The period of pranks at the lower Podravje, the time when the authority is temporarily transferred to Shrovetide masks, lasts a fortnight, ending with the burial of the carnival on Shrove Tuesday. As reported by Danijel Poslek, Radio Slovenija correspondent, it was merry in Dornava as well, where the first furrow was made at midnight, while in Markovci cracks of a whip could be heard. The mission of Kurents is to drive away winter and evil, and to lure spring, good luck and abundant crops.

Besides spectators, traditionally approximately one hundred Kurents gather in Budina, thus announcing the beginning of gay Shrovetide events in Ptuj. It is an old tradition, according to which Kurents put on their outfit only at Candlemass. Exactly at noon the first Kurent jumps, and his bell is heard for the first time; all the other Kurents follow his lead. The Ptuj Kurents were received also by the President of the National Assembly Milan Brglez.

A fortnight of fun
Shrovetide pranks at the Ptuj region will continue until the burial of the carnival on February 17, and most of the events are scheduled for the period starting with February 7, with the 55th Kurent Carnival Festival, Kurentovanje. It will begin with the show of the largest number of autochthonous Shrovetide masks in the Central Europe, and for a couple of days the mayor of the city Miran Senčar will transfer his authority to the Carnival Prince Rajko Jurgec – Bertold Draneški. The novelty this year will be the evening parade. On Friday, February 13, the masks will pass through the old city centre towards the city market, where the best masks will receive practical prizes. For the evenings presentations of ethnographic characters are scheduled, followed by ethno-pop-rock concerts of a number of music groups.
The best attended Shrovetide celebration
The climax of this year's Kurentovanje, which is considered the largest Shrovetide carnival event in Slovenia and in the Central Europe, represents the international parade on the Shrove Sunday, Februrary 15. This year the organizers are expecting approximately 3,500 participants from Slovenia and the neighbouring countries, and the number of spectators every year is counted in tens of thousands.
The organizer expect that more than 100 events of public interest, for which this year 170,000 Euros will be spent (invested by the city and sponsors), will attract approximately 10,000 active participants from five countries, and at least 120,000 spectators from Slovenia and abroad.