Donja Kaštela CarnivalDonjokaštelanski krnjeval

Donjokaštelanski Krnjeval is an annual carnival parade held in Donja Kaštela (the lower part of the Kaštela municipality) each Carnival Tuesday. It is considered the oldest annual carnival in Croatia 1 2. The procession features local cultural clubs, majorettes, and visiting carnival groups. After the parade, the event culminates in a satirical “trial” and burning of the Krnje (a straw effigy or scapegoat) representing the past year's troubles – in 2025 the figures “Mojsije – Andrej Plenković and zlatna krava” were burned 2. The carnival ball follows later in the evening.

Kaštela is located near Split and has a longstanding tradition of carnival (poklade) celebrations dating back centuries. The Donjokaštelanski Krnjeval embodies local humor and social satire, often mocking public figures as the Krnje. It reinforces communal identity through shared cultural heritage 1 2.