In 2025 Fažana again became the epicenter of active living and inspiring encounters thanks to the Weekend Outdoor Festival—a two-day event that uniquely combined natural beauty, adrenaline challenges, top-tier gastronomy, and powerful stories from the worlds of sports and tourism. The festival, which continues to grow each year in both quality and content, promotes active tourism and affirms that Istria is not just a summer destination, but a region for year-round experiences. The focus is on outdoor living, togetherness, and pushing boundaries—both personal and those that shape the future of tourism. Through a rich program and sports competitions, WOF once again sent a powerful message: active outdoor living is not just another trend, but a lifestyle philosophy embraced by an increasing number of people.
A Festival with Three Faces: Sport, Business, and Music under the Istrian Sky
The Weekend Outdoor Festival has grown into one of the key regional platforms for the promotion of active living and sustainable tourism. Built on three strong program pillars—sports competitions, an outdoor business fair, and entertainment—the festival offered visitors a chance to experience Istria in its full potential. It serves as a platform that gathers, connects, and inspires—a place where new directions for outdoor tourism development in Southeast Europe are being shaped. The festival showcased leading providers of active tourism from Croatia and abroad: adrenaline parks, buggy tours, cycling and kayaking centers, surf clubs, charter academies, camping destinations, and specialized agencies for active holidays.
At the heart of this movement is the strong organizational vision of Katarina Dobrić Dabić, who works behind the scenes to connect people and ideas in a shared mission. Thanks to the support of key partners—the Istrian Region, the Municipality of Fažana, the Fažana Tourist Board, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and a number of sponsors—a shared ambition has been clearly articulated: Istria is ready to make its mark on the European stage of sustainable outdoor tourism.
“For years, we’ve traveled to trade fairs across Europe and the world, promoting Croatian products and services, and we realized—it’s time to bring that same spirit home. We wanted to create a place in Istria that brings together everyone who lives and works in the active tourism sector, and to present Istria’s identity to the world in the context of outdoor experiences. But we didn’t want to stop at just a business fair—our goal was to connect entrepreneurs, athletes, local producers, and public sector representatives to exchange ideas and shape an authentic story that we can share with the world. At the same time, through the first e-foil race and the FAR adventure race, we sent out a postcard to the world signed by elite athletes and Olympians—people whose infectious energy and unshakable spirit show that in sports, anything is possible. Their medals didn’t come by accident—they are the result of dedication, daily effort, and belief in dreams. And that same mentality is born from a single step on the trail, from every outdoor activity that grows into a way of life.”
—Katarina Dobrić Dabić, Festival Organizer
Two Days of Adrenaline, Ideas, and Inspiration
This year’s panel program brought together diverse perspectives—from entrepreneurs and public sector representatives to athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Through current and inspiring topics, the goal was to send a clear message: outdoor is not just a lifestyle—it’s a path to success. The panel “Outdoor & Gourmet – the Perfect Match” opened a discussion on the role of top gastronomy as a driver of year-round tourism, while the “Tourism Gems of the Region – Authentic Experiences” panel highlighted small but exceptionally successful destinations that strike a great balance between natural beauty, cultural heritage, and sustainability. Experts from Croatia and the wider region shared insights on how local gastronomy can naturally intertwine with an adventurous spirit to create authentic tourist experiences. On the second day, attention turned to the panel The Power of Narrative – Storytelling in Tourism, which emphasized how stories can shape perceptions of destinations and foster deeper emotional connections with visitors.
Two international projects were also presented—Cyros, an initiative that connects the Adriatic-Ionian region through cycle tourism, and Aventir, an innovative booking platform for easy planning of active holidays.
The sports segment of the festival was bursting with energy and excitement, bringing together over 250 competitors from Croatia and abroad. The Istria eFoil Race brought a glimpse of the future to the waters in front of Fažana—electric surfboards glided above the sea in breathtaking scenes, with participants demonstrating incredible balance, control, and courage. In the men’s category, winners were Manel Arpa (Spain, 1st place), Tom Court (UK, 2nd), and Nick Baumgartner (USA, 3rd), while in the women’s category, Croatian athlete Morena Makar took the win, proving that local talent has much to offer on the global stage.
