During these pleasant days, we enjoy idyllic walks along the Sava River, reminiscing about the days when we watched movies under the open sky on the lawn in front of Galerija. As soon as the holiday season passes, we all eagerly await the “floral” projection on Kula Belgrade, the tallest building in Serbia and the region, to mark the beginning of spring, warmer days, and outdoor events on Sava Promenada.
The change of seasons in Belgrade Waterfront is a story in itself that must be experienced “firsthand”. Besides hosting various events depending on the weather – from the “Winter Fairy Tale” to summer concerts under the open sky – the plants in the planters also change seasonally so that the flowers in the most modern neighborhood in Serbia bloom even in winter.
In this brief retrospective of 2023, let’s take a look at what the event calendar – and blossoms – looked like on the right bank of the Sava, which confirms its status as a new center not only for city events but also for gatherings of all generations.
The snow queen season
The evergreen shrubs of the snow queen bloom with small pink flowers from December to April. When you see them in the planters, know that the most romantic time of the year has come, as the magnificent Winter Fairy Tale arrives in Sava Park and the Christmas festival in Galerija.
We entered 2023 with the hits of music stars and a spectacular fireworks display from Kula Belgrade, unlike anything seen in this area before. This was followed by the Serbian New Year’s Eve celebration and a new light show in the sky above the Sava, accompanied by the sounds of the trumpet from the famous Dejan Petrovic and his Big Band, Sara Jo, and Frajle performing for the New Year’s Eve celebration on the plateau next to the Old Sava Bridge. We marked the Chinese New Year for the fifth time in Serbia by lighting lanterns, setting up light installations, and ceremonially drinking tea at the end of January and beginning of February. The start of the FEST in Galerija was accompanied by a projection on Kula Belgrade, the new symbol of the Serbian capital, and visitors to the largest shopping center in the region could follow the festival program in the state-of-the-art IMAX technology available only at the Cineplexx Galerija cinema.
Season of pansies, azaleas, and tulips
We “welcomed” spring with a floral animation and butterfly play on Kula Belgrade. Spring flowers were planted in the planters, and with the season of awakening, Belgrade Waterfront welcomed the most famous wizard boy. Fans of the Harry Potter series had the opportunity to embark on a magical journey through Hogwarts in a captivating thematic setup at Galerija, showcase their talent in waltz classes, or participate in the Wizard’s Masquerade Ball. In mid-May, a glamorous fashion show of the best Serbian designers was held in Galerija, and at the end of the month, the famous NBA championship trophy was exhibited.
While basketball fans took the opportunity to take photos next to the legendary trophy, dog and cat owners proudly walked their furry friends at the Pet Happening – the largest pet exhibition where pedigree was not important. As the most delicious announcement of summer, the now traditional Ice Cream Festival was held at Galerija on the first weekend of June. Local ice cream makers prepared rich flavors of the highest quality chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and fruit flavors, as well as completely unusual flavor combinations that were hard to resist.
Season of begonias and hydrangeas
During the hot summer weekends, the Weekend Bazzar festival brought together small local brands, creators of unique products of various kinds, as well as musicians, artists, and animators on the plateau behind the Belgrade Cooperative. Top-notch artistic events under the open sky, such as the Belgrade River Fest and the Opera on Water, gave a whole new dimension to summer in the Serbian capital and confirmed Belgrade Waterfront as a world-class destination.
At the prestigious music festival on the riverbank, two ladies awakened the audience’s deepest emotions with their voices: today’s greatest opera diva, Anna Netrebko, and one of the greatest world music stars, Yasmin Levy. The fifth edition of the Opera on Water brought Puccini’s “La Bohème” and prima donna Aida Garifullina, considered by many as the most beautiful lyrical voice of today’s opera scene, to the stage of the Belgrade Cooperative.
Fans of the seventh art enjoyed Open Air Cinema throughout the summer, a cinema under the open sky on the lawn next to Galerija. The end of summer, when fragrant begonias and hydrangeas are about to give way to autumn violas, was marked by Restaurant Week, during which, along with excellent specialties from the menus of numerous domestic and international cuisine restaurants, the summer adventures on the right bank of the Sava were summed up.
Autumn pansies season
The beginning of autumn brought the most beautiful flavors of berries to the Sava Promenada. Visitors to the second Belgrade Berry Festival enjoyed tasting domestic products made from strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries along with an accompanying entertainment program. Car enthusiasts will remember October for the Car Show in Galerija, where they had the opportunity to not only see models of top brands up close but also to try them out on a test drive.
In November, Belgrade Waterfront was visited by the famous Italian fashion designer Elisabetta Franchi, whose models can be purchased here thanks to the exclusive store at Galerija. In a welcome gesture to the famous designer, a special projection was shown on Kula Belgrade. The last Friday in November brought together shopping enthusiasts at Galerija because it is known that the discounts for Black Friday are the best there, and the selection is the largest.
As we await the spring and the re-blooming of tulips and violas, come down to the Sava because you don’t want to miss the spectacular sunsets, the best entertainment, and the most beautiful walks along the river in the most attractive neighborhood in the city.