Sensa is Malinska’s oldest local celebration, and one of the best reasons to visit Krk at the end of spring. Every year around Ascension Day, the people of Dubašnica bless their cheese and wine, young men race for cheese, and the whole area celebrates its farming and sea traditions. This guide explains what Sensa in Malinska is, how the cheese race works, when to come, and how to combine the festival with a visit to DUBoak, the town’s maritime heritage centre.
What is Sensa in Malinska?
Sensa is the old local name for the Feast of the Ascension. In Dubašnica, the area around Malinska, the feast has always been linked to cheese. For centuries, many families here lived from sheep farming and dairy work, so the first cheese of the season was something worth celebrating.
Today, Sensa is both a religious custom and a small festival. It celebrates the Krk sheep, island cheese and the food that comes from pastoral life on Krk.
Teć za sir: the race for cheese
The heart of Sensa in Malinska is the custom called teć za sir, which means “running for cheese”. The evening starts with Mass in the parish church of St Apollinaris (sv. Apolinar) in Bogovići, where the priest blesses the cheese and wine.
After Mass, young men line up in front of the church and race along a short course for the cheese. The race is quick, loud and very local, with families and neighbours cheering from the side. If you want a good view, arrive early and stand near the church.
The Sensa cheese festival today
Around the old custom, Malinska now organises a festival that lasts several days. The programme changes every year, but it usually includes:
- a market with local cheese, lamb, olive oil, wine and other island products,
- tastings of sheep’s cheese dishes in local restaurants,
- wool and craft workshops,
- guided heritage walks and talks,
- evening concerts with klapa singers and folk groups.
For example, the 2025 edition ran from 28 to 31 May and was dedicated to sheep farming on Krk. As a result, it brought together farmers, cooks and guests from other regions.
When is Sensa in Malinska?
Sensa follows the church calendar, so the date moves every year. It takes place around Ascension Day, which is 39 days after Easter. In 2027, Ascension Day falls on Thursday, 6 May, so expect the festival around that date.
The local tourist board publishes the exact programme, so check the official Sensa page on Visit Malinska before you travel. Late spring is also a great time to visit because the sea is warming up and the beaches are still quiet. Read more in our guide to the best time to visit Malinska.
DUBoak: Malinska’s maritime heritage centre
Before or after the festival, visit DUBoak, the maritime heritage interpretation centre on the waterfront at Obala 21b. The name joins dub, the old Slavic word for oak, with the English word “oak”. It also hints at the Croatian word for “deep”.
The centre stands where ships once loaded timber from Krk’s oak forests for Rijeka and Venice. Its interactive exhibition has two parts: one about the oak forests of Dubašnica and one about traditional wooden boats. DUBoak opened in 2022, and in 2023 it won the Živa Award for the best heritage site.
DUBoak is also a partner of Sensa. It often hosts talks, guided walks and workshops during the festival. Opening hours and ticket prices change with the season, so check the DUBoak website before your visit.
Tips for visiting Sensa in Malinska
- Parking: the area around the church gets busy on the evening of the race, so park in town and walk. See our guide to free parking in Malinska.
- Food: try sheep’s cheese, Krk lamb and šurlice pasta. Our list of where to eat in Malinska and the guide to local food on Krk will help you choose.
- History: learn more about the church, the monastery and the old trades in our article on the history of Malinska.
- Where to stay: May is still low season, so you have more choice. See where to stay in Malinska.
For everything else, from beaches to boat trips, start with our complete Malinska travel guide.
In short
Sensa in Malinska is a small, genuine island festival, not a show made for tourists. Come for the blessing of cheese and wine and the race in front of the church. Then stay for the market, the music and a visit to DUBoak. Together, they give you a real taste of Dubašnica’s farming and sea heritage.
Leave a Reply