The Fažana Adventure Race (FAR) once again tested the speed, resourcefulness, and team synergy of competitors—a race that uniquely combines land and sea, nature and strategy. This year’s fastest and most skilled were Sandro Ljubičić and Damir Jelić, who earned their victory through seamless teamwork. WOF Beach Volley, set right along the coastline, turned the beach into a stage for sport and fun. Players, fans, and curious passersby blended into the rhythm of good vibes, competitive spirit, and relaxed socializing—perfectly capturing the festival’s essence. Evening events were elevated by energetic performances from Vatra and Level One.
Humble Beginnings, Olympic Dreams, and the Strength to Rise Again
One of the most memorable moments of the Weekend Outdoor Festival was the panel “Fearless Athletes – Pushing the Limits”, where elite athletes shared personal stories of exceptional physical and mental strength. A special guest from the United States, Nick Baumgartner, Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding and X-Games legend, captured the audience’s attention. His presence brought a touch of American charm but, more importantly, deep inspiration—told through heartfelt words and an authentic life story. On stage, he presented his autobiography “Gold from Iron: Humble Beginnings, Olympic Dreams, and the Strength to Rise After Every Fall”, in which he recounts his journey from the small town of Iron River, Michigan, through four Olympic Games and numerous personal and professional setbacks, to winning Olympic gold in Beijing in 2022—at age 40, as the oldest Olympic snowboarding medalist in history. His story is not just about sport, but about fatherhood, the community that shaped him, and an insatiable drive for success despite failures.
“The greatest motivators in my life were the people who told me I wouldn’t make it. For nearly twenty years, I didn’t get notable results. I was a favorite at three consecutive Olympics and came back without a medal each time. People saw me as a failure. I was almost forty and no one was giving me a shot anymore. I finished my second-to-last Olympics in fourth place—just off the podium—and in that moment, I decided to prove everyone wrong. At the next Olympics, I won gold.”
—Nick Baumgartner
At the end of his talk, Baumgartner delivered a powerful message that deeply resonated with the audience:
“People often say—if you love your job, you never work a day in your life. I think the opposite is true. If you truly love what you do, you work harder than ever, you give it everything, push yourself more, take more risks, fall and get back up. Because without dedication, there’s no success—love for what you do isn’t an excuse for an easy path, it’s the reason you go all the way. If my story here in Istria has managed to motivate even one person—to believe in themselves, to dream bigger dreams, and to never give up—then it was all worth it. Every obstacle on my journey had a purpose.”
—Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Baumgartner
Outdoor as a Life Philosophy
Once again, the Weekend Outdoor Festival confirmed what many already believe—Istria has the capacity to be more than a seasonal destination. But what makes this festival truly special isn’t just its diverse program, but the energy created by its participants, volunteers, speakers, and visitors. WOF has become a living stage, growing year after year, enriched by ideas, stories, and people who believe in the power of movement, nature, and community.
“The strength of this festival doesn’t lie solely in its concept and structure, but in the community that brings it to life. In a spirit of collaboration, through the meeting of athletes, entrepreneurs, local producers, experts, and enthusiasts, I believe we’ve created a space where knowledge is shared, partnerships are built, and visions shaped that transcend geographic boundaries. The people who come here are not just passersby; they are the main characters of their stories, ready to share experiences, invest their time and energy, and show how tourism can grow without losing its authenticity.”
—Festival Organizer Katarina Dobrić Dabić
Weekend Outdoor Festival 2025 ended under the same starry sky under which it began—but with even more ideas, inspiration, and hope that nature and community can form the foundation of new tourism narratives. And as Fažana closed one festival chapter, a new one was already on the horizon—because, as the festival’s slogan says:
Life begins outside.
