Discover Shrovetide events at the National Open-Air Museum: We’re kicking off at Veselý Kopec and Zubrnice
The traditional Shrovetide procession on Veselý Kopec will take place on 31 January 2026 and will be organised by the residents of Studnice. The ceremonial start of the procession, which will take place in front of the farmstead in Mokrá Lhota, will begin at 10 a.m. and will be repeated again at 1 p.m. Afterwards, the procession of masks will set off between the individual log buildings. At each of these houses, the masks will dance a traditional ceremonial circle dance. You will then see all the typical masks with your own eyes: the spotted mask, the woman, the Turks, the straw masks, the mask with a mare, the chimney sweeps and the shopkeepers. During the procession, be prepared for their jokes, such as smearing your face with a special ointment, which is part of the tradition.
At 3:00 p.m., the masks will gather for the final ceremony, where they will present the Shrovetide will, in which they will mention the sins committed by the mare mask. The mare mask will then be ceremoniously slaughtered, and the Shrovetide procession will end with a joyful dance by all the masks. Throughout the day, you can visit the accessible buildings, which will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and purchase souvenirs, including Shrovetide mask figurines and printed materials. In the polygonal barn, you can see the exhibition Shrovetide Processions in the Hlinecko Region, where you will learn more interesting information about this custom. The Na Vejměnku pub will host an old Bohemian pig slaughter, where visitors can also purchase jitrnice (pork sausage) and ovar (boiled pork).
The residents of Zubrnice can now look forward to the 23rd annual carnival celebration. The Zubrnice Open-Air Museum, in cooperation with the Dykyta folklore ensemble from Krásná Lípa and the Max Fish Theatre Company, is preparing a programme called Zubrnický masopust (Zubrnice Carnival) for Saturday, 31 January 2026. The masks will gather in the courtyard of the log house from Loubí between 9:30 and 10:00. The mayor will provide the masks to the village, and they will promise to return them safely. At 10:00, the carnival parade will begin, including animals, which will delight the residents of Zubrnice and, according to tradition, wish them much good and joy for this year. Carnival pastries will be baked in the living room of the house from Loubí. Visitors can also look forward to a pig slaughter feast, a workshop on making jitrnice (a type of sausage) and various competitions. In the House from Loubí, visitors can purchase carnival masks directly from the Czech manufacturer, PVO Zákupy u České Lípy. The trio Máňa and an accordionist will provide musical accompaniment for this event, and a workshop on making objects from straw is prepared for those interested. Anyone who comes in a complete mask has free admission to the event.
Other museums of the National Open-Air Museum will also organise carnival events: In Rožnov and Příkazy, you can experience carnival festivities on Saturday, 7 February 2026. For the Wallachian Open-Air Museum, this will be the first event of the season. Visitors will be able to enjoy ancient carnival customs and taste pork delicacies. The programme will include competitions for the best Wallachian sausage and the best Wallachian brawn.
Ostatke na Hané will also take place at the Haná Open-Air Museum on Saturday, 7 February 2026. You can see how Shrovetide is celebrated in Haná – Shrovetide festivities await you, with competitions for the best mask and the sale of pig slaughter specialities.
