2013 Review

The indisputable star of the show was the king of the Danube fish - the sturgeon - considered the world’s most endangered group of animals. Download the national fact sheets below to find out how we got “Active for the Sturgeon” in 2013.

In Ukraine, eye-catching actions reached 17,000 people. Borzhava communities celebrated restoration of their river’s source; in Kvasovo, mountains of waste plastic & glass were cleared from the river; and in Uzhgorod, Ukraine’s longest exhibition displayed startling photos of rivers. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Ukraine

In Moldova, 1000 people took part in workshops and festivals. Traditions and skills were rekindled at Valeni’s festival; journalists attended a climate change workshop and academics consulted over the Danube Strategy. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Moldova

Bulgaria's Blue Danube Week saw an arts fiesta in Vidin, as well as Serbian and Romanian cities. Regattas in Ruse and Silistra, festivals in Baykal and Nikopol, water sampling, river emergency planning and a design competition were among highlights across northern Bulgaria. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Bulgaria

In Romania, 128 organisations inspired people to kayak, sing, run, create and rubbish-collect for their rivers. All 11 Danube regions went sturgeon crazy, with Galati hosting a 5-day festival. At a high level Danube Environmental Forum, NGOs petitioned officials over sustainability. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Romania

Serbia’s summer-long event mobilised 350 organisations at 130 events in 28 towns, culminating at festivals at Zemun Quay and Ada Huja Park. The Serb EU Delegation hosted a Danube cruise and 1000s enjoyed Srem Banoštor’s fish festival. Download the fact sheet to read more about events: Danube Day 2013 in Serbia

Three Slovenian national contests saw children become Art Masters, Water Detectives and comic-book writers. In My River.si, they had to dream-up river superheroes: ‘Super Water Purifier’ helped the Drava to build invisible flood walls, while ‘Mimi the Octopus’ could zap rubbish! Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Slovenia

Children from Danube towns across Slovakia joined in Bratislava’s national festival. Fronted by TV’s Roman Bomboš, highlights included dance, river trips, kayaking, sterlet releases and photo-shoots with a water-sprite! Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Slovakia

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, ICPDR President, Deputy Minister Ermina Salkičević-Dizdarević, presided over a festival of arts and culture enjoyed by children and embassy, ministerial and NGO representatives at the source of the River Bosna. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Bosnia-Herzegovina

In Croatia, thousands enjoyed spectacular celebrations at a joint EU accession-Danube Day party in Vukovar. In Slavonski Brod, age-old sights, sounds and smells wafted over the Sava at the international ‘Fišijada’ fish stew festival. Croatian national Danube Art Masters went on to win the international title at the 13-country final. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Croatia

In Hungary, 11,000 people joined events throughout summer. Highlights included river and city festivals, sturgeon stroking, dragonboat races, tango-flashmob, Danube Box contest and awarding of international Art Master winners by János Áder at the global Budapest Water Summit. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Hungary

In Austria, a dramatic challenge to slack-line the width of the Vienna Danube was accompanied by flying fish, living sturgeon and a bubble show on the beach. 1500 teenagers got active with their own ‘Danube Challenge’, digging mini-models of the Basin. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Austria

In the Czech Republic, 750 Moravian children competed in the Danube Art Master contest. 70 of the top artists enjoyed celebrations in Olomouc and a canoe adventure through Litovelské Pomoraví. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in the Czech Republic

In Germany, thousands enjoyed the Baden-Württemberg Danube Experience in Sigmaringen and eco activities and music in Immendingen. Bavaria’s Danube Art Master contest and Ingolstadt Swim brought cheer to the flooded region; and in Ulm, the Danube Festival was a big hit. Download the fact sheet to read more about events and organisers: Danube Day 2013 in Germany

International Events

• Danube Art Master
  2000 children from 237 schools entered this international art extravaganza overseen by GWP CEE. With 30,000 artworks in the last 4 years, they send a strong message of Basin solidarity. Hungarian President János Áder awarded the international prize to Croatia at the Budapest Water Summit. View the winning artworks on Flickr and Facebook.
• Commissioner Hahn’s Danube Day message
  View EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn’s Danube Day 2013 video message to the region.
• International Blue Danube Week
  A fiesta of the arts in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, featuring a cross-border dance festival, music, art and spectacle, organised by Danube Competence Centre and local authorities.
• Danube Camp at Dunasziget Eco Park
  30 young researchers from across the region gathered in Hungary for the inaugural IAD Danube Camp to promote international cooperation and share knowledge. 
• Greet the Danube Horn Blast
  At 14:00 hours on Danube Day, the annual horn blast sounded out as ships saluted the Danube rivers.
• Tisza tributaries in Ukraine
  Following a 5-country commemoration of the Tisza two years ago, 2013 marked the first of six actions to restore the sources of the Tisza’s main tributaries.
• Fišijada festival in Slavonski Brod, Croatia
  Age-old Danube sights, sounds and smells greeted visitors at the annual cross-border celebration of regional gastronomy, music and crafts.

The ICPDR would like to thank all the organisations involved in Danube Day 2013.