What's Festival Lent?
With 25 years of tradition Festival Lent is one of the oldest and largest open-air festivals in central Europe, which turns Maribor into a giant open-air stage and a buzzing meeting place for people from all over the globe. Each June the medieval Lent district at the Drava River, the historic squares, picturesque streets of the Old town and even the mighty city park emerge as festival venues bursting with art, culture and creativity.
Who's been here?
Music giants and legends, such as B.B. King, James Brown, Ray Charles and Stephane Grapelli as well as an array of internationally acclaimed artists, such as Macy Gray, Mercedes Sosa, Paquito D'Rivera, Bob Geldof, Dr. John, Jose Feliciano, Lester Bowie, Stephane Grapelli, David Byrne, Maynard Ferguson, Taj Mahal, Alfredo De La Fé, Alfredo Rodriguez, Malia, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Living Colour, Maceo Parker, Femi Anikulapo Kuti, Uriah Heep, Taraf de Haidouks, Omara Portuondo, Sierra Maestra, Buchweat Zydaco, Jimmy Cliff, Keziah Jones, Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra, Esma Redžepova, Šaban Bajramović, The Dubliners, Sara Tavares, Olodum, Matt Bianco, Medeski Martin & Wood, Al Di Meola, Pharoah Sanders, Maria João Ogre, Hugh Masekela, Bill Frisell, Orlando Julius, Brad Mehldau, Mark Guiliana, GoGo Penguin, Les McCann, Chico Freeman, Tania Maria, Reggie Workman, Chucho Valdes, Brad Mehldau, Benny Golson, Ray Brown, Bela Fleck, Joe Zawinul, Esbjörn Svensson, James Morrison, Kenny Wheeler, Jimmy Witherspoon, Enrico Rava, Monty Alexander, Fred Wesley, James Blood Ulmer, Ray Anderson, Cyro Baptista, Marc Ribot, Ebo Taylor, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Trilok Gurtu, Dhafer Youssef, Uwe Kropinski, Erik Truffaz, John Scofield, Tigran Hamasyan, The Skatalites, Manu Katche, Bill Evans, Tony Allen, Maria Joao, Bombino, The souljazz Orchestra, Omar Sosa and many more.
What's happening?
It’s a huge, vibrant, cross-cultural and multi-genre event where everyone can easily find something for themselves. Choose between pop, rock, jazz, classical and world music concerts, open air ballet and opera performances, musicals, folklore, contemporary dance, street theatre, stand-up comedy, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, exhibitions, arts & crafts workshops, open-air meditation and yoga classes, or just stroll along the picturesque river banks and enjoy an al’ fresco dinner at one of the numerous festival’s pop-up restaurants!
What's "lentanje"?
When visiting Lent, the thing to do is - lentanje! It means to stroll the streets of old town checking-up different venues - to mingle, grab a bite, enjoy a drink and have fun! Join more than half a million visitors claiming there’s no better way to enjoy the balmy evenings of early summer!
What's where?
To enable such diversity and vast number of events multiple venues and stages are spread all across town, the most spectacular being the Main Stage, a large floating stage on the Drava River. But have no fear: as Maribor is a small town, all of them are within a short walking distance, so venue-surfing is the thing to do!
Who's coming this year?
Where to begin? There’s so much to discover! Please check the full 2018 program at www.festival-lent.si or visit our Facebook page for all the news, highlights, offers and more.
