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This article was developed within the program Venture an Idea funded by the USAID.
It's that time of year again. Holidays are being planned, presents are exchanged, and New Year stamp is written all over the European cities. Belgrade and Novi sad are no exceptions; there's a little something at every corner to remind you what lies ahead.
The capital outperformed itself this year with the Winter Fairytale festival taking over the newly renovated Sava Park. On some 1.000 square meters (eye-foot approximation), the city has lined stalls, hobbit houses, ice skating rink, a concert stage, an open-air cinema, and an entire gingerbread town to get lost in.
Having been there on two separate occasions (missed the concerts both times, though), we decided to convince you do the same.
What to See at Winter Fairytale Fest?
Open until January 8th, the program at the fest is just getting warmed up. If the best burgers or the hottest hot chocolate, mulled wine, and tea in town aren't enough for you, then maybe the following events will be.
Open-Air Cinema
The movie season at the fest started with The Grinch and will end with The Nutcracker and the Four Realms on January 8th. Lots of Christmas movies in between, from the nail-biting Home Alone to the Disney’s evergreen A Christmas Carol. Grab a cup of tea from the nearby tea house and entrust your weight to the charm of straw seats (comfier than they sound).
Entrance free of charge.
| Movie | Date | Time |
| Four Christmases | December 28th | 8 p.m. |
| Polar Express | December 30th | 8 p.m. |
| Night at the Museum | January 4th | 8 p.m. |
| Home Alone | January 5th | 8 p.m. |
| Disney’s A Christmas Carol | January 6th | 8 p.m. |
| The Family Stone | January 7th | 8 p.m. |
| The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | January 8th | 8 p.m. |
Concerts
Concerts abound, too. There’s something for everyone – from Serbian traditional music to Rock’n’roll. Here’s a table of music events at the fest, with a little description of what to expect from each.
The entrance is, once again, free of charge.
| Event | Date | Time | What to Expect |
| Filip Pat | Dec 26th | 6 p.m. | Upbeat, violine |
| Gospon Tamburaši | Dec27th
January 2nd |
6 p.m. | 7-men tambourine orchestra |
| Ivan Bosiljčić | Dec 30th | 6 p.m. | Singing, poetry reading |
| Željko I Bane | Dec 28th.
January 4th |
6 p.m. | Traditional music, accordion + tambourine |
| Bisera Veletanić | 3 p.m. | Jazz, Schlager | |
| Miloš Mirić Trio | Dec 29th | 6 p.m. | Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Eric Clapton, and the like |
| SAXPERIENCE Project | January 3rd | 6 p.m. | DJ/funky/saxophone freestyle |
| Marko Louis | January 5th | 6 p.m. | Pop singer & songwriter |
| Novosadski Big Band -Rock Show | January 8th | 6 p.m. | Rock’n’roll Baby! |
What Else to See?
Winter Fairytale Fest Is hardly the only event during the festive season. There’s something happening left, right, and center. Here goes.
New Year Film Matinee
Not too keen on Christmas movies? Then maybe MTS Hall is more up your alley, with film projections during the daytime. They are, once again, FoC.
| Film | Date | Time |
| Mon chat et moi, la grande aventure de RroĂ» (A Cat's Life) | December 27th | 11 a.m. |
| Talk to Me | December 27th | 12 a.m. |
| Les Enfants des autres (Other People's Children) | December 28th | 11 a.m. |
| Holy Spider | December 28th | 12 a.m. |
| Saint Omer | December 29th | 11 a.m. |
| Past Lives | December 29th | 12 a.m. |
| Butcher’s Crossing | December 30th | 11 a.m. |
| Houria | December 30th | 12 a.m. |
New Year’s Eve at Novi Sad
And our pick for New Year’s Eve is definitely the Old Town near Petrovaradin Fort in Novi Sad. Catherine Finch, Richard Galliano, and A Filetta will be joined by Buč Kesidi local indie rock band, and illumined by Tesla Light Gallery.
The program wraps up with DJ Frenk Rodžer, DJ Dejan Milićević (9:30 p.m.), Elemental (10 p.m.), and Partybreakers (11:30 p.m.).
Happy holidays!
This article is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this program are the responsibility of Nova Iskra and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government