Zagreb's Rock'n'Roll Theme Park
Late Scott McKenzie once said:
If you're going to Zagreb
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
Well, actually, he didn't say that, but, hypothetically, if he had lived a year or two longer and visited Zagreb, he would have said something along these lines. If you are like McKenzie and you like decorating your hair with flowers, wearing clothes that look like they have been washed in a rainbow and Chuck Taylor isn't "just a name" to you, then you will most certainly enjoy the relatively newly opened Rock'n'Roll theme park in Zagreb. It’s a great place to go to if you want to hang out, drink some beer and just enjoy great music. It’s one of the most popular gathering spots for students, rockers that refuse to grow old, members of the alternative culture and the likes. Set in Pavla Hatza Street, not too far from the city center, this park is a result of Dražen Goreta’s life-long passion for music.
Image credit: The Beertija Facebook page
Opened in 2013, the Rock'n'Roll theme park is actually a part of the larger subculture center, named "Klub". It all started with a sculpture made by Marin Marinić, a fitting sculpture dedicated to the legendary guitarist and the lead vocalist of The Clash, Joe Strummer, a sculpture whose location is also known as Joe Strummer Square. It was a small oasis for everyone nostalgic about evergreen rock compositions. Today, a visit to the theme park isn’t just a visit to see the sculptures, but a full-fledged musical experience for all those who like rock’n’roll and similar musical genres. And it’s still growing. What started as a cultural project of a couple of enthusiasts could easily develop into a complete theme park one day, one that will put Zagreb on the musical map of Europe.
When you enter the yard, you’ll quickly notice numerous sculptures. As I already mentioned, it all started with a sculpture of Joe Strummer. And 2 years later, Joe has some pretty nice company. Here you can see sculptures of Nick Cave, Jimmy Hendrix, John Lennon, Amy Winehouse, Jack White, The Ramones and Iggy Pop as well as art installations ''Bands Of The Decade'', dedicated to Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, The White Stripes and Queens Of The Stone Age, and ''Queens of Rock’n’Roll'', dedicated to Patti Smith, Debbie Harry and Skin from Skunk Anansie. I don’t even have to remind you how big of an influence these musicians had, not just on music, but on art and culture in general. It is an everlasting testimonial to the artistic greatness of the musicians, which is something that they, without a doubt, deserve. The park is constantly growing and evolving, and new sculptures and installations are added every so often. The long-term plan is to start adding new sculptures every month to further enrich the culture and the tourism scene in the whole of Zagreb.
Image credit: The Beertija Facebook page
This array of sculptures is set in a place that is conceptualized to celebrate the spirit of freedom and expression that is so tightly tied to the concept of the theme park. Here, you can just take a walk and look at the sculptures, and the entrance is free. It is a venue where there is no place for bad music, and the statues prove that. You can join other like-minded people and try some of 150 types of beer and homemade food on the terrace of Beertija. Later in the evening, climb down to Klub’s basement and enjoy a concert or musical theme night, depending on what they have in store for you. Honor the music in a way that music is meant to be honored. It’s entirely up to you. In the end, whatever you choose, just remember to keep your mind opened, enjoy the music and bring some flowers in your hair.
Image credit: The Beertija Facebook page
Header image credit: The Beertija Facebook page
Author: Marko Pačar