Pika's Festival

The main characters of the festival: Pippi and Captain Longstocking, Annika, Tommy, and the Pirate, Pika’s Festival 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

Established in 1990, Pika's Festival is the most popular event in Velenje and the largest children's festival that attracts its audience from all over Slovenia. Although planned from the outset as an event for children, it is also popular with parents and teachers. Since 2008, it has been organized by the municipal Festival Velenje public cultural organization.

The festival is named after the heroine Pippi Longstocking (Swedish Pippi Langstrumpf, Slovene Pika Nogavička), a fictional character in a series of children's books created by author Astrid Lindgren. The spirit of Pippi/Pika as an unconventional and extraordinarily strong heroine pervades the festival in Velenje, which aims to develop the imaginations of children as well as adults. Humanity and tolerance towards diversity and otherness are also encouraged. The educational component of the project relates to culture as well as ecology, ethnology, anthropology, new media, and technologies.

Pika Nogavička (Pippi Longstocking) rides on her horse Alfred at Pika’s Festival in 2023. Author: Ksenija Mikor

Pika's Festival features exhibitions, theatre, dance and puppet performances, concerts, and many workshops. The festival's program is a unique combination of cultural programs from Slovene professional theatres, local cultural institutions, and organizations, and performing groups and artists. It is supported by the Municipality of Velenje but also generates income through donations, sponsorship, grants, and sales.

Giraffes visiting Pika’s Festival, 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

Pika’s Festival at main city square in Velenje, 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

The theme of the Pika’s Festival in 2024, when the Municipality of Velenje is chosen as the holder of the European Green Leaf title, is environmentally and sustainably oriented with the slogan Sustainably mischievous (Trajnostno nagajivi).

34. Pikin festival by Festival Velenje on YouTube

External links

Pika's Festival website (in Slovenian)

Gallery

Concert by Slovenian pop singer Alya at Pika’s Festival in 2023. Author: Ksenija Mikor

Children's theater performance Kokoška Emilija at Pika’s Festival 2023. Author: Staš Gregorič

Pippi, riding backwards on her bicycle, Pika’s Festival 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

Pika Nogavička (Pippi Longstocking) rides on her horse Alfred at Pika’s Festival in 2023. Author: Ksenija Mikor

Pippi in the mirror, Pika’s Festival 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

The main characters of the festival: Pippi and Captain Longstocking, Annika, Tommy, and the Pirate, Pika’s Festival 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

Pika’s Festival at main city square in Velenje, 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

Giraffes visiting Pika’s Festival, 2022. Author: Peter Žagar

Pippi and the Pirat, Pika’s Festival 2023. Author: Ksenija Mikor

Beauty salons in Pippi's town offer services such as drawing freckles on children's cheeks and creating ponytails similar to Pipi's signature style. Author: Ksenija Mikor

Pika's Festival

See also

External links

Gallery

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