by Nina Vaclavikova
From Thursday, September 18, through Saturday, September 20, Trieste once again hosts Slofest, a cultural festival dedicated to Slovenians in Italy.
The event was first launched in 2013 by the Union of Slovenian Cultural Associations (Zveza slovenskih kulturnih društev, or ZSKD ETS) out of a deep appreciation for Trieste and the broader region where Slovenians have historically lived. Since then, the festival has generally been held every two years, offering three days of cultural exchange and community celebration.
Slofest typically features around 60 events across the city, highlighting the cultural, artistic, recreational, and musical life of the Slovenian community. The program includes exhibitions, performances, concerts, and discussions designed to showcase the vibrancy of Slovenian heritage within the Italian context.
Yet the festival extends beyond one community. Organizers emphasize its role in presenting Trieste as a multicultural city, where Slovenians are joined by other longstanding groups, including the Serbian, Greek, Jewish, and Lutheran communities. In this way, Slofest seeks not only to celebrate Slovenian identity but also to strengthen the image of Friuli Venezia Giulia as a diverse region shaped by multiple traditions.
Over the years, the event has become an important fixture in the city’s cultural calendar, reflecting Trieste’s position at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Adriatic.
