RetrOpatija 2023
The music of the legendary Beatles, Depeche Mode and David Bowie performed by some of the best Croatian bands; top musicians playing at a dozen locations in the town; and a party until early morning under the open sky and the biggest disco ball – these are the highlights of this year’s RetrOpatija, a three-day event during which the town relives the golden age of music: from the roaring twenties to the crazy seventies.
Backcomb your hair, groom your moustache, style your ‘mullet’ with grease, take your best bell-bottoms, Hawaiian shirts and ruffle dresses out of your closet, dust off your dancing shoes and practise your Saturday Night Fever steps because in the last week of June, the biggest retro-party is back in town – this is the message from the Opatija Tourist Board, organiser of RetrOpatija, a favourite event of those who love good old music and fashion and want to have a great time; this year it takes place from 22 to 24 June.
The golden years of music, when radio stations played rockabilly, rock’n’roll, disco and boogie music, and the local ‘Travoltas’ were the kings of the dance floors, will come alive again in an event that turns the whole town into a stage and all its visitors into active participants in the parties. Shop windows, restaurants and cafés will be decorated in the style of past decades: from the roaring twenties to the crazy seventies and rocking eighties. In addition to concerts at a dozen locations, there will be singing and dancing on the terraces and beaches, and also along the town’s main street, which will be closed to all traffic but open for a party on Saturday 24 June.
The big retro party will start on Thursday, 22 June, in front of the Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion, where top DJs, musicians and bands will take turns over the next three days. The atmosphere will be further warmed by numerous dance groups reviving the golden years of music with their performances.
Performances by many excellent bands, DJs and dance groups covering various musical periods will take place at a dozen locations in the town. During the three days of RetrOpatija, the Croatian Walk of Fame will host the Retro Fair and the Retro Art Corner with top musical background provided by DJs and bands The Messengers, Pacha Mamma, Dellboys and Techno Vikings.
The highlight of RetrOpatija will be on Saturday, 24 June, when all stages in the town will be connected into a single musical story that will culminate in a party until dawn at the Open Air Theatre, under the night sky and the biggest disco ball. ‘Saturday Night Fever’ will start at 23:00 and only end when the most tireless dancers leave the floor.
We look forward to your visit!