The largest traditional fair in Istria and Kvarner – the 18th Učka Fair (Učkarski samanj) – will once again take place on the first Sunday in September, September 6, at its well-known location in Učka Nature Park, at the Poklon Pass. The event will feature a sales and exhibition area, a gastronomic section, activities for children, and a rich cultural and entertainment programme.

Around 50 exhibitors, associations and organisations from Istria County and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County will take part in the event. Visitors will be guided through the programme by Robert Ferlin, while Poklon will offer a rich cultural and entertainment programme headlined by Koktelsi, Nola and L’Amour Band.

The Učka Fair promotes the cultural and natural heritage of the protected area of Učka Nature Park and its surroundings, while supporting local producers of traditional products. Once again, the fair will showcase traditional products from both sides of Mount Učka, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the heritage of Istria and Kvarner through presentations by associations dedicated to preserving the traditional culture of the region, as well as demonstrations of traditional crafts and indigenous animal breeds.

EVENT SCHEDULE

MAIN STAGE

11:00 – David Beletić Accordion School

12:00 – Pazin Folklore Ensemble

12:30 – Klapa Luka, Rijeka

14:30 – NOLA

16:00 – Istrian Cattle (Boškarin) Presentation

17:30 – KOKTELSI

Host: Robert Ferlin

POKLON VISITOR CENTER

Conference Hall

10:00–20:00 – Art exhibition by Franko Tončinić, “Old Croatian Deities”

Education Hall

14:00 – Lecture: SILVO KARO – “Fast and Easy”

Mountain Bar Terrace

12:00–17:00 – L’AMOUR BAND

Poklon Visitor Centre Interactive Exhibition

09:00–19:00 – Discounted admission
Adults – EUR 6.50
Children aged 7–18 – EUR 3.50
Pensioners and students – EUR 4.00
Children under 7 and persons with disabilities – free admission

OUTDOOR THEATRE

11:30 and 12:30 – Children’s play “Goga the Centipede”, performed by Teatro Poco Loco

START OF THE POKLON–VOJAK HIKING TRAIL

10:00–19:30 – Archery workshop and armour exhibition by the Zorya School

GETTING TO THE FAIR

BY CAR

During the Učka Fair, traffic on the road across Mount Učka will be one-way from Istria towards Kvarner, from 9:00 to 21:00.

Upon presenting a voucher, fair visitors will be able to use the Učka Tunnel at a special sponsored toll rate. The discounted toll of EUR 1.50 is made possible by BINA Istra.

Visitors arriving from the Kvarner side can collect a voucher entitling them to the discounted toll when exiting the motorway and paying at the Vranja toll plaza. Please inform the toll booth operator that you are heading to the fair.

Visitors arriving from the Istrian side can collect a voucher at a designated point in Vela Učka before reaching the fair. When paying the toll on the way back from the fair, visitors must use the manual toll lane and present the voucher.

Getting to the fair from Kvarner: Učka Tunnel → Vranja toll plaza → Vela Učka → Poklon → return via Veprinac

Vouchers for the tunnel can be collected at the toll booths when paying the tunnel toll. Please inform the toll booth operator that you are heading to the fair.

Getting to the fair from Istria: Vranja toll plaza → Vela Učka → Poklon → return via Veprinac → Učka Tunnel

Vouchers for the tunnel can be collected at the designated point in Vela Učka.

Please follow the temporary traffic signs and the instructions of official personnel.

BY BUS

For visitors to the 18th Učka Fair, a free special bus service will operate from Opatija (Slatina) to Poklon. The service is operated by BRIONI PULA.

Departures from Opatija (Slatina bus stop):
09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00

Departures from Učka (Poklon bus stop):
10:45, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 13:45, 14:45, 15:45, 16:45, 17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45, 20:15

ON FOOT – HIKING

The fair can also be reached on foot, with a guided hike organised by the Opatija Mountaineering Club from Opatija and the Knezgrad Mountaineering Club from Lovran.

Meeting point: 10:00 in front of the Liganj Community Centre.

The estimated arrival at Poklon is around 13:00, with the planned return from Poklon at 17:00.

FOOD & DRINK

Three food and drink points will offer visitors a rich selection of local cuisine and refreshments.

EXHIBITION & SALES PROGRAMME

More than 50 producers and associations from Istria County and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County will present their products, services and traditional crafts at the exhibition and sales stands, as well as indigenous animal breeds, including sheep, Istrian cattle (boškarin), cows, donkeys and goats.

As every year, part of the fair will be dedicated to nature conservation, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about other nature parks and protected plant and animal species.

Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner
Photo by Petar Kurschner

Did you know?

The griffon vulture feeding site

…that griffon vultures, endangered in Croatia, are often flying over Učka in search for food? Once they were nesting here, but today their northern-Adriatic population is decreasing and in order to help in their preservation, a feeding site was build in Učka Nature Park, popularly called 'griffon vulture restaurants'.

The „Two towers“ trail

…that in 2018 a trail named „Two towers“ was established, which connects the town tower in Lovran with the Vojak tower on Učka? The trail goes through the existing hiking trail, and alongside there are educational boards that inform visitors on the flora and fauna of Učka.

The Roman cheese

…that it is traditional on Učka to produce the „molded“ sheep cheese of distinctive taste since the Roman Empire time? Its production was standardized due to its use in the nutrition of the Roman legions, while today's cheese made on Učka doesn't differ much from its antique ancestor.

Slavic mythology

…that the Mošćenička Draga's canyon used to be the scenery of sacred beliefs for the first Slavic settlers on the Kvarner area? The local toponyms like Perun, Babin grob and Voloski kuk witness about the old Slavic cult of Perun.