The Fešta od mimoze, ribe i vina — the Feast of Mimosa, Fish and Wine — was the centrepiece of this year's 55th Mimosa Festival, and by every measure it exceeded expectations. More than 35,000 guests arrived along the Herceg Novi coastline on a warm spring day of 17 degrees Celsius, filling the promenade from Kumbor through Đenović all the way to Baošići.

On twelve wood fires, organisers grilled 1,500 kilograms of fresh fish — more than ever before, according to the team responsible for the barbecues. Around 350 kilograms of mimosa flowers were distributed to visitors along the route, the bright yellow clusters passed from hand to hand as the procession moved east along the waterfront. Majorettes and musical ensembles led the parade, keeping pace with the crowd.

Municipality President Stevan Katić highlighted the festivity's regional significance, welcoming diplomatic representatives from several countries alongside delegations from Herceg Novi's sister cities. Tourism Minister Vladimir Martinović described it as "a magnificent event" that benefits Montenegro's entire tourism sector by extending visitor interest into the spring months, traditionally quieter than the summer peak.

The festival has grown steadily from its origins in 1969 into one of the most recognised winter-to-spring events on the eastern Adriatic. The mimosa itself — a yellow-scented flower originally from Australia, brought to Herceg Novi by sailors — blooms through the coldest months, making it a natural symbol of the city's mild Bay of Kotor microclimate. By February, the hills above the old town turn yellow with blooms before the rest of Europe has seen a hint of spring.

This year's programme ran across several days and included carnivals, cultural exhibitions, sports competitions, and evening concerts. The Fešta itself remains the most popular single day — a rare combination of outdoor cooking, live music, flower parades and the particular atmosphere that comes from a small city briefly becoming the centre of the region's attention.