Sixth Coca-Cola Sarajevo Holiday Market Opens in Sarajevo

With a large number of citizens present in Hastahana Park at Marijin Dvor in Sarajevo, the Coca-Cola Sarajevo Holiday Market opened, which for the sixth year in a row enables the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina to have a special, festive atmosphere, original products, and plenty of other entertainment for all generations. The market was officially opened after the Mayor of Centar Municipality Nedžad Ajnadžić, Mayor of Sarajevo Ivo Komšić, Deputy Mayor Abdulah Skaka, Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković, Director of Sarajevo Holiday Market Alis Brkić, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC B-H Maria Anargyrou-Nikolić, and Director of the USAID Economic Department in BiH Thomas Rojas lit the lights on a richly decorated 14.5-meter-high Christmas tree.

The most cheerful Sarajevo winter event, Coca-Cola Sarajevo Holiday Market, is taking place this year in Hastahana Park at Marijin Dvor from December 7, 2016, to January 14, 2017, and during this period, Sarajevans will celebrate all the holidays celebrated at the end of one year and the beginning of the next together.

Mayor Komšić expressed his satisfaction that the Holiday Market is being organized in Sarajevo again this year, as it is an event that all major European cities have.

- This is an important event for us before Christmas and New Year. If we want Sarajevo to be a European city, as we constantly say, then we must behave like Europeans. All cities in Europe have these markets, Komšić emphasized.

Mayor Ajnadžić said that the Centar Municipality, in its desire to improve the tourist offer and provide its citizens with a more pleasant environment for the upcoming holidays, decided to support the organization of the Coca-Cola Holiday Market.

- I am happy with all of you and I wish us to enjoy this year's Coca-Cola Holiday Market together, which is being held in the area of the Centar Municipality for the first time. I am sure that the most interesting content of the event for our youngest citizens will be the ice rink. The Centar Municipality and the municipal administration fully support this project and will continue to do so in the future. This local community will allocate financial resources to make the ice rink available to citizens, primarily children, during the winter break as well, Ajnadžić added.

Before and after the lighting of the lights, visitors were entertained by Sarajevo tambura players, the children's choir Basic's, and DJ Santa Sister, and after the outdoor program, DJ Haringa and the band Gonzo performed in the PAN Winter Pub.

As a reminder, the Coca-Cola Sarajevo Holiday Market is a joint activity of the Association of Citizens ZUP (Zone of Improved Business) Baščaršija and the Sarajevo Navigator Foundation, created under the umbrella of the USAID Sida Firma Project and in cooperation with the City of Sarajevo. This year's Coca-Cola Sarajevo Holiday Market is realized with the great support of the Centar Municipality, led by Mayor Nedžad Ajnadžić, and the significant assistance of the Government of Sarajevo Canton.

This unique cheerful winter fairy tale will once again complement the winter offer of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina through a multitude of entertainment content. The most fun will be in the PAN Winter Pub, where visitors can enjoy concerts, promotions, and tastings every day, and the Market will again bring plenty of fun for the youngest as part of the Argeta Junior Play House children's playroom, Jaffa Luna Park, and the Coca-Cola Santa Claus Village. The events on the outdoor stage, BH Telecom Ultra Stage, where numerous performers, animators, and mascots will perform every day, will also contribute to the good atmosphere. Unique and attractive holiday gifts, handicrafts from local producers, and refreshments with hot drinks and delicious food can be purchased at the tenants' stands. A novelty of this year's Coca-Cola Sarajevo Holiday Market is the Addiko Outdoor Ice Rink, with real ice on about 400 square meters, where skating will be free during the 39 days of Sarajevo's winter fairy tale. The opening of the ice rink is planned for December 9.