Fjera in Nerežišća | The Largest Summer Festival for the Feast of Saint Margaret

The main fjera in Nerežišća is held every year around July 13 in honor of the Feast of Saint Margaret, the patron saint of the village. This day is the most significant event of the summer in Nerežišća, transforming the entire village—stone streets, squares, and café terraces become filled with people late into the night.

The celebration begins during the day with a church program and a procession through the village. The statue of Saint Margaret is traditionally carried through the old stone streets around the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the central square, with a large number of locals participating in the procession. In the evening, the center of the village effectively turns into a large pedestrian zone as tables, stages, and stalls are set up throughout the old part of Nerežišća.

What makes the fjera in Nerežišća unique is the atmosphere of a village located inland rather than by the sea. There is no waterfront or large tourist stages, but rather stone squares, old palaces, narrow streets, and café terraces filled with people. In the evening, the entire village feels much livelier than at other times of the year, while still maintaining a local character without the typical tourist crowds found in Bol or Supetar.

Throughout the evening, live concerts, Dalmatian music, vocal groups, and performances by local bands take place. The main part of the program occurs in the central square, with music resonating throughout the village until late at night. In restaurants and taverns, it is nearly impossible to find a free table without a reservation, as many people come from other parts of Brač specifically for the fjera.

One of the most well-known parts of the program is the Memorial “Frane Senjković” and the game “balun o ruke,” an old island game similar to tennis that was once played on Mediterranean islands. This tradition has been preserved in Nerežišća to this day, and during the celebration of Saint Margaret, the game attracts many spectators and local teams.

During the evening, lamb, grilled meats, homemade cheese, prosciutto, fritters, and local wine are served on the streets. Most cafés and taverns remain open late, and the entire center of the village stays busy until nearly morning.

Parking during the fjera can be problematic in the center, so most people leave their cars along the main access roads a few minutes' walk from the old core. The majority of visitors come from Supetar, Donji Humac, Splitska, and Bol.

The fjera in Nerežišća is not a large commercial event but rather a genuine island festival that remains primarily connected to local tradition, the patron saint of the village, and the gathering of people from the entire central part of Brač.