the town.

The 6th Skaville - an "international summer ska festival" - will take place in Omisalj towards the end of July.

August
The Kastav Blues Festival will take place in Kastav (near Opatija) at the beginning of August, featuring Croatian and international blues artists.

The Liburnia Film Festival in Icici, near Opatija, will take place towards the end of August and will showcase Croatian films.

September
The Ucka Fair (Ucarski Sajam) will be held at the beginning of September in Ucka Nature Park (which is technically located in both Istria and the Kvarner Region, but as it's located near Opatija, we've listed it here!). The Fair will feature traditionally made products, food and drink.

The 28th Nautica International Boat Fair will take place in Rijeka on 26th to 30th September 2012.

October
The 6th VITAPlus Fair - an event promoting healthy living through sports, exercise, diet, beauty and more - takes place in Rijeka from 4th to 7th October 2012.

Hal's All Star Guitar Festival - organised by Croatian guitarist Damir Halilic - should take place in mid-October, featuring both Croatian and foreign guitar virtuosos.

November
The 17th Puppet Theatre Revue is held at the beginning of November with appearances from Croatian and international puppet groups.

The Ex Tempore Jazz Festival is to be held in Opatija each November.