In Maksimir, 60,000 free portions of beans worth nearly one million kuna will be served on May 1st

At the traditional celebration of May 1st, International Workers’ Day, citizens began arriving at Zagreb’s Maksimir Park early in the morning, where they will be greeted with a rich entertainment program and 60,000 free portions of beans with sausage prepared for them by the City of Zagreb and Mayor Milan Bandić.

In front of the park entrance, an SDP stand has been set up, and it has been announced that their president Davor Bernardić, along with party colleagues and citizens of Zagreb, will distribute red carnations. It has been announced that the opposition leader Davor Bernardić will give a statement to the press at 10:30 in honor of International Workers’ Day.

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Mayor Milan Bandić invited citizens from 10 AM to 6 PM to the traditional gathering in Maksimir Park to celebrate International Workers’ Day together with a suitable entertainment program and the indispensable May Day Zagreb beans this year as well.

Upon entering Maksimir Park, citizens were welcomed at 9:30 AM by the ZET Wind Orchestra, Zagreb Majorettes, and the Cultural and Artistic Society (KUD) Bukovac. Mayor Bandić is expected to join them around 9:45 AM when he will distribute carnations to citizens. Then, accompanied by the ZET Wind Orchestra, Zagreb Majorettes, and KUD Bukovac, they will proceed in a procession to the stage where free portions of beans will begin to be distributed on the meadow. It is planned that the beans will be distributed to citizens until 6 PM, when the cultural and entertainment program will also end.

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A protest march will also arrive at Maksimir Park, which will start at 11 AM in front of the Workers’ Home. This year’s International Workers’ Day will be marked by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia and the Croatian Trade Union Confederation with a protest march in Zagreb under the slogan “For Reforms for People.” This slogan encapsulates the demands of Croatian workers – fair wages and better working conditions, dignified old age, quality education as the foundation of development and future, an efficient public health system accessible to all, effective judiciary and public administration, and restoring citizens’ trust in institutions, as well as changing the relationship towards the European Union and within it.

Everything is ready for the May 1st celebration in Maksimir, 60,000 portions of beans will be distributed

Mayor Bandić traditionally visited Maksimir and the Good Home Institution in Kosnica the evening before the celebration, where the beans are being cooked.

“Traditionally, we always come here before we start distributing beans for May 1st to see if everything is functioning. Sixty thousand portions of beans will be cooked tonight, tomorrow morning, and before noon, and distributed throughout the day. One hundred people will distribute at 30 points. And God is on our side – it won’t rain, it won’t be wet, it won’t be muddy. We expect a large turnout from our citizens and that we will distribute everything,” Mayor Bandić told reporters at the Good Home Institution where the May Day beans are being cooked for the citizens of Zagreb.

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Mayor Bandić will start distributing portions of beans in Maksimir at 10 AM on May 1st.

Initially, he said, repeats will not be distributed to avoid creating large “tails,” but later, when the crowd decreases, he will, as he says, “stuff them into baskets, because when the beans are good, people take them home.”

When asked if the bean recipe has changed and if it might be different this year, Bandić says that something is always added to make it better, and the recipe is a secret and will not be revealed.

The beans will be transported to Maksimir in vans, adhering to strict hygiene measures, and all those distributing beans in Maksimir will have sanitary certificates.

The director of the Good Home Institution, Alen Župan, stated that 45,000 portions of beans will be cooked at the Good Home Institution, and that the Croatian Army will cook another 10,000 portions, while the City Red Cross will prepare 5,000 portions.

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He highlighted that 6,000 kilograms of beans, 4,700 kilograms of sausage, and 2,700 kilograms each of bacon and smoked neck will be used in the preparation of the beans. Citizens will also receive 60,000 rolls, and three water tanks will be provided at three locations. Three emergency medical teams will be on duty in Maksimir Park.

The total cost is 980,000 kuna, including technical organization, he added.

After ensuring that the beans are cooking, Mayor Bandić also toured Maksimir Park with his associates. He announced that he would start distributing portions of beans to the citizens of Zagreb at 10 AM and that this year, for the first time, separate waste collection has been introduced in the park for this year’s celebration.

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The head of Cleanliness, a subsidiary of Zagreb Holding, Goran Bradić, stated that 173 bins and 72 containers of 1,100 liters have been set up in Maksimir Park. Mixed municipal waste, plastic, metal, and paper will be collected separately.

The head of the Zagreb Markets, a subsidiary of Zagreb Holding, Stanko Gačić, stated that this year, portions of beans will be distributed at 30 stands in Maksimir Park, and 300 meters of benches have been provided for citizens.

The head of the City Office for Social Protection and Persons with Disabilities, Romana Galić, emphasized that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the City of Zagreb organizing the celebration on May 1st. She said they are proud to have marked Labor Day in such a beautiful way for 10 consecutive years. She announced that they have also catered to older citizens who will not be able to come to Maksimir, and that around 4,000 portions of beans will be distributed in Zagreb’s neighborhoods.