Mammothfest will take you back 15,000 years!

The interesting story about the Mammoth Valley in the very east of Croatia made me want to visit it and at least briefly revisit 15,000 years ago, when mammoths still walked the earth.

But when I heard that the 4th Mammothfest was being held at that location from October 11 to 13, the decision was made by the time you could say fossil.

Mohovo, Mammoth Valley, Photo: Adria fun

The distance from my house to Mohovo, a small town near Ilok with only about two hundred inhabitants, where Mammoth Valley is located, is more than 250 kilometers, so I set off in the morning hours to arrive on time.

Mohovo, Mammoth Valley, Photo: Adria fun

On the way, I thought about what I had read about how Mammoth Valley was formed, so I will briefly tell you about it to introduce you to this kingdom of fossils.

It all started in the fall of 2012 when the first fossil remains of a mammoth and a woolly rhinoceros were found while digging a septic tank in an orchard. A similar discovery happened four years later, this time in a different location. Another four years after the second discovery (in 2020) comes the third, near the village pond where mammoth fossils are found. All these discoveries classified Mohovo as an important site on the Geological – paleontological map of Croatia.

After that, several young residents of Mohovo decided to take advantage of the potential of finding fossil remains, and founded the Mammoth Valley Association. And so began the exciting story of Mammothfest.

Mohovo, Mammoth Valley, Photo: Adria fun

Already at the very entrance to the festival venue, I was greeted by a life-size mammoth, which was completed in 2022, so I looked at it with curiosity.

Mammoth, Mohovo, Photo: Adria Fun

Across from this sculpture is a street at the end of which I see a crowd of people gathered around the starting ramp.

Mammothfest. Mohovo, Photo: Adria fun

Namely, the biggest attraction of this manifestation is the races in the vehicles of Fred Flintstone and Barney Flintstone, from the famous cartoon The Flintstones. Members of the Mammoth Valley Association have built two such vehicles for the purposes of the race, which are raced on a 100-meter track. As many as 32 teams with two members applied for this year’s competition.

Mammothfest. Mohovo, Photo: Adria fun

There was no lack of laughter, cheering, and excitement, and some spectators even got angry, because some competitors pushed the vehicle while standing, which was not according to the rules. Mostly time passed quickly.

In addition to the race, the hosts also organized various children’s workshops, and I was present at one of them, where children painted various motifs of extinct animals.

Mammothfest. Mohovo, Photo: Adria fun

When it was over, the magician arrived, which further aroused the interest and laughter of the children, as well as the parents, who had a great time.

Magician Mate Lukačević, Photo: Adria fun

As part of Mammothfest, various local products and handicrafts were offered at appropriate stands, which I looked at carefully.

There was no shortage of food and drinks, so the local team prepared delicious carp on forks, and for the younger ones, there was also the indispensable langoustines on offer. In the evening, the party continued under the tent, and in the musical part, tambura players from the group Slavonski sokak and Kas performed.

Sunday is scheduled for a boat visit to Šarengrad and Mohova Ada on the Danube with the professional guidance of the Public Institution for Nature Protection of Vukovar-Srijem County.

However, I’ll be on my way back home at that time, but am glad I’m taking a bunch of wonderful memories with me.

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

Ilok, Danube, Photo: Adria fun