The popular third edition of the Festival of the Forest and Forest Products took place on Sunday, November 17th in the Model Forest Istria area. Jointly organized by the Model Forest Istria and the Municipality of Lanišće, with funding from the Secretariat of the Mediterranean Model Forest Network, the festival was held in the remote mountain village of Brest, below Mount Žbevnica in Ćićarija.
The event included all-day activities, workshops, lectures, forest experiences, land art and music. Designed for all age groups, the festival included workshops for children, adults and families, and this year's highlights included workshops for children with developmental disabilities, land rituals for women and a workshop for dogs and their owners.
Workshops such as "Forest Relaxation and Connecting", "Conscious Breathing and Connecting" and "Forest Art Therapy" aimed to foster a deeper connection between participants and nature, in line with the festival's slogan: "Let's connect with ourselves, with others and with the forest." Most of the workshops took place in the forest around Brest, while practical workshops on making forest cosmetics and handmade wool products were held in the building of an old village school. Lectures covered topics such as wildlife photography with camera traps, the healing properties of mushrooms and life in the forest wilderness.
The highlight was the innovative workshop "How to create tree nets: human nests in trees", led by Italian activist Aleksej Petrov. Real hammocks were built for relaxation, which will remain in place until the next festival edition.
The Forest Fair featured regional producers who presented forest-inspired art, handicrafts, cosmetics, handmade cakes, honey, cheese and mushroom products. This year, a special focus was placed on the promotion of local products from the mountainous region of Ćićarija, with a special "Ćićski kutak" featuring wooden handcrafts, woolen items made from mountain sheep wool, as well as essential oils and spruce-based alcoholic beverages.
Cultural performances by the local population were a highlight. The children’s group Mici Cici performed rozganje, a traditional Ćićar a capella singing style. This almost forgotten cultural heritage was revived by a local teacher, ensuring its preservation for future generations. Other performances included poetry in the old Ćićar language and music played on the unique cindr, a traditional wooden instrument.
The imposing forest giant, constructed by Slama Land Art, became the center of photography, storytelling, and festivities. When dusk fell, it was ceremonially burned to the tune of a forest fairy dance. The evening concluded with an enchanting concert by the band Vrach, featuring percussion, handpan, didgeridoo, and sounds inspired by nature. A large bonfire provided warmth and a gathering place for the gathering, along with mulled wine and tea prepared by festival volunteers.
The festival also celebrated traditional and authentic gastronomy, with dishes made from game, mushrooms, wild herbs, and forest fruits, with vegan and vegetarian options. Called "A Festival for Everyone", it successfully combined esoteric and alternative practices with the rich rural heritage of Istrian forest landscapes.
