Why not enjoy the most beautiful time of the year on an exquisitely beautiful European island?
VISIT THE ADVENT CELEBRATIONS ON HVAR ISLAND!
Winter is an opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful islands in Europe in the most beautiful season of the year, to enjoy it to the full without the bustle and scorching temperatures of the summer tourist season.
We have devised a really diverse Advent programme to entertain all age groups, and it will run from December 3rd through to the New Year celebrations on December 31st.
For the times of the Catholic Masses in the Parish Church of Our Lady’s Assumption in Jelsa, please refer to this link (in Croatian): https://www.zupajelsa.com/ or you can refer to the local notice board, or ask at the Tourist Board Office.
Entertainments
During Advent the Jelsa Park is transformed into an enchanted Christmas Village, with little booths offering a multitude of delights on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Besides delicious food and enticing wines, there are also plays (in Croatian), dance performances and music to be enjoyed by all, also workshops, book exchange – there’s something for everyone. Candles, fairy lights, baubles, mulled wine, family gatherings, expectations… these are someof thejoys associated with this most beautiful time of year, Advent in the run-up to Christmas.
During this magical time, Jelsa shines with a special glow. The islanders and guests who come together for the festivities are the most important part of the Advent delights. Happy, laughing people, free from care. Jelsa’s Tourist Board in conjunction with the Jelsa Council local authority in organizing this year’s Advent activities decided once again to set up an enchanted environment where everyone can come together. So the Jelsa Park in the heart of our little town you can eat tasty refreshments, sup warming mulled wine or tea, swap books, watch the performances, play FootPool… and lots more! Details of the programme are given below, and on the Tourist Board Facebook page: Božićni Gradić Jelsa.
Apart from the Christmas celebrations
Hvar has always been blessed with mild winters in general, and it’s during the winter months that you can really get to know how the island ‘breathes’ and the islanders live, when they’re not working flat out to fulfil the demands of the tourist season.
It’s a really good time to explore the beauty of Hvar by bicycle or on foot. You can get a free map detailing the footpaths and cycle tracks from the Jelsa Tourist Board office.
There are also many interesting and unusual activities to enjoy during the winter, alongside the attractions of the Advent programme. We particularly recommend:
- Cycling (for guided tours, call Grgo of ‘Natural Hvar‘ on +38591 376 8050
- The ‘7 capsules of Hvar Island Project’. For reservations, call Dalibor of ‘Villas Hvar‘ on+38591 895 7733
- Chocolate-making workshops (a must for chocaholics!). For reservations call Fedra of ‘Gamulin Chocolates’ on +38592 142 4841
- Visit to an oil mill with a tasting of different olive oils . For reservations call Petra of ‘Uljara Božić on +38591 761 1821
- Tastings of Hvar wines. For reservations, contact via the website www.hvar-otok-vina.org
- Visit to the Grabac Cave near Humac. For reservations call Jakov Rubinić on +38599 577 1770
- Rock climbing. For reservations call Roče on +38521 761 223
- The Jelsa Adventure Park. For reservations call Stipe on +38598 172 3932 (Stipe)
ADVENT IN JELSA : THE PROGRAMME
Celebrations extend from December the 3rd to the 31st, 2021.
Venues: Christmas Village in Jelsa’s main Park; events also in the Jelsa Council Festivities Hall, the main Square (Pjaca), Prošperin Café, the Step Up café/eatery, the Pelinje Sports Hall, and the Bowling Alley at Pelinje, with the Christmas Masses celebrated in Jelsa’s Parish Church of Our Lady’s Assumption
Opening times: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 17:00 to 00:00, and as otherwise stated
Preliminary event: 28.11.2021 Sunday
19:00: Lighting of the first Advent Candle, in the Park
1st Weekend 3.12. – 5.12.2021
Advent booths serving wine and food
Mini fun activities for children and adults in the Park: Bubble football, FootPool, mini-cars, combat on a balance beam, laser tag.
3.12. Friday
17:00: Opening of the Christmas Village in Jelsa’s main Park, with live music by the ‘Flora’ band.
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
4.12. Saturday
19:00: ROMEO AND JULIET, the play (in Croatian) in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
20:00: Live music from the ‘Flora’ band, in the Christmas Village in the Park
22:00: DJ programme, in the Park
5.12. Sunday
18:00: Tombola in the Christmas Village
19:00: Lighting of the second Advent Candle
19:00: ‘WHEN HANDS ARE SILENT’ (‘Kad ruke šute’) dance performance, in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
2nd Weekend 10.12. – 12.12.
Advent booths serving wine and food
Mini fun activities for children and adults in the Park: Bubble football, FootPool, mini-cars, combat on a balance beam, laser tag.
10.12. Friday
19:00: Book fair with the Jelsa Library in the Christmas Village
19:00: ‘BRAČNO SAVJETOVALIŠTE’ (‘Marriage Counselling’, play in Croatian) in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
20:00: Poetry, wine and chocolate, in the Prošperin Café
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
11.12 . Saturday
19:00: TESTAMENT, play (in Croatian) in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
12.12. Sunday
18:00: Tombola in the Christmas Village
19:00 : Lighting of the third Advent Candle
19:00: ‘ŽABA’ (‘THE FROG’, play in Croatian), in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
3rd Weekend 17.12. – 19.12.
Advent booths serving wine and food
Mini fun activities for children and adults in the Park: Bubble football, FootPool, mini-cars, combat on a balance beam, laser tag.
17.12. Friday
16:00: New Year five-a-side football tournament for seniors in the Jelsa Park
19:00: Book Fair with the Jelsa Library in the Christmas Village
20:00: Stand up comedy – ‘SPLICKA SCENA’ (in Croatian), in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
18.12. Saturday
16:00: New Year five-a-side football tournament for seniors in the Jelsa Park
18:00: Tombola in the Christmas Village
19:00: ‘GRIJEH ‘ (‘The Sin’ play (in Croatian) based on Émile Zola’s novel ‘The Sin of Father Mouret’, in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
19.12. Sunday
18:00: ‘BAJKAONICA’ (‘Fairytale corner’, in Croatian), interactive play for children, in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
19:00 : Lighting of the fourth Advent Candle
19:00: ‘MAGICAL CHRISTMAS DANCING’, dance performance by the ‘Udruga Karnevol’, in the Pelinje Sports Hall
22:00 : DJ programme in the Park
21.12. Tuesday
19:00: Christmas concert staged by the Jelsa branch of the Hatze Music School, in Jelsa Council’s Festivities Hall
4th Weekend 24.12 – 26-12
24.12.2021 Friday
10:30: Bakalar (salt-cod stew) on Jelsa’s main Square (Pjaca)
10:45: Father Christmas arrives with his elfin entourage
20:00: Jingle Bells, at the Step Up cafe/eatery
22:00: Midnight Mass, in the Jelsa Parish Church of Our Lady’s Assumption
25.12. Saturday
10:00: Christmas, in the Jelsa Parish Church of Our Lady’s Assumption
20:00: Christmas party (with local live music) at the Step Up cafe/eatery
26.12. Sunday
20:00: After-Christmas Party, at the Step Up cafe/eatery
New Year’s Eve 31.12.2021 Friday
Midday New Year celebrations in Jelsa’s Christmas Village :
11:00 Tombola
12:00: Celebratory waltzing organized by KUD, the Jelsa folklore group
19:00: New Year celebrations at the covered bowling alley next to the Pelinje Sports Hall.
THE PRACTICALITIES
Accommodation. You can find accommodation through www.booking.com or www.airbnb.com , or you can contact renters directly through our website on this link: https://visitjelsa.hr/en/accommodation/
How to get to Jelsa:
Catamaran: Split – Jelsa, Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays at 16:00 from Split; Fridays and Saturdays: 16:30. (Note: this timetable runs to 31st December 2021; in extremely rough weather the catamaran departures may be cancelled)
Ferry: Split – Stari Grad, daily at 08:30, 14:30 and 20:30. (Note: the 08:30 ferry from Split does not run on December 25th and 26th, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.)
Returning to Split:
Catamaran: Jelsa – Split, every weekday 06:00 from Jelsa harbour; Saturdays 07:00, Sundays and Public Holidays 13:00.
Ferry: Stari Grad – Split, daily 05:30, 11:30 17:30. (Note: the 05:30 ferry from Stari Grad does not run on December 25th and 26th, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.)
Besides the ports at Jelsa and Stari Grad, you can also reach Hvar Island via the ferry link between Drvenik and Sućuraj, and the catamaran link between Split and Hvar Town. You can check the details of the Jadrolinija fleet timetables on the Jadrolinija website: https://www.jadrolinija.hr/en/redovi-plovidbe-i-cijene/local-lines-2021
