Garden Festival 2008

Croatia | by Ross Purdie | 07 July 2008

On shore, the dance terrace jutting out into the sea is literally jumping with the hundreds of land locked ravers cheering the Argonaut ship back to shore. Everyone has either already been on one of Garden’s legendary boat parties, or are awaiting their turn, happily gazing out over the sun-dappled Mediterranean which is peppered by distant, misty islands. It’s the only festival we’ve ever come across that takes to the ocean.

Garden Festival is more a holiday than a festival, and that’s exactly how it all began. Several years ago, a group of 50 friends arrived in the sleepy village of Petrcane, near to the coastal town Zadar, held their own little party with decks and speakers and had such good fun they decided to do it again - with invites. Now in its third official year, the boutique event has become one of the most talked about festivals in Europe, and it’s easy to see why.

For a start it’s beautiful. Set in the grounds of a traditional Croatian hotel, the small peninsula contains the 3000-capacity festival perfectly and allows stunning 360 degree views over the crystal sea. In the middle of the site sits the main stage, bizzarely complete with its own paddling pool in which ravers splash about whilst watching the likes of genre bashers The Bays or nu jazz heroes Bonobo. But the best fun to be had is on the beach terrace, where DJs such as Norman Jay and James Holroyd belt out funky beats to compliment the cocktails and views.

Inevitably, though, it’s the boat parties that everyone talks about. Two vessels head out to sea every day for four hours of deck dancing along the sparkling Dalmatian coast, hosted by UK dance promoters like Mulletover and Secret Sundaze. Ruby Trainer, Terry Farley and Mr Scruff are among just a few of the highlights of the weekend.

As you’d expect, people who travel this far are duty bound to have the time of their lives and that spirit amounts to an unrelentless atmosphere of good times. Everyone’s friends. By day, punters chill on the beach as waves lap up onto the concrete veranda. Some even try to sweep the waves back into the sea with a broom, in some odd game which possibly looks funnier than it sounds.

As afternoon warms up so do the crowds and the tunes, with arguably the best time at Garden Festival being the hours leading up to sunset as the hordes get lubricated and the beats get harder. Like a microcosm of Ibiza but much fresher, Garden has been the best kept secret until now. Best check it out then, while the mystique remains.