Imagine an Adriatic party island paradise where the sun kisses the ocean, and the air is filled with pulsating beats all day and all night!
Well, that's what the Austria Goes Zrće Festival is all about!
This festival is an awesome and very well organised electronic dance music festival held on the famous Zrće party beach, which is located in Novalja on the Island of Pag in Croatia.
This festival has really grown in popularity and has become a party powerhouse over the last few years so we were very keen to check this year’s offering out!
Of course, Austria goes Zrće, also known as AGZ, brought together a top-notch batch of DJs targeted at their Austrian-based audience.
It's not just about the electronic music, though – the Pag Island location is breathtaking, and there is so much to do and see in Novalja and this makes the whole AGZ festival a really broad experience.
But wait, the best part is the friendly, really up-front crowd who come into town wanting to have fun and party.
It’s kind of one big happy party family, where you can dance, laugh, chill, and make lifelong festival memories together.
So, if you're up for an unforgettable adventure with awesome European music, friendly Austrian vibes, and a breathtaking Velebit mountain and Zrće beach backdrop, Austria Goes Zrće will certainly deliver the Adriatic goods.
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A Dream Open-Air Location
This incredible Zrće beach festival takes place just outside the picturesque town of Novalja and is home to a handful of the best open-air nightclubs in the World.
What makes Zrće such a unique location is that the Zrće parties and festival venues can play music OPEN AIR very loudly all night long without the fear of sound restrictions.
You don’t even get that in Ibiza!
In Ibiza, there is no loud open-air music past midnight and that just shows how progressive the beach clubs of Papaya, Aquarius, Nomad, Kalypso, Noa Beach Club and Euphoria Zrće all are.
It's literally a case of dancing to your favourite tunes under the stars with the cool sea breeze brushing against your face – it's like a beach party paradise made for festival lovers like you!
And let’s not forget the breathtaking Zrće backdrop. It really is beautiful.
As you look out from the nightclubs all you can see is the stunning blue Adriatic sea water with the towering Velebit mountains towering on the horizon. It is quite a sight to behold.
And guess what?
Zrce Beach is not just a beautiful location with super cool open-air nightclubs; it's also super convenient.
Over the years the beach has turned into a mini festival city and you'll find everything you need right here – from luxury Glamping accommodations to an array of tasty food spots, shops, tattoo parlours, watersports, overhead ziplines, and even a handy outdoor gym, all within easy reach.
That means you can focus on doing loads of holiday-type stuff whilst you are down on the festival beach without any worries.
Read this next: Aquarius Zrće: The Next Chapter of the Zrće Beach Book.
Next up, the festival organisers go all out when it comes to creating mind-blowing stages and nightclub setups. It's like stepping into a state-of-the-art world of lights, CO2 canons, SFX, visuals, and sonic sound that'll leave you in awe!
They even had some people using power water jets to spray and cool people down in the roasting hot daytime arenas!
That was cool, literally! Excuse the pun!
Oh, and did I mention the stunning sunsets and sunrises on the Island of Pag?
On Zrće, if you stay up late enough you can actually see the most awe-inspiring sunrise over the mainland’s Velebit mountains, but as the day turns into night, you'll witness some of the most breathtaking sunsets that'll make your AGZ festival experience even more magical.
But, you will have to be over in Novalja town itself to see the sunset. Just remember:
Sunrise = Zrće Beach
Sunset = Novalja Promenade
That should cover you!
So get ready to dance, laugh, and soak up all the natural energy on the sandy shores of Zrce Beach and the quaint streets of Novalja.
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Zrće Beach: A Futuristic Music Experience
Yep! The tech stuff is properly awesome at the Austria Goes Zrće Festival!
The AGZ organisers and venue operators have pulled out all the stops to make this festival location totally world-class.
Picture this – powerful and BIG sound systems that'll shake your bones!
You're dancing to fat-thumping beats like never before, and the sound quality is out of this world.
All the clubs reinvest heavily and the quality of the venues gets better and better year-on-year.
But that's not all! The stages are big and like something from the future.
They've got mind-blowing visual displays that'll take you on a trippy journey with the DJs. Lights, lasers, and crazy effects – you can even see the lights a few kilometers away in the towns of Novalja or Kolan if you look into the dark sky!
With all this festival tech wizardry stuff, the Austria Goes Zrce Festival definitely takes the summer festival experience to a whole new level.
And you have to remember again, ALL this happens outdoors, it’s open air, and you are literally dancing under the stars or dazzling sunshine.
So, embrace the tech and dance the night away…in the old fashioned open-air party way!
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The Captivating Lineup: Grooving with Global DJs!
If you love a hot mixture of EDM, Hardstyle, Hip Hop/Deutschrap, Schlager, and Pop get ready to be dazzled because Austria Goes Zrce Festival has got an eclectic lineup of DJs that will blow your mind! And give you sore feet!
I am not going to dissect and analyze every DJ performance in this review would turn into an essay of epic proportions!
Needless to say, the music was insanely good and it was so much fun going from one venue to another hearing different genres all being delivered by seriously talented artists.
That stood out for us, even though there was a “mash-up of genres”, it was cleverly programmed by the promoters, and the differing musical types were distributed evenly across the party beach.
Let's talk about a few.
First up, Maxwell, rocked the party with some super cool beats. And then we braced ourselves for EDM superstars W&W – they definitely know how to turn up the electronic energy and the whole crowd was jumping!
Finch kept us grooving to their awesome tunes, and the epic global superheroes Headhunterz took us on an EDM musical journey with their well-polished energetic beats.
We also manage to catch up with Lucas & Steve who filled the air with their typically mesmerising sounds!
MORTEN was TERRIFIC! We loved this set. He kept us on our toes with his electrifying sounds, and Brennan Heart's Hardstyle beats will make your heart race!in Aquarius!
Da Tweekaz performance was pure energy and had the beach dancing non-stop.
Oh, and let's not forget don't miss out on Ran-D (NL)! They were all about about pumping up the party and kept the good vibes rolling.
But wait, there's more – Sub Zero Project blew our minds with their mind-bending hardstyle beats, that kept us grooving well into the early hours!
Right, I’m going to stop there as this will turn into a DJ set review-fest!
Suffice it to say, the line up was BIG, well thought out, cleverly programmed, and perfect for the Austrian audience on the beach!
Read this next: Noa Beach Club Zrce – More Than Just a Club.
A Dance Marathon of Unparalleled Energy: Dance Till We Drop!
I have to say, as festivals in general go., AGZ is a long one. The organisers have programmed SEVEN full days which is quite something and the festival customer certainly gets their money’s worth.
And let's not forget there are SIX days of boat parties that are packed out too.
A quick AGZ tip: If you are going to the 2024 edition make sure you buy your boat party tickets very early, as soon as they come out, as they soon sell out. The party boats are super popular but have a limited capacity!
From the moment the music starts, on Day 1 at Cocomo (in Novalja) you'll be transported to a world of electrifying beats and irresistible rhythms.
The DJs have been carefully booked, are favourites with the Austrian crew, and obviously know just how to keep the energy levels sky-high throughout the entire week!
You won't be able to resist jiving to the music - even on day SEVEN!
The DJs are absolute pros at reading the crowd and playing the perfect tunes to keep everyone grooving.
Whether you're into hard-hitting Hardstyle, EDM, or Commercial Pop there's something for every music lover at AGZ.
The best part for us? Well, it has to be that the music never stops and the crowd is super friendly. I didn’t bump into a moody person all week and that type of vibe makes such a difference.
And let's not forget the incredible festival party atmosphere.
The friendly crowd is filled with energy and high octane excitement, creating a sense of unity and camaraderie that makes the whole AGZ festival experience even more special.
It's like being part of one big, happy Austrian family, all brought together by the love of electronic music. Music unites us all.
A Feast for ALL the Senses
It is not just cocktails, dance music, and AGZ dancing. Novalja and Zrće also have a lot of other types of nourishment for the body and the soul!
As you dance the days and nights away, you won't have to worry about going hungry. The Zrće beach festival grounds are packed with a variety of food stalls offering all kinds of tasty treats.
From delicious, burgers that hit the spot to cheesy pizzas that'll make you say "yum," there's something to satisfy every craving.
There is even a Mlinar bakery! Two in fact!
Plus, they've got some seriously cool drinks too!
Quench your thirst with refreshing lemonades, ice-cold sodas, or maybe even some fancy, but affordable, cocktails at some of the other Zrće beach bars.
We love a bar called Backstage which is situated a little further down from Noa Beach Club, next door to the watersports centre, Wakerboard Cable Pag!
Such a treat of a bar and a great place to bet “fuelled up” before hitting the big nightclubs!
Read this next: Watersports Zrće Beach: Zrće Is Not Just For Dancing!
Experiencing Novalja Beyond The Music
When you're not busy partying to the beach beats, you've got a whole load of great stuff to do in and around Novalja.
Take a break from the festival madness and hit the stunning island beaches for some chill time under the sun.
The refreshing crystal-clear blue water is the perfect medicine to cure those foggy day-after hangovers.
If you're up more upbeat, how about trying out water sports? You can ride the waves on a jet ski, go banana or donut boating with your buddies, or even try your hand at parasailing or windsurfing at one of the many water activity centers around Novalja .
It's all about making the most of what this amazing town has to offer.
And if you're feeling adventurous, you can rent-a-boat and explore the surrounding areas too!
Take a short boat trip and discover the untouched beauty of the nearby islands or visit charming coastal villages for a taste of the mouth-watering cuisine and local wines.
It's not just about the music – it's a chance to take in the beauty of Pag Island and make the most of every Adriatic moment.
Read this next: Bars in Novalja Town Center the Locals Love!
Austria Goes Zrće: The Verdict
Austria Goes Zrće Festival has been one wild ride, I wasn't too sure what to expect but it was thoroughly well-organised, fun, and varied and we're already looking forward to the 2024 edition.
From the heart-pumping sounds of superstar DJs to the super friendly Austrian vibes that made us feel right at home, this Austria Goes Zrće festival got a very big thumbs up from us.
I can see why it is pulling in such big and increasing numbers of visitors year on year.
The mixed-up lineup took us on a musical journey!
We danced, laughed, and sang along with friends and strangers who became friends.
But hey, the Austria Goes Zrce Festival is not just about the music, the whole Novalja experience was epic – it's a whole package deal.