Shkodër Carp Casserole FestivalFesta e Tavës së Krapit të Shkodrës

The “Festa e Tavës së Krapit” is a food festival and community event first held in June 2024 in Shkodër’s city center. It highlights Shkodër’s signature dish (carp prepared in a traditional earthenware pan) by combining culinary competition, music and crafts. The day-long festival (Pedonale Shkodër, June 23, 2024) featured a marketplace with carp stews, local performers (music/dance), and an open invitation for people to cook or taste Tavë Krapi. It was organized by a local cultural association (IRSH) with municipal support to blend traditional cuisine with tourism 1 2. The event was reported by national media as a new tradition that brings together fishers, farmers and chefs to celebrate local heritage 2.

Tavë krapi is a celebrated Shkodran specialty and a symbol of the region’s fishing culture. For generations, Lake Shkodër’s carp has been central to the local diet. This festival’s focus on that dish emphasizes preserving culinary tradition and promoting local agribusiness (farming, fishing, artisanal pottery) 1. The festival also serves as a community fair, reflecting the interdependence of Shkodër’s villagers, fishermen, and town artisans and their pride in this unique recipe.