On Sunday, September 20, our members — with the help of external collaborators — once again successfully organized two traditional society events: the Hike through Trubar’s Native Parish and the Dried Fruit Festival. Hikers and visitors were very pleased with our efforts and the offerings, and we were proud to receive their praise. 

After a welcome address by Association President Lojze Senčar and a "sweet breakfast" 76 of us hikers set off from Turjak towards Rašica. We explored part of the *Jezične dogodivščine* (Linguistic Adventures) trail — a new marked path created by the Škrateljc Institute that serves as a fun, forest-based Slovenian language school. Along the way, Božo Zalar offered us the "water of youth" from the artesian spring. At the Trubar Homestead, Marta Grčar reminded us that the following day (September 21) marked the 40th anniversary of the homestead's opening — an occasion that had actually been celebrated on September 12. She also showed the hikers the mill and the sawmill.

On the walk to the Church of St. Kancijan — where Trubar was baptized — hikers heard the legend of the little dragon Ponikel and the little dragoness Rašica. Inside the church, Parish Priest Janez Selan shared insights into the history of the local area, the church itself, and the Counts of Turjak.

At Gradež, a large group of members and external volunteers was waiting to ensure the main event ran smoothly, handling everything from cooking, baking, and serving to guiding tours, explaining village landmarks, demonstrating traditional rural chores, running a raffle, and providing entertainment.

Visitors could purchase handicrafts and local products — such as honey, pasta, flour, cookies, jam, beverages, cured meats, woodwork, pottery, knitwear, textiles, and jewelry—at numerous stalls; naturally, our society