program Highlights
The theme of this year’s 35th festival jubilee is the celebration of the 770th anniversary of Český Krumlov, when in 1253 the name of Krumlov was first mentioned in a charter of the Moravian Margrave and the Austrian and Styrian Duke Otakar, the future Czech King Přemysl Otakar II, in which Witigo De Chrumbenowe (Vítek of Krumlov) is mentioned among the witnesses.
This theme will be most evident in Saturday’s Festive Historical Costumed Parade which will lead through the entire historic downtown area, featuring characters and costumes from the Gothic period to the early 20th century. The parade will recall the legend of the Division of the Rose with the forefather Vítek of Prčice and his sons, the most important representatives of the noble family of Rožmberk, Vilém of Rožmberk and Petr Vok of Rožmberk with his court, pond-maker and engineer Jakub Krčín, important alchemists, artists and architects, and representatives of the noble families of Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg with a group of Commedia dell’arte characters painted in the Masquerade Hall of the castle, and more.
The pageantry of the entire festive parade is complemented by historical military units, horse riders, a historical Renaissance carriage, music and dance groups, jugglers and jesters, flag bearer units, drummers, coats of arms, and banners, making the festive parade an unforgettable affair.
In addition to this daytime parade, two nighttime parades will pass through the town on Friday and Saturday under the light of torches and bonfires, with drum accompaniment and lively music.
This year, the Festival will once again host a group of lively musicians and bannermen from the Italian town of Sulmona, who will showcase their skills in the parades as well as in the accompanying program.
The accompanying historical program will be situated on the scenes in the historical center of the town and its vicinity – Svornost (Main) Square, Brewery Garden, Monastery Garden, Town Park, and Široká Street.
There will be a music stage on Svornost’ Square with concerts of local ensembles as well as bands of renowned names.
The Brewery Garden will feature a historical knight scene with a knight’s stables and demonstrations on horseback, performances of swordsmen, period dancers, and historical games. The evening will be hosted by the Petr Vok Pub with composed programs of swordsmen, musicians, dancers, jugglers, fakirs, and oriental dancers, ending with a flag and fire show.
For the first time, the town park will be a children’s scene featuring a historical military camp with a program and workshops, a theatre scene by Víťa Marčík, games, and workshops by the Legrando group and other entertainment for the whole family.
The Český Krumlov Monasteries will offer an experiential program Crafts in the monastery courtyard and historical creation full of creative workshops, where you can make your own craft product, souvenir, or attractive gift to delight yourself as well as your loved ones.
The historical craft fair will fill the entire First Castle Courtyard with almost a hundred stalls with historical goods and demonstrations of period crafts.
The Monastery Garden will feature the Garden Wine Tasting, when the team of the Český Krumlov Wine Festival® has prepared another great event with wines right at the local vineyard.
The festivities will end on Saturday before midnight with a festive fireworks display on the southern terraces of the Castle. This will be opened by an antiquity-inspired water parade of allegorical rafts floating on the Vltava River to remind us that the Five-Petalled Rose Festival is mainly set in the Renaissance period. This period was strongly inspired by antiquity and was a celebration of the joy of life, freedom of spirit, the end of the thoughts and actions of the Middle Ages, and the beginning of the modern era.
General Program
Friday 16 June
Saturday 17 June
Program may be subject to change!