The extraordinary summer edition of the Rijeka Carnival gathered 57 carnival groups with almost 5,000 participants in the Carnival Parade, and also many more visitors, citizens and tourists in a masquerade show that gathered the carnival tradition and unprecedented summer fun that overrun the centre, from the waterfront to the Old Town, from the Rječina river to Brajda, and much wider.
In downtown Rijeka today, from early morning, one could feel that what was going to follow, would not be just an ordinary June day, and the atmosphere and madness that grew from minute to minute was difficult to predict.
Various groups walked the route in the summer carnival edition, including several foreign groups as well as traditional groups – a unique combination that makes the Rijeka Carnival so irresistible and recognisable around the world.
The parade was led by members of the Czech club of Ferrari owners, and then for the first time the parade was led by the new carnival master Sandi with the mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović and the already experienced Queen Dora Pilepić, accompanied by Morettos, First Rijeka Majorettes and the Trsat brass band.
The extraordinary edition of the Carnival Parade was traditionally closed by the Halubje bell ringers, who with their magnificent noise drove away all evil spirits and marked the start of a crazy party that lasted all night in the city centre.
Before the parade, the representatives of the Federation of European Carnival Cities, led by Josip Silov, Aleksandar Cicimov and Branko Brumen, handed over a FECC plaque to mayor Filipović.