Autumn is especially beautiful in Otočac!

The smell of chestnuts, leaves in all colors, and the inevitable pumpkins are just some reminders that autumn has arrived. And autumn in Otočac and the Gacka valley is particularly beautiful, so I was impatiently waiting for the weekend to go there.

Otočac, city park, Photo: Adria fun

I followed the weather forecast the whole week because the announcements for the weekend were that it would be rainy. However, that miraculously changed at the last moment, so Otočac welcomed me with autumn clouds and 12 degrees Celsius, but no precipitation.

Otočac, Photo: Adria fun

My arrival was the occasion of the Autumn in Otočac event, which was held for the third time in this small Lika place of immense beauty.

It all started on October 14, when the famous Osijek artist Nikola Faller set up an exhibition of his straw works in the city park. Thus, the city park was decorated with straw deer and trout, as well as flowers, ears of grain, a drum, Professor Baltazar’s strange machine, and a large inscription Gacka.

The main event took place on Saturday, October 19, when Mr. Nikola also held a workshop on making straw items for children. Small children’s hands happily helped in making various creative objects and enjoyed doing so, while parents watched what was happening from close range with smiles on their faces.

The afternoon was lively at the nearby exhibition and sales stands, and this year’s theme was the World of Wool. The 20th anniversary of the work and activity of the Gačanka association was also celebrated, so along with the hosts, associations from all over Croatia arrived.

Autumn in Otočac, Photo: Adria fun

Thus, the Ruta association from Cres, the Prospero association from Gračac, the Ogulin women’s association, the Naše Ognjište association from Knin, and Pavenka from nearby Brinje exhibited their products. In addition to them, there were also products from several OPGs and companies.

Autumn in Otočac, Photo: Adria fun

I walked from stand to stand and looked at beautiful but also useful woolen products such as thick Lika socks, various purses, and a small weaving loom, as well as Lika hats and various sculptures made of wool.

So that everyone gathered could enjoy themselves at one table, a lot of homemade cakes were placed, which were baked by hard-working housewives from the Gačanka association.

I haven’t tried any of them though, but I’m sure, judging by the reactions of others who have, they were very tasty.

Autumn in Otočac, Photo: Adria fun

Here, too, the children were happy to participate in the creative making of woolen flowers, so their little hands kneaded the wool, which had to be shaped to get an imaginative product. And here it is, taa daa..

In order not to erase the tradition of making wool and woolen products, it was also useful to see an elderly lady from the Gačanka association, who demonstrated in front of everyone how to spin wool, which I managed to capture in a video.

Members of the vocal group Kantalice from Zadar also graced this interesting event with their voices. In their collection, they have about fifty songs that they perform regularly, categorized according to the regions of the Dinaric cultural zone.

Autumn in Otočac, Vocal group Kantalica, Photo: Adria fun

In addition to their voice, Kantalice are also recognizable by their uniforms inspired by the folk costumes of the Dinaric zone. Here’s how they sound.

For Sunday, October 20, a drawings workshop from leaves and the closing of the exhibition, and thus the entire program of the 3rd manifestation of Autumn in Otočac, are still planned.

Autumn in Otočac, Photo: Adria fun

The time has come for me to head home, but I invite you to join us next year.

This publication was co-financed by the Fund for the Promotion of Pluralism and Diversity of Electronic Media.