Ad Fluvium Frigidum – festival of Late Antique culture in Ajdovščina
June
Events
Authentic Experiences in the Vipava Valley
All year round, from the first bluebells of spring until the first snowflakes of winter, the Vipava Valley has a busy calendar of events for visitors to enjoy. Especially popular are the traditional events that preserve local traditions and showcase the region’s flare for winemaking and gastronomic delights. In recent years the valley has been home to an increasing number of athletic events, including extreme and adrenaline sports, which attract massive crowds and daring competitors.
Welcome to the valley of unforgettable experiences!
Nova Gorica, the town of roses, hosts a festival celebrating roses accompanied by a rich programme and culinary offer. The central venue is the garden of the Franciscan Monastery Kostanjevica that hosts a fabulous collection of old-school Bourbon roses. The garden is open only during the festival, daily from 10 am to 5 pm, sundays from 12 am to 5 pm.
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Pašta Fešta is Slovenia’s largest pasta festival, where you can sample a wide selection of traditional and modern pasta dishes all in one place. Selected culinary creators gather in Ajdovščina to present their best recipes and ideas, and the event is accompanied by great music, workshops, and a program for all generations. The highlight of the festival is also the selection of the best pasta, which adds a real competitive spark to the festival.
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A traditional culinary and entertainment event. The Asparagus Festival in Orehovlje features a parade of floats with a cultural program, a delicious cycling tour called KRAS-NI ŠPARGLJI, an awards ceremony for the best wines, stalls and a rich raffle, seasonal local delicacies, and the main attraction—a giant traditional asparagus roll.
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Wine and Gastronomy Festival Okusi Vipavske
May 29 - 30, 2026
Dvorec Lanthieri,
Vipava
t: +386 (0)5 365 36 00
info@rra-rod.si
www.okusi-vipavske.si
Dvorec Lanthieri,
Vipava
t: +386 (0)5 365 36 00
info@rra-rod.si
www.okusi-vipavske.si
The Festival Okusi Vipavske (Flavours of the Vipava Valley Festival), set right at the heart of the Valley, pays homage to the locally grown and produced wine and food. This traditional event draws the finest winemakers, fruit and vegetable growers, and creators of unique flavours which are the most representative of the Vipava Valley.
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The castle courtyard will host winemakers from the Vipava Valley, who produce the Zelèn wine. The offering is complemented with a selection of dishes. There is also an organized tour of the alleys and piazzas of Vipavski Križ.
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In the old centre of Ajdovščina, among the beautifully preserved remains of the mighty Roman Fortress Castra dating back to the first centuries AD, performers from many European countries will be bringing Late Roman culture alive in the Ad Fluvium Frigidum festival, presenting the way of life as it once took place.
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Summer Polenta returns once again this year to the little church in Šmihel—this time with an event that puts the evening in the spotlight: a beautiful setting, stunning views, and flavors to be savored slowly. Polenta, our traditional dish, will be presented in various interpretations—as a home-style classic and as creative meat or vegetarian versions. You’ll also be able to taste wines from local winemakers and, in pleasant company, welcome the first day of summer with an evening guided by the romantic atmosphere near the little church and a fairy-tale view of the Vipava Valley.
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In summer the winemakers of the Vipava Valley traditionally open the doors of their wine cellars to welcome guests and taste the exquisite wines together with homemade snacks. Choose your winemaker and click on the presentation to discover what they have to offer.
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“Wine from Under the Bridge” is a unique event held under the bridge spanning the Vipava River in Renče, where charity is intertwined with relaxed socializing, tastings of select wines, and local cuisine and music. A special feature of the event is “wine from the river”—bottles that age beneath the surface of the Vipava River and are retrieved for the occasion, while new ones are lowered into the water for the following year, all accompanied by a charity wine auction.
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The biggest sports event in the Vipava Valley features over 90 km of spectacular speed trials and a night-time super special stage in the centre of Ajdovščina. The event welcomes thousands of rally racing fans.
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Experience the charm of the region, the roses of love and beauty, and discover select wines from the cross-border region. In the garden and wine cellar of the Franciscan Monastery of Friendship and Peace in Kostanjevica, where stories of the past vividly intertwine with the pulse of the present.
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Following the success of last winter’s culinary series dedicated to Solkan radicchio, a new seasonal series of this joint gastronomic initiative is kicking off in the Goriška region. This time, local restaurateurs will be highlighting spring ingredients from nature, which we’ll be able to enjoy in select dishes through the end of May.
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UTVV – Ultra Trail Vipava Valley
24. – 26. 4. 2026
Lavričev trg,
5270 Ajdovščina
m: +386 (0)51 338 559
info@ultratrail.si
www.ultratrail.si
Lavričev trg,
5270 Ajdovščina
m: +386 (0)51 338 559
info@ultratrail.si
www.ultratrail.si
This challenging ultramarathon takes place in the following categories: Emperor 170, Centurion 110, Gladiator 60, Legionar 30 and Asterix 15. The courses are set up along the edge of the Gora and Nanos Plateaus, through the city, up to the highest peaks overlooking the Vipava Valley and back down.
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The traditional opening of the flying season at Lijak once again heralds the start of the new paragliding season and promises a pleasant get-together at one of the most beautiful vantage points in the Vipava Valley.
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Socialising with Pinela wine
10. 4. 2026
Planina 111,
5270 Ajdovščina
m: +386 (0)40 661 106
drustvo.soudan@gmail.com
www.vas-planina.si
Planina 111,
5270 Ajdovščina
m: +386 (0)40 661 106
drustvo.soudan@gmail.com
www.vas-planina.si
For this 20th anniversary gathering, we’ve given the festival a new venue and a new date — instead of Easter Monday, we’ll be enjoying Pinela wines from across the Vipava Valley on Friday, 10 April, at the Guerila winery.
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This traditional Easter Monday hike takes place to commemorate the traditional grass mowing practices on the mountain pastures of Mala Gora. Starting in the village of Kamnje, hikers scale the Mala Gora plateau following either the marked mountain trail or the Theme Trail of Mowers and Rakers.
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At the Olive Oil and Wine Festival, you’ll have the opportunity to taste premium extra virgin olive oils and select local wines. More than 15 olive growers and over 25 winemakers will be showcasing their products and will be happy to share their stories, vintages, and specialties with you.
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Aeros Winter Race
17. 3. – 22. 3. 202
Gostilna in picerija Anja,
Budanje,
5271 Vipava
m: +386 (0)41 641 887
https://civlcomps.org/event/aeros-winterrace-2026
Gostilna in picerija Anja,
Budanje,
5271 Vipava
m: +386 (0)41 641 887
https://civlcomps.org/event/aeros-winterrace-2026
The hang gliding season kicks off with the Aeros Winter Race which is the first hang gliding race in Europe. The international competition has become a staple of the valley’s event programme and garners great attention every year. Over 90 % of the participants are from other European countries.
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The Vipava Valley will host top-level paragliding from 12 to 15 March 2026: the take-off sites Lijak and Kovk will welcome the Vipava Valley Open 2026, an international XC (cross-country) competition attracting pilots from all over Europe as well as well-known names from the global free-flying scene. More than 120 competitors will go head-to-head in the sky over three competition days, and the event also includes the Slovenian Paragliding Cross-Country Championship (XC).
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Attracting more and more visitors every year, the real treat of the Vipava Valley around Christmas is the traditional display of Nativity scenes.
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Are you already thinking where to spend New Year’s Eve? Looking for more information about the osmica open doors or traditional events? Would you like to experience the holiday season in the city?
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For two decades now the Vipava Valley wine road has been attracting guests to a number of autumn events, St. Martin feasts and wine tasting at wineries.
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At the Sparkling Wine Festival, dozens of local winemakers showcase their curated selection to visitors. Guests can indulge in a delightful selection of effervescent sparkling wines, from classic to innovative sparkling wine blends, enjoy classy cocktails as well as gourmet dishes.
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The hike pays homage to the compatriot Matija Vertovec who was the first Slovenian wine expert. It weaves through the villages and vineyards of the hills around Vipava. The undemanding hike takes around 5 hours to finish. Hikers will meet from 7.00 to 9.00 am under the oak tree before the village of Ustje.
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Flavours on the Border
25. 9. - 28. 9. 2025
Trg Evrope,
5000 Nova Gorica
t: +386 (0)5 330 46 00
nova-gorica@vipavskadolina.si
Trg Evrope,
5000 Nova Gorica
t: +386 (0)5 330 46 00
nova-gorica@vipavskadolina.si
The jubilee 20th edition of the festival will be entirely dedicated to the European Capital of Culture. In addition to the traditional venues in the Italian city of Gorizia, the shared Europe Square will host Flavours without Borders with a unique blend of gastronomy and culture.
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Rally Nova Gorica
25. – 28. september 2025
Nova Gorica
t: +386 (0)5 330 68 22
info@rally-novagorica.si
www.rally-novagorica.si
Nova Gorica
t: +386 (0)5 330 68 22
info@rally-novagorica.si
www.rally-novagorica.si
Since its debut in 2012, the MAHLE Rally Nova Gorica has evolved from a small one-day event into one of Slovenia’s premier motorsport competitions, drawing top rally drivers from around the globe. The race is part of the FIA European Rally Championship and draws thousands of petrol heads each year.
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Summer in Nova Gorica
1. 6. – 31. 8. 2025
Nova Gorica
m: +386 (0)41 460 217
helena.winkler@vipavskadolina.si
dogodki.turizem-novagorica-vipavskadolina.si
Nova Gorica
m: +386 (0)41 460 217
helena.winkler@vipavskadolina.si
dogodki.turizem-novagorica-vipavskadolina.si
Summers in the city centre of Nova Gorica are always vibrant. The varied offering of entertainment and cultural events caters to people looking for a place to socialize with good music and other activities. Summer in Nova Gorica will make for enjoyable summer evenings.
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At the Festival of Vipava Valley Wines winemakers from across the land present their exquisite wines. The event is accompanied by an offer of traditional local dishes and a cultural program.
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The run starts in the village of Kamnje and finishes at the Mala Gora mountain hut (1,034 m). The challenging 4.8 km course features an 800-meter elevation gain, through a variety of terrains, mostly over forest trails and mountain paths.
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Italy’s biggest sporting event, the Giro d’Italia, will also take place on Slovenian roads on Saturday, 24 May. The finish of the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia will be Europe Square, which connects Nova Gorica and Gorizia.
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At the ceremonial opening of the European Capital of Culture, which will take place on Slovenia’s Cultural Day, February 8, 2025, the two cities will symbolically unite with a parade from the railway station in Gorizia to the one in Nova Gorica. The official opening will be held at 4 PM in Europe Square, followed by an artistic spectacle at 6. PM on the lawn in front of the SNG Nova Gorica.
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Boasting the oldest tradition in the Vipava region, the Grape Harvest Festival features an annual wine queen pageant and a wine competition. In the three-day event visitors can enjoy browsing through the farmers’ market and attending the entertainment programme.
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All summer long the event series Summer in Vipavski Križ entices visitors to come to the picturesque piazza with its myriad concerts, intriguing theatre shows and a selection of gripping documentaries.
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When spring begins to awaken in the Vipava Valley and the Karst, the first wild asparagus peeks out. Cultivated white, green and purple asparagus grow in the fields of the Vipava Valley from April to June.
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Starting in Ljubljana and finishing in Nova Gorica, one leg of this year’s Tour of Slovenia will shine a spotlight on the Vipava Valley and Goriška Region. The 3rd stage of the international Tour of Slovenia will run through a captivating landscape which will also be unfolding itself before the viewers in a live broadcast.
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Kostanjevica is an old pilgrimage shrine with a monastery, an illustrious history and rich treasures of the past. In Kostanjevica or na Kapeli, as the locals say, in 2022 and 2023, various events will mark the 400th anniversary of the erection of a chapel.
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American singer-songwriter, poet and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith is bringing together music lovers from both sides of the Slovenian-Italian border. The free concert, announcing the European Capital of Culture, will take place on 5 October 2023 in the car park of the former Rožna Dolina border crossing.
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On 2 September 2023, the English rock band Editors will perform in the car park of the former Rožna Dolina border crossing. The band, whose style is sometimes described as dark indie rock, has a distinctive sound that combines rock, punk and electronica.
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Giro d’Italia 2021
23. 5. 2021
Nova Gorica,
5000 Nova Gorica
t: +386 (0)5 330 46 00
m: +386 (0)41 460 217
nova-gorica@vipavskadolina.si
Nova Gorica,
5000 Nova Gorica
t: +386 (0)5 330 46 00
m: +386 (0)41 460 217
nova-gorica@vipavskadolina.si
The 104th edition of Giro d’Italia, Italy’s biggest sports event, will take a detour through Slovenia. Stage 15 of Giro d’Italia will dip in and out of Nova Gorica.
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