Colors of Budva - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Budva attracts travelers not only by its unique attractions, but also by interesting national holidays. Within year the city hosts several large celebrations, some of which may seem rather unexpected and original to tourists. A truly great food festival takes place on October 2. It is called The Day of Mackerel. The venue of the festival remains unchanged. This is the beach located in the historic district of the city.

On the day of the festival several dozens of barbecues are installed on the beach. Here skilled chefs prepare delicious food all day long. As it is not hard to guess, various fish dishes remain the main food of the day. The Day of Mackerel is quite an old holiday. The locals have celebrated it for more than 50 years. The festival traditionally attracts a lot of locals and travelers, who walk on the beach until late in the evening, enjoy music and funny performances.

Tourists who are lucky enough to visit Budva in April will be able to participate in the grand Spring Masquerade. Both locals and tourists are welcome to participate in this national celebration. Everyone is welcome to buy unusual masquerade costumes in local shops and go for a walk through the streets of the city. The celebration is attended by both adults and children, which makes the masquerade even more interesting and colorful. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The fair of Montenegrin souvenirs remains one of the most attractive events for travelers. The fair is held in late April in a suburban area of Budva. The exhibition features the works of artisans from all over the country, so the choice of souvenirs at the fair is really great. Here visitors can purchase handmade bowls, various home decorations and objects of art. Many people attend the exhibition as a museum, because all the items present there are truly unique products.

Fans of fun and dancing should visit the city in May as they will be able to visit the famous Carnival of Budva. During several days the squares of the city host interesting performances, ceremonial parades and processions. Participants of the festival spend a whole year preparing for the event, so their costumes are true works of art. Fans of music will surely fall in love with the music festival called Songs of the Mediterranean, which is held annually in June. The event is attended not only by Montenegrin, but also by numerous foreign artists. They make the festival a significant international event.

The city on the Adriatic coast is primarily attractive for its location, and therefore locals have long been accustomed to the influx of tourists. Residents of Montenegro's resort capital are always ready to help, despite being naturally restraint. Their character is somewhat pragmatic, steadfast and straightforward. At the same time, they have a relaxed attitude to life and know how to appreciate every moment. Indeed, there is no need to rush here - the impeccably clean blue waters of the Adriatic Sea are inadvertently hinting at it. Another distinguishing feature of the local residents is non-punctuality. But do not blame them for this - the fact is that it is customary in the city, and there's nothing to be done about it.

Like in any other country, there are also some taboo topics here. And the question of national unity is one of them. The thing is that a single wrong word against their beloved country can greatly offend a local resident. After all, Montenegro is the best country in the world for them, and there is no point in arguing about it. However, tourists themselves quickly agree with this, because is not so easy to resist the will of the indigenous people - especially when you can see the unbelievably beautiful expanses of Budva.

Budva's as well as Montenegro's cuisine is distinguished by the predominance of seafood, dairy products, cheese, and meat. Traditional dishes that are worth trying are chorba (a very thick soup with various ingredients), popara (cheese, butter and milk added to bread), ḳaymaḳ (a dairy product similar to clotted cream), cicvara (cheese mixed with corn flour ), brav u mlijeku (lamb in milk), cevapcici (sausages from minced meat with spices and onions), palacinka (pancakes with various fillings). And, of course, we should not forget about such a drink as wine. While in Budva, be sure to taste such wines as Vranac, Krstac, Nikshichko.

Festivals in the resort capital of Montenegro are just as attractive as its cuisine. Thus, one of the most authentic of them is Budva Fest - a folk music festival held in early June. Besides a rich music program, theatrical and dance performances from different age groups are prepared for the audience. And all this by folk performers from all over Europe. Particular attention is paid to the culture of Montenegro, and therefore a visit to the festival is a great chance to get acquainted with the local culture. And, of course, such events bring representatives of different nationalities together like never before.

In the middle of July, Yaz Beach in Budva becomes a venue for Sea Dance music festival. This time is filled with crazy emotions - no one stands aside, because people are entertained by the most talented and incendiary DJs. As a rule, most of them are known not only to avid fans of this music genre. That is why the event is considered a godsend for all clubbers. However, besides techno rave, here you can hear other genres like pop and reggae diluting the dance music.

The end of March in Budva is marked by International Tourism Fair known as Metubes. During this period you can meet entrepreneurs working in the tourism market, so visiting the exhibition is an excellent opportunity to get a good business deal. Grad Teatar Budva starting in late July and lasting until the end of August would be of interest to those who prefer cultural pastime to all other entertainments. It is held not in a traditional theater but in the open air, turning the city itself into a theater scene.

A unique event takes place at the end of July. It is recommended to everyone who wants to get as close acquainted with the culture of Budva as possible. We are talking about Petrovačka noć. This time is marked by public festivities, competitions, musical shows. All visitors are offered a gastronomic program (basically, you can try fish, as the fishing season is in full swing here). Halloween is widely celebrated in Budva, traditionally falling at the end of October. During this time, the Square of Poets in the Old Town looks like a witches’ sabbath. However, the holiday bringing incredible fun is marked by all kinds of competitions and a rich cultural program.