Gondola Ethno Vibe Festival: Five Days of Tradition, Creativity, Humanity and the Stars

The second edition of the Gondola Ethno Vibe Festival, held from 8 to 12 August at the Gold Gondola intermediate station and Tornik, came to a close with more than 350 visitors attending Meteor Shower Night, as well as an important humanitarian achievement – 706,000 dinars were raised during the second, charity evening to support the expansion of the children’s centre in Željine.

The festival was created from Gold Gondola’s desire to offer visitors a different way of experiencing Zlatibor – through its people, traditions, flavours, knowledge and contemporary creativity, as well as through the nature that connects all these stories. Gondola Ethno Vibe was therefore conceived as an experience rather than simply a festival: an encounter with the heritage of the region, a glimpse into the past, but also a step towards the future, new experiences and different ways of discovering Zlatibor.

“Through this festival, we want to bring to light everything that has been preserved as part of our heritage and tradition and give it a new lease of life, so that it can once again become part of everyday life. Our aim is to work with craftspeople and those who practise traditional crafts and techniques, showing how these can be combined with modern design and the creative industries to create a new identity and new applications – becoming something we can use every day and wear with pride,” said Bojana Božanić, Director of Gold Gondola Zlatibor.

She also announced a new project dedicated to preserving traditional handicrafts – embroidery, weaving, crochet and knitting – through collaboration with craftspeople and contemporary designers. The aim is to connect traditional techniques with modern design and give them new forms and applications. Details of the project will be presented by the end of the year, with the possibility that its first results will become part of the next Gondola Ethno Vibe Festival.

Over the course of five festival days, the Gold Gondola intermediate station on the shore of Lake Ribničko became a meeting place for local producers, artists, craftspeople and creatives. At the Ethno Market, visitors could sample local products and specialities, discover traditional flavours and locally prepared coffee, and find authentic products, fashion pieces and accessories. Through numerous free workshops, they could also try their hand at making various items and discover skills that have been passed down through generations. The festival also opened its doors to activities focused on health and wellbeing.

All of this took place in the natural surroundings of the intermediate station, right beside Lake Ribničko, where tradition and contemporary experiences became part of the same journey – in a setting where nature was not merely a backdrop, but one of the festival’s main participants.

An evening combining great entertainment with a good cause

A special place in this year’s programme was reserved for the charity food and music evening POD ZVEZDAMA, held on 9 August. The festival’s second evening brought an atmosphere worthy of a true club night, with an energetic performance by the Užice-based band Nespremni, while food and drinks were prepared and presented by some of the best local hospitality businesses and producers.

Behind the music, food and socialising was an important mission – raising funds to support the expansion of the children’s centre in the village of Željine on Zlatibor, run by the non-profit organisation Multiart from Vrbas.

The centre in Željine has been operating since 2020 and provides free stays for children with developmental disabilities and their parents. Children from different parts of Serbia have the opportunity to spend time in nature, take part in activities and educational programmes, socialise, play and enjoy quality time, while families receive support and the opportunity to spend time together in a stimulating environment.

Thanks to the festival visitors, partners and participants in the charity evening, 706,000 dinars were raised, which will be used to expand the centre’s capacity and help organise the travel arrangements for children and their families.

In this way, one festival evening demonstrated how entertainment can take on an even greater meaning when people come together around a shared idea – to support an important mission, contribute to social inclusion and raise awareness of the importance of creating equal opportunities for children with developmental disabilities and their families.

“For us, this support means much more than the funds raised. What matters is that the story of the children and families who come to our centre reached a large number of people, and that people who had never heard of us before also joined the initiative. We believe that initiatives like this contribute to greater social inclusion and a better understanding of the needs of children with developmental disabilities. Thank you to Gold Gondola and to all the visitors who recognised and supported this cause,” said Boris Bijelović, President of the Multiart Association.

The festival closes with a view of the stars

The five-day festival came to an end on 12 August at Tornik with METEOR SHOWER NIGHT, which attracted more than 300 visitors.

At the highest point of Zlatibor, far from the city lights, visitors relaxed on the terraces of the Gondola Bar, comfortably seated in deckchairs, watching the starry sky and the Perseid meteor shower. In the darkness, with their eyes turned towards the sky, they were guided through the fascinating world of the cosmos by astronomer Branko Simonović.

During the one-hour programme, Simonović introduced the audience to the Perseids, galaxies, constellations and other phenomena of the night sky, connecting modern astronomical knowledge with stories and beliefs that people throughout history have associated with the stars. From mythological representations of the heavens to contemporary astronomical developments, the audience had the opportunity to look at the cosmos from a completely different perspective. After the talk, stargazing continued to the sound of subdued music, in the silence of Tornik and beneath the stars.

This brought the second Gondola Ethno Vibe Festival to a close – five days combining local tradition and contemporary creativity, local flavours and crafts, music and entertainment, humanitarian action and astronomy, all within the natural surroundings of Zlatibor.

The festival was created with the idea of presenting Zlatibor through the things that make it special – its people, heritage, nature and authentic experiences – and of continuing to develop this story together with those who visit, live and create on Zlatibor.

The summer programme continues

With the festival now concluded, Gold Gondola’s summer programme is far from over. On the contrary, the Gondola continues at full pace, bringing visitors a diverse range of activities and experiences throughout the season.

Tomorrow, 15 August, visitors to the Gold Gondola intermediate station can enjoy an Open-Air Cinema, with a screening of Povratak Žikine dinastije at 20:30. The screening is free of charge with a purchased Gold Gondola ride ticket.