This year, Brežice will shine for the first time in the spirit of a month-long Advent celebration, filling the old town centre with lights, music, a festive market, an ice rink, and holiday cheer.
At today’s press conference, representatives of the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Brežice (ZPTM Brežice), together with partners, presented the upcoming December events and shared how the idea of Advent in Brežice has grown into a joint project that connects different parts of the town and brings together numerous local creators.
Director Katja Čanžar emphasized that the preparations were carried out in the spirit of cooperation and community:
“Advent would not be possible without the support of our founder, the Municipality of Brežice, and our colleagues, who will once again give their best this December. It is very important that everything we do is connected with the local environment, and this is the central theme of this year’s Advent. All the market stalls are already sold out, which shows how strong the energy of local creators is. The ice rink and its surrounding offer will be entirely local, featuring regional delicacies, many of which are part of the collective brand Brežice Selection (Brežice Izbrano). Special thanks go to the Institute for Sports Brežice, which will be collaborating with us for the first time on setting up the rink.”
Festive events in the old town centre
Advent in Brežice will begin on 1 December with the traditional lantern walk organized by Vrtec Mavrica Brežice and the ceremonial lighting of festive decorations in the town. Families will also be able to join guided walks along the Elf Trail in the park, and the popular Santa’s Mailbox will return to the town centre, where children can send their letters directly to Santa in Finland.
The main venue in the old town centre will come alive on 6 December with the opening of the ice rink and a fair of more than 30 local vendors. A special highlight this year is that the ice rink will be set right in the historic centre, and throughout December, visitors will be able to enjoy an exclusively local culinary offer from nearby restaurants and producers.
On the first day, skating will be free of charge, accompanied by ice animations, workshops, street music, and other surprises. The evening atmosphere will be set by the local duo Adrijana & Kristian, who will warm up the festive night with live music.
Among the musical highlights of the December programme will be open-air concerts by Big Foot Mama, Oto Pestner & Uroš Perić, Funk Parker, Trkaj & Adam Velić, and Rok’n’Band. The New Year’s Eve celebration will feature the band Firbci, while children will welcome the new year at a special Kids’ New Year’s event in the morning. Throughout December, there will also be numerous creative workshops and the 11th Gala New Year’s Concert.
Anja Avšič, head of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Tourism, highlighted:
“When we first envisioned the Advent story months ago, we wanted more than a beautifully decorated town. We wanted to create a meeting place where locals and visitors feel connected. We believe that a successful Advent can only emerge if we combine a quality music and cultural programme with children’s activities, local caterers, artisans, and vendors — right in the heart of Brežice, where the town beats strongest: the old town centre. Listening to local residents, we also decided that concerts will take place only on weekends, starting earlier and finishing by 9 p.m.”
Reflection of a successful tourism year
The festive December coincides with pride in another outstanding year for Brežice tourism. According to the eTurizem portal, by 31 October 2025, the Municipality of Brežice recorded 626,792 overnight stays, marking a 7% increase compared to the previous year and a 10% increase compared to 2023. The average length of stay was 3.2 days, exceeding the national average and confirming that visitors find diverse experiences in Brežice that inspire them to return.
Ivan Molan, Mayor of the Municipality of Brežice, emphasized the importance of long-term commitment to tourism:
“When we established the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth, we had a clear goal – to develop a recognizable, open, and attractive destination. Over the years, we have invested in cultural heritage, bridges, and monuments and jointly prepared a tourism development strategy. Today, we are reaping the rewards of that work. We are proud of the awards our destination receives and the fact that Brežice is no longer just a point on the map, but a place of authentic experiences. Advent in Brežice is yet another example of how tourism connects people and creates added value for the community.”
Brežice among Slovenia’s leading green destinations
The year 2025 brought numerous recognitions. In the renewed Slovenia Green Scheme assessment, Brežice retained the prestigious Slovenia Green Platinum title – held by only five destinations in the country. For the third consecutive year, Brežice was included among the Top 100 Good Practice Stories worldwide by Green Destinations. The Mestna promenada summer festival also renewed its Zero Waste Event certification for the third time, ranking it among the longest zero-waste events in Slovenia.
Another achievement is the introduction of the third level of the collective brand Brežice Selection (Brežice Izbrano), whose new ambassador is Jure Tomič from Ošterija Debeluh. The destination also received two awards from the Tourist Association of Slovenia: the Bronze Hospitality Mark by the expert jury and the Green Hospitality Mark by public vote.
Advent in Brežice 2025 is organized by the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Brežice with the support of its founder, the Municipality of Brežice, in cooperation with the Institute for Sports Brežice, the Posavje Museum Brežice, Komunala Brežice, and the Brežice Health Centre, and with the support of sponsors HESS, Terme Čatež, Merkur, and KOP Brežice.