Awaken your inner child at Pika’s Festival in Velenje

Usually, one of the first association people get about Slovenia is a stunning green landscape with reflections of grey mountains in clear-water lakes. Sounds almost like from a fairy-tale, right? But, as I have previously pointed out, this is only a part of what our small, yet charming country has to offer. Almost every Slovenian town has at least one typical event or characteristic, which creates a unique experience for its visitors. The fifth-largest Slovenian city, Velenje, is no exception. As the hot summer season starts fading away, every year in September, the city becomes home of the famous book heroine Pippi Longstocking, known as Pika Nogavička in Slovenian. That is when Pika's Festival or Pikin Festival begins, inviting people of all ages to join in and awaken their inner child.

Where it all started

Velenje is not only the home the unique Slovenian coal mining museum but also the place where the deepest artificial lake in the country, Lake Velenje, is located. The city has become a popular tourist destination, growing more and more known after the annual Pika's Festival, the biggest children’s event in Slovenia. The event usually takes place in a large hall, as well as smaller tents and other sites on a large meadow in the proximity to Lake Velenje. In honour of the festival's 30th anniversary in 2019, the event took place in the city's main event hall and on the main square, which was the original location at the very start of the festival's organisation. 

Eat pancakes and get creative

Numerous creative workshops and other activities take place inside, for example, sewing, braid making, dance and puppet performances, concerts, exhibitions and other. A lot is going on outside as well. Stands with ice cream and delicious sweets, as well as various other products and experiences regarding the festival can be seen, bought or tried along the way. We, of course, cannot forget about a famous symbol of the festival - Pippi's pancakes, known as "Pikine čalapinke".

During the week-long Pika’s Festival, more than 80.000 people come to Velenje to see the one and only Pippi Longstocking walking around, playing and greeting people. Spending some quality time with friends and family surrounded by creative and educational workshops and green environment - it's a great way to finish the summer. You can take a walk around the beautiful Lake Velenje, where you will get to see white swans and awaken your inner child while participating or observing the cheerful activities of the festival. With various cultural events, consisting of literature, theatre, art and history, there are many more, which you can visit in Slovenia throughout the year. For example, when the Slovene Book Days Festival takes place, domestic and foreign literature is being celebrated and appreciated in different cities of our country. And there is, of course, also the famous Ana Desetnica Festival, when theatre enters and lights up Slovenian streets.

Velenje, Slovenia

3320 Velenje, Slovenia

Pika's Festival (Pikin Festival)

3320 Velenje, Slovenia