The Pifko’s parade is one of the most recognisable symbols of the International Puppet Theatre Festival, marking the moment when the festival steps beyond the theatre and becomes part of the city’s everyday life. It is a ritual through which, for decades, the festival has affirmed its openness, its presence in public space, and its mission to bring communities together through puppetry, inspire imagination, and create shared experiences that transcend age and artistic boundaries.
Leading the parade since 1990 is PIFKO, the festival’s giant mascot, conceived and created by Professor Mira Dulčić, an academic painter. Its appearance marked the beginning of a new visual identity for the festival. More than simply a mascot, PIFKO has become an ambassador of PIF, year after year leading a colourful procession of artists, puppeteers, children, drummers, and countless participants, inviting the citizens of Zagreb to join the festival celebration.
Each year, the parade brings together Croatian and international artists, musical ensembles, stilt walkers, large-scale and monumental puppets, and generations of puppet theatre enthusiasts. While every edition introduces new performances and participants, its central idea remains unchanged: to open the festival to the city and ensure that every first encounter with PIF is joyful, playful, and accessible to all.
