With public festivals, high level meetings, conservation tasks, boating adventures, live music, competitions and the best fish soup in the country, Serbia's Danube Day will get everyone thinking and taking action for the Danube rivers. 100 organisations are involved in more than 60 events in 10 towns including: Belgrade, Vinca, Novi Sad, Kraljevo, Pancevo, Smederevo, Donji Milanovac, Golubac, Negotin and Kladovo. 

Belgrade: Sava Day (1 June 2009)

The 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin sees ministers form Slovenia, Serbia Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, the European Commission, UN, ICPDR and other partners gather at the Palata Srbijato to discuss the recent work of the Sava Commission and ratify the Protocol on the Prevention of Water Pollution (concerning inland navigation).

Belgrade: Danube Day festival (27 June 2009)

Fun, action, information and festivities in Belgrade - events kick off in the morning at Zemun Quay (10.00am-1.00 pm). Come along to the river clean-up action and you'll not only be tidying up your own city but also preventing the rubbish from travelling across Eastern Europe to the Black Sea. Visitors will be able to enjoy a boat trip around Great War Island, take the family to the special children's show, "Blow-fly fortress on the Danube'', and view age-old Danube traditions and crafts. There's an arts workshop for children with special needs and live music to get you dancing for the Danube, courtesy of the band, Gora. There'll be a chance to learn more about the Danube and its second biggest tributary, the Sava, as well as find out what else you can do to help your rivers at info stands on waste recycling and water conservation.

Danube Art Master competition (ongoing until 27 June 2009)

A highlight of the Belgrade celebration (see above) will be the culmination of the search to find Serbia's young Danube Art Master for 2009. Serbia's competition is being run by the Zora ecological organisation and the best 10 river related artworks will be announced at the Belgrade festival. The overall winner will be crowned the 2009 Serbian Art Master and go onto the international stage of the competition.

Belgrade: Fish Fest 2009 (26-28 June 2009)

Cooks compete to make the best fish soup in this Danube competition - you're assured of a great feast.

Danube boating safaris (27 June 2009)

Students from Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad universities are guaranteed a fabulous day out as they tour the Danube and Sava by boat, visiting Great War Island and learning about the region as part of the Danube Day celebrations.

Belgrade: Celebrating Danube journeys of the past (27-29 June 2009)

The "Exhibition of Navigation of the Danube in the 19th and 20th Centuries" will examine the importance of the Danube as a key shipping route.

Great War Island, Belgrade: Danube eco camps (15-29 July 2009)

Celebrations continue into July when 60 students take part in 2 week-long Danube Eco Camps.

Greet the Danube horn blast (29 June 2009; 14:00)

The sound of ship horns will reverberate across Serbia and the Danube Basin at 14:00 on Danube Day as Danube workers pay a very special tribute to their river. The annual Greet the Danube ship blast will see ships along the Danube from Germany to Ukraine simultaneously sound their horns in a salute to the rivers.

Other events across Serbia (June - July 2009)

Regional events focus on engaging children in respect for their rivers and the people and wildlife of the entire Danube Basin.

Vinca (26 June): art workshops and exhibitions, flower market, public ceremony to pay tribute to the Danube rivers (on the Bolecica River) and river clean-up day.

Pancevo (29 June): 2009 marks 100 years since the building of Pancevo's twin lighthouses, located at the confluence of the Danube and Tamis. Highlighting the importance of these rare and culturally important structures, a major celebration will take place on Danube Day, with other events continuing throughout the year.

Donji Milanovac (20-25 June): "Danube My Sea'' creative sand art and paper boats workshop, culminating in an exhibition and folk evening (26th June).

Smederevo (25-29 June): children's workshop; chess/sports contests; riverside walk and clean-up and art exhibitions. 27th June sees the 4th Festival of Danube Folklore bringing together more than 7 Danube countries including Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Serbia.

Golubac (26 June-12 July): Children from Smederevo, Bela Crkva, Veliko Gradiste, Golubac and Donji Milanovac will take to the water and learn how to sail on the Danube at "Camp 2009".

Kraljevo (27 June): Rafting on the Ibar River from Maglica to Kraljevo.

Novi Sad: School workshops on water resources (15-25 June) followed by a week-long festival to promote Danube and Vojvodina canal navigation with fish cookery contests, an art exhibition, press tour and regatta (22-29 June).

Negotin (6 June): regatta from Mihajlovac to Kusjak followed by a fish cookery competition and rock concert.

Kladovo: Danube bike camp (11 June); Fetislam Fortress children's art workshop (27-28 June); Danube Day festival with regatta, Tekija to Hajducka vodenica excursion, sports events, fish cookery and Djerdap Reservoir boat trip (29 June); ceramics/weaving exhibition in the Stara Varos Tourist Info Centre (22 June-5 July).

Download the fact sheet

For more details of the events and organisers, download the Serbian fact sheet: Danube Day in Serbia 61 KB

Further information

For the latest news, please contact:

Marija Lazarevic of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Water Directorate. Tel: +381 11 201 33 57; email: marija.lazarevic [at] minpolj [dot] gov [dot] rs. See also: www.minpolj.gov.rs.

For further details of the Danube Art Master competition, please contact Ivana Nikolic of the Zora ecological organization of Kostolac. Tel: +381 63 275 433; email: ivana.nikolic80 [at] hotmail [dot] com. 

To see how Serbia celebrated Danube Day in 2008, click on Review 2008.

Related links

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management: www.minpolj.gov.rs

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