New Year celebrated across Serbia

New Year celebrated across Serbia

Belgraders and their guests from elsewhere in the country and from abroad had a chance to see action star and performer Steven Seagal in concert during the evening, while folk star Lepa Brena performed at midnight.

The police, including the Gendarmerie, was deployed in the city during a night that went without any major incidents.

In Novi Sad, people gathered at the main square for performances from domestic rock bands, including the best known among them, Love Hunters and Van Gogh. At midnight, revelers enjoyed a fireworks display. Mayor Milos Vucevic wished them a happy new year in a short address.

There were no organized public celebrations In Kosovska Mitrovica and other Serb areas of Kosovo and Metohija, so most citizens welcomed in 2016 in their homes, in the company of their family and friends, mostly for financial reasons - while others chose restaurants and cafes.

Serbs in Kosovo will organize open air celebrations on January 13 - for the so-called Serb, or Orthodox New Year.

Gunfire was heard in the multi-ethnic area of Bosnjaka Mahala in Kosovska Mitrovica after midnight, said reports. In Krusevac, central Serbia, more than 20,000 people gathered to celebrate and hear folk star Ceca Raznatovic in concert.

She took the opportunity to wish a happy new year, and to thank "her friend Bata (Bratislav) Gasic for insisting that I perform in Krusevac." She was referring to the disgraced defense minister who is expected to be sacked for making offensive sexist remarks aimed at a reporter.

There were concerts and celebrations in other towns, including Priboj, Prijepolje, Cacak, Jagodina, as well as in the winter resort of Mt. Zlatibor.