Nestled peacefully below the hill of Hum and quietly watched over by the Tabor castle, is the ancient settlement today known as the town of beer and flowers. The town of Laško, graced by Roman legionnaires and missionaries of the Middle Ages, and once a cosmopolitan health Mecca of the Austrian-Hungarian Emperor Francis Joseph I near the end of the 19^th century, was sought after for one reason and one reason alone, its warm spring waters from the hills of the Lurd region. Crystal clear with no impurities, the water has often been revered for its health-giving properties.

Utilizing the region’s divine water is the town’s very own Laško brewery. Humbly founded in 1825 by a producer of gingerbread and mead, Franz Gezer, today’s brewery is the largest in Slovenia. Nearly two centuries after its establishment, the Laško brewery is one of the largest beer manufactures in Europe, with profits estimated at over five million euros annually. Faithfully adhering to brewing traditions passed down through the generations, Laško beer is a favorite among the Slovenes and the country's many visitors. And following in the footstep of numerous other breweries, Laško has expanding its production to include a diverse range of light, dark, and low-alcohol beers, as well as nonalcoholic beverages such as soft drinks, iced teas, and natural still drinking water Oda.

In addition to being a strong economic foundation in the community, the Laško brewery is active in numerous cultural and athletic events within its own town and throughout the country of Slovenia, including the Laško Festival of Beer & Flowers (Pivo-Cvetje). This year the festival will be held on 10 –14 July and is sure to be, as always, a very entertaining event.

Originating in 1963 as a simple flower exhibition the festival instantly gained popularity adding additional exhibitions, a parade, and a fireworks display the following year. Of course being the hometown to the beloved Laško beer, the innkeepers and pub owners could not serve up enough of the refreshing brew during the festivals initial beginnings. The ample drafts enthusiastically consumed during the event made beer synonyms with the festival and substantial quantities were made in anticipation the years preceding. Further enhancing in the years that followed the festival inaugurated numerous additional events such as musical performances, an auto rally, tombola, parachutists, Lašèaniada (sports and games), and of course more and more pints of the finest Laško brewery has to offer.

Today Laško’ s annual Beer and Flower Festival is rumored to be the most popular and frequented tourist event in Slovenia. Each summer the humble town with a population of barely 5,000 hosts more than 120,000 visitors during the five-day festival. The town’s small inns open their doors with earnest excitement and countless beer tents are pitched to help accommodate the merry and thirsty patrons. Musical performances, a variety of events, and ample drafts make the event truly spectacular.

Reputed to be the ultimate high point of the festival is the "craziest Saturday night" ever! Attracting over 50,000 spectators the firework display makes the night truly memorable (even if the beer hazes one’s memory a touch!). Spectators watch in awe as thousands of fire rockets, launched from dual sides of the village from the Tabor castle and the Krištof hill, are said to "conjure up a magical atmosphere," in the antiquated town of Laško.

Yet some patrons claim that the festival’s Parade rivals the firework display as the most memorable moment, quoted as being "a true harmony of flowers, beer and the demonstration of traditional customs." Its numerous floats are described to combine brewing tradition, local heritage, and the simple natural beauty of flowers. Rustic flavor is also further enhanced by the offering of ample traditional cuisine. To compliment the rustic flair one can witness a traditional marriage ceremony, in complete accordance to the customs of old. The ceremony is conducted by the Ethnological Society 'Moznar (The Mortar) and the Anton Tanc' Cultural Society. In addition to it all, patrons will find numerous activities and events and fun for kids of all ages, including a fun fair, a creative workshop, and a Kid’s Program organized daily in the parking lot adjacent to the local city bank.

Of course the Festival of Beer and Flowers would not be complete without flowers. And not surprisingly flowers are everywhere! In the park, over the town’s bridge, and strewn throughout the town, flower arrangements prepared by local florists and the local Horticultural society make every inch of the town bloom with beauty.

It is said "Nowhere can you find so much entertainment as in Laško during the Festival of BEER & FLOWERS. You can amuse yourself into the early hours, having a sing-a-song, getting merry with your friends, and meeting new ones."