What is the Mimosa Festival?
Praznik Mimoze celebrates the mimosa (silver wattle, Acacia
dealbata) — the tree that blooms bright yellow along the
Herceg Novi riviera in the middle of winter. Founded in 1969
by the Boka Kotorska Tourist Association and the Municipality
of Herceg Novi, it has grown into a multi-week
program of 50+ events: open-air concerts by the
region's biggest stars, an international carnival parade
(Herceg Novi has been a member of the Federation of European
Carnival Cities since 1991), masquerade balls, flower
exhibitions and the beloved mimosa, fish and wine
feasts along the coast.
The festival traditionally closes with the "Trial of
the Carnival" — a mock trial and symbolic burning of
the carnival effigy, blamed for all of the past year's
troubles — followed by a big closing concert on the Igalo
plaza.
Festival highlights to look for
- Mimosa harvest & fish-and-wine feasts in the riviera villages of Kumbor, Đenovići and Baošići — free fried fish, local wine and mimosa sprigs.
- International carnival parade with carnival groups from across Europe.
- Open-air concerts on the plaza in front of Hotel Igalo — recent editions featured Gibonni, Crvena Jabuka, Nina Badrić and Riblja Čorba.
- Flower exhibition at the "Dr Simo Milošević" Institute with 50+ exhibitors.
- Sports events — the Novska Skalinada stair-running race, judo and archery cups, even a game fest.
- Children's program — kids' masquerade and the "Mimosa Park" in Boka Park.
