Children’s Festival (Velenje)

Velenje is a town in the Šalek valley, in northern Slovenia, built mostly after the Second World War on the edge of a large lignite basin, and it has a young, planned and rather green character, with wide pedestrian squares, parks and lakes. Each autumn, it hosts Pikin festival, Pika's Festival, a long-running children's festival that fills the centre of town with performances, workshops and games for a week. The name comes from Pika Nogavička, the Slovene version of Pippi Longstocking, the red-haired girl created by the Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, who is beloved in Slovenia as elsewhere, and she is the spirit of the festival, which encourages imagination, curiosity and a little mischief.

The festival began in the early 1990s, and it has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in the country, attracting families from across Slovenia and from neighbouring countries. It is organised by the town's public cultural institution, and the programme aims to be both entertaining and educational. The main stages are in and around the central square, which is named after Tito from the town's earlier history, the children's playground named after Pika and a large indoor hall, known as the Red Hall, that is used for bigger performances. Streets are closed to traffic, so that children can move freely and safely, and the town centre becomes a kind of open-air playground.

The programme typically includes theatre for children and families, puppet shows, dance, music and street performances, as well as creative workshops in which children can make things, experiment with science and technology or learn about nature and the environment. Environmental awareness is a recurring theme, and organisers have worked to reduce waste at the event. Many of the performances are in Slovene, but visual shows, music and puppetry can be enjoyed by anyone, and the cheerful atmosphere needs no translation. Entry to many events is free or low-cost, but some performances need tickets, and it is wise to check the programme in advance.

The festival usually takes place in early autumn, so it is best to look up the dates for the year and book accommodation early, since the town fills up. Velenje has other attractions that work well with children. The Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia offers an underground tour, the Velenje Museum (Muzej Velenje) in the castle presents local history, the Soncni Park is a pleasant green space, and the Tito Statue stands in the main square. The town's lakes, formed by subsidence over the mine, are good for walking, cycling and swimming in summer.