Spectacular concerts in Belgrade for New Year's Eve

New Year's manifestation "Belgrade winter" will last from 15 December to 15 January, and a total of 86 programs will be held in different parts of the city, said today on the press conference, City Manager and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the event Goran Vesic.

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- This is a traditional city event, which is especially important for us, and after the Beer Fest, it attracts the most tourists. As we are a city that lives off tourism and earnings from tourism, New Year is very important to us. We try every year to create a program that will be attractive to visitors in the region, because our guests are mostly from the region, and in addition, we try and satisfy our own from Belgrade - said Vesic.

- Upon completion of the New Year's program, up to February 1, we will come out with an official report on how much the New Year costed, but our estimates are that it will be between 45 and 60 million dinars. We see the New Year as an investment in tourism of this city and feel it is very important to invest because in this period we have a huge number of tourists who spend 300 euros daily - said Vesic.

According to him, the Square of open heart will last from 1st December to 1st February, and will be decorated with wooden houses, craftsmen, where you can buy toys, food,  and the great city Christmas tree will be placed there.

Foto: Beoinfo

- For the first time this year, in cooperation with NALED, we will set up 20 houses from Knez Mihailova, the Cultural Center of Belgrade to the Russian Tsar, where we have a sales exhibition of authentic products from Serbia with a focus on traditional handicrafts.

- It turned out to be very interesting for foreign tourists and I hope that they will be able to buy quality products. We are very proud that after 37 years, we will to open skating rink in Tasmajdan, which was closed in 1979. We start with the program on 15 December and it will last until February 15, and we have prepared a number of programs for children, as well as retro evening where older ones will be able to come and to remember of the childhood.

- I believe that we will wake up nostalgia in one part of the citizens, and that the younger generation will understand what are the beauty and advantages of this open rink. Bands will play on Tasmajdan daily - said Vesic and added that the second outdoor skating rink will be located at Nikola Pasic Square from 1 December.

Foto: Beoinfo

Besides that, said the city manager, we have a Square of fairytales which will be on the plateau in front of Cultural Institution "Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic", where a house will be placed and where children will be able to listen to fairytales and see the shows.

- This year, we are introducing the program on Sava promenade, which will be the promenade of open heart from 1st January to 29 December where we will organize one of the three great concert with performers Kiki Lesandric and Piloti and Tropiko Bend. Central stage will be in front of the National Assembly and we will organize two concert there, on 30 and 31 December with Bijelo Dugme and Aca Lukas on 30th, and on 31st with Bajaga and Plavi Orkestar.

- I believe that we did a right thing and that musical program will function as we want it, and will make Belgrade a central place to welcome New Year in the region - said Vesic.

Foto: Tanjug/Nikola Dimitrijević

When it comes to Children's new year, according to our city manager, it will be held on Belgrade fare this year.

- Our children's new year will be held on fare and it will have 39 programs, 11 plays, 18 music-scene programs, 9 New Year programs, and this year we will organize for all preschool children to visit it for free - said Vesic.

As he said, the Street of open heart is held this year beside Svetogorska, also in Cukarica, Rakovica, Surcin, Savski Venac, Mladenovac and Obrenovac, as a Open heart promenade. 

- On the square of Open Heart, on the Republic square, the Christmas bread will be shared on 7th January, and we will have a program for Orthodox New Year which will be traditionally organized for children, concert, theaters and stands with products for children in the street of Dragoslav Jovanovic. The race of Santa Clauses is on 25th December and will be held traditionally through the King Milan Street - said Vesic and added that cups will be sold on all of these manifestations costing 150 dinars and all the money will go to charity to the Institute for upbringing of children and youth.

Secretary for Culture Ivona Jevtic pointed out that last winter Belgrade showed that with good will it is possible to gather important city agencies, businesses, excellent artists and performers and make a quality and diverse program.

Foto: Tanjug/Nikola Dimitrijević

- CEBEF represents the Secretariat for Culture this year as well, Children's Cultural Center which will prepare an even richer program at Belgrade Fair and Cultural Institution "Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic".

- New year is a chance to finish one year, and to start the other with nice memories, and that is why we supported the closing programs with greater investments. The city invested a lot of more money this year, more dedication and commitment so this manifestation could outperform the last one - she said.

Assistant director for program activities of Children's Cultural Center of Belgrade Leontina Vukomanovic thanked the City of Belgrade, which this year has entrusted the organization of children's programs on the Fair Administration of Children's Cultural Center.

- Last year we had the pilot project, but it turned out to be very important for our children. The city of Belgrade will enable weekdays from 11 am free performances for children, with the transport of children to the fair.

- Next to that, Children's Cultural Center will organize free concerts with the performers who participated on this year's restored Children's Belgrade spring - said Leontina Vukomanovic reminding that this festival was restored on the personal initiative of the city manager Goran Vesic.

Foto: Tanjug/Oksana Toskić

She added that the Children's Culture Center of Belgrade will take care that the programs will be held on the Square of open Heart on weekend, but also in the street of Open Heart and the program of opening the skating rink on Tash.

The director of the Belgrade Fair Danka Selic said that this institution organizes more than 40 events, New Year festival especially stands out which will last from 16 to 30 December.

Momcilo Bajagic said that he is really pleased that his band will play and announced that the concert will be in front of the National Assembly on 31st December with "Plavi Orkestar".

Front man of the "Piloti" KiKi Lesendric also promised good time to all who come to Sava promenade on 29th December where they will perform with Tropico Band. 

(Telegraf.co.uk)