As the Croatian community in Victoria prepares for one of its most heartwarming cultural events, excitement is building for the 8th Victorian Children’s Folkloric Zabava. Celebrating folklore and tradition, the zabava will be celebrated on Saturday, 2nd August 2025 at the Croatian Catholic Centre in Sunshine, a venue known for its vibrant folklore celebrations.
This vibrant celebration of heritage, music, and dance brings together the youngest members of our community. Many of them have spent months learning, rehearsing, and embracing traditions passed through generations of folklore enthusiasts.
Spotlight on Tradition
In the lead-up to the big day, we sat down with Kata Markov, president of Folklorna grupa Mladi Hrvati – Clifton Hill. We wanted to learn more about the significance of this event, the hard work behind the scenes, and why this zabava is a special occasion for the Croatian-Australian community, especially for those involved in folklore arts.
Can you tell us which children’s folklore groups will be performing at this year’s zabava?
All four Croatian folkloric groups from Victoria will come together to celebrate the youngest performers from our folklore community. These include FG Mladi Hrvati, FA Zvonimir, FA Hrvatska Zora and HKUD Lado Geelong.
What age groups will we see performing, and roughly how many young dancers and musicians will be taking the stage?
Ages range from 4 – 12 years old. Approximately 100 kids will perform at the zabava.
Do you have any surprise guest performers joining the celebration?
We really love to support the younger generation of up-and-coming Croatian performers and artists in the community. Additionally, this is the ideal platform for them to show off their talents. We hope to have someone locked in. However, you’ll have to wait and see!
What makes this zabava special for children who aren’t familiar with Croatian culture?
This one’s all about the kids! It’s a fantastic opportunity for children and families to get together. They can immerse themselves in Croatian culture and folklore in a fun and engaging way. Maybe they’ve been interested in Croatian dancing or wanting to connect with the community. This is the perfect way to see what it’s all about in a relaxed environment. After an inspiring weekend at the Croatian Folkloric Arts Festival, we are excited to keep the momentum going.
What makes this zabava even more special is the variety of fun activities for kids. We’ll have face painting, a Lucky Dip, and exciting raffle prizes. Furthermore, there will be great live music appealing to all ages, ensuring there’s something for everyone. It’s a chance for the young ones to learn about Croatian customs, make new friends, and have a great time. We can’t wait for the junior groups to perform and share their passion and talent with the audience!
We noticed you’ve announced ‘The Last Man Standing Raffle’ as part of the zabava. Can you tell us more about how this raffle works and what prizes will be available?”
The Last Man Standing raffle is an exciting and popular fundraising raffle. It is also known as a reverse raffle because tickets are drawn from the barrel. The last three tickets left in the barrel are the winners. The last ticket, of course, is known as the ‘last man standing!’ We are excited to give the lucky winner a $10,000 voucher of their choice. Tickets are $100 each. Contact Elena if you are interested in buying a ticket – 0413 337 710
Supporting Young Artists
The 8th Victorian Children’s Folkloric Zabava represents months of dedication, practice, and cultural learning by young Croatian-Australians. Come and support these talented children as they proudly display their heritage through the art of traditional dance and music rooted in folklore.
More Information:
Organised by: FG Mladi Hrvati Clifton Hill
Contact: Kata Markov
Email: info@mladihrvati.com.au
Phone: 0452 660 506
Tickets: $60 Adults, $30 Kids (5 – 12yrs) l, Under 5 – free (no seat allocation)
Booking: Contact Rose on 0 0417 582 107
Follow them on social media for updates:
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/share/16NYqRTXa1/
Instagram: fgmladihrvati
Related story: Croatian Folklore – The Beating Heart of the Croatian Community