Brežice, July 9, 2025 – The old town of Brežice came to life to the rhythm of the biggest summer event in the Posavje region, Mestna promenada Brežice. A varied program for all generations will take place until July 18, combining music, cuisine, art and a sustainable vibe. The first day of the event not only impressed with its diverse events, but was also marked by an exceptional achievement. The Brežice destination received the highest award within the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism – the Slovenia Green Destination Platinum label, which is currently held by only five destinations in Slovenia.
The opening evening began with a music-video postcard of Brežice, created by local singer-songwriter Robert Petan. Its opening verses – “A fairy-tale city at the crossroads of two worlds” – guided visitors to an evening dedicated to connecting the local, sustainable and creative.
Ranking among the top five green destinations in Slovenia
The audience was addressed by the Mayor of Brežice, Ivan Molan, who highlighted: “In Brežice, we have been working on developing the town as a recognizable destination for more than a decade and I am happy that by winning the platinum award, we have managed to become one of the five most recognizable in Slovenia. This took a lot of effort and credit goes primarily to the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth of Brežice and the Faculty of Tourism, but also to all the stakeholders involved.”
The award was presented by mag. Maja Pak Olaj, Director of the Slovenian Tourism Organization, who emphasized: “This evening is particularly solemn, as I can with great pleasure congratulate your destination Brežice, which successfully obtained the highest mark of the green scheme of Slovenian tourism during this year's reassessment. With the green scheme in Slovenian tourism, we promote and implement sustainable tourism, i.e. one that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and one that is to the satisfaction of tourists, employees and local communities. All Slovenian tourist destinations have joined the green scheme in the last ten years, but only five of them currently have the platinum, the highest Slovenia Green Destination label."
The prestigious award was received by the director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth of Brežice, Katja Čanžar, together with a team of colleagues who co-create the development of the destination with exceptional effort and enthusiasm, and expressed her gratitude for the achieved results: "I would like to thank the mayor for starting to believe in our story of local networking under the umbrella of a collective brand ten years ago. This resulted in tonight's event. I would like to thank Ms. Pak Olaj for placing us on the important tourist map of Slovenia. Thanks also go to all the providers and caterers, sponsors, especially the general green sponsor of the event HESS d.o.o., the audience, and last but not least, the exceptional team of the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth of Brežice, without whom we would not be here tonight. "
Mestna promenada Brežice has also been awarded the title of Event on the Path of Zero Waste with two stars for two consecutive years, which confirms the high environmental standards and efforts to reduce the impact of the event on the environment. Brežice also remains on the global map of good practices, as the City Promenade was already listed among the Top 100 Stories in the World in 2024 by the international organization Green Destinations.
Jure Tomić from Ošterija Debeluh becomes Brežice Izbrano brand ambassador
A significant part of the opening evening was also dedicated to the collective brand Brežice Izbrano, which brings together local restaurateurs, producers and artists, recognizable for their quality, originality and local character, with whom they co-create the recognition of the destination. As part of the Kuhinja na ulici event, visitors were pampered by: Gostilna Les, Turistična kmetija Vimpolšek, Turistična kmetija Pri Martinovih, Riba in pol, Reset Brewery, Stara gostilna Krulc, Huda., Sladke zgodbe and Mesarija Krošelj.
A special award was given to Jure Tomić, a top chef at the Ošterija Debeluh restaurant, sommelier and world champion in pasta preparation, who was appointed Brežice Izbrano brand ambassador. The certificate was presented to him by dr. Tanja Lešnik Štuhec, author of the Izvorno slovensko model, which is also the basis of the local quality marking system in Brežice.
Brežice artists on one stage
The highlight of the evening was the concert Brežice Izbrano, which, under the artistic direction of Robert Petan, brought together Brežice musicians: Nuša Derenda, Niko Zagodet, Adrijana Jelen, Rok Ferenčak and Anja Kramar & The Rafters. These are local talents, recognizable also abroad, who enrich the cultural pulse of the city with their energy and dedication.
The city promenade as a space for shared stories
Mestna promenada 2025 will be the venue for a rich range of events until July 18, from popular music evenings (Klapa Semikanta, ABBA Real Tribute Band, Parni Valjak tribute, Maja Keuc, Vatra), cinema under the stars, children's workshops, circus and dance events, to novelties such as the wine and art corner Wine & Paint in the park by the municipal building, where visitors will be able to taste local wines and create with artists on Fridays.
Every year, the event proves that it goes beyond mere entertainment. It is a place to connect local stories and creativity, and an opportunity to strengthen local identity, cooperation, and sustainable development.