On 2nd August 2025 in the HKC Sunshine hall, following Holy Mass for young people, the ‘8th annual children’s folkloric zabava’ commenced. This year the hosts were members of FG Mladi Hrvati from Clifton Hill.
Following a welcoming address by president Kata Markov, who emphasised the beauty and pride of preserving Croatian folklore heritage in Australia by passing on knowledge and love for folklore to younger generations, a rich folklore programme began featuring Croatian folklore groups from Victoria.
Welcomed with tremendous applause and accompanied by ovations after each performance and choreography, the following groups performed:
HKUD Lado Geelong Juniors with the arrangement “Djeca bi se igrala”,
HFA Zvonimir Juniors with songs and dances from Međimurje,
FA Hrvatska Zora, ‘maleni’ – with children’s games,
FG Mladi Hrvati Juniors with ‘Zadarski tanac’,
FA Hrvatska Zora middle group, with songs and dances from Međimurje,
HKUD Lado Geelong Intermediates with dances from Croatian Zagorje
HFA Zvonimir Intermediates with ‘kolo from Ražanac’,
FA Hrvatska Zora, ‘pripremni’, with songs and dances from Baranja and
FG Mladi Hrvati Intermediates with dances from Posavina.
The invested effort, time and love were evident in every dance step as well as in the musical notes that resonated from the stage. The celebration continued with the group Akord, a sumptuous dinner and later with the sounds of the accordion by special guest, young Tomislav Kvesić.
The organisers gave special thanks to their main sponsors as well as donors for tombola prizes, cakes and everyone who helped to round off another successful folklore celebration which confirms the richness and guarantee of a new generation that will continue to carry forward our culture and tradition in beautiful Croatian costumes alongside the beauty of dance choreographies from Croatian regions.
For as the motto of FG Mladi Hrvati states: “Na mladima svijet ostaje!”
Photos: Suzana Fantov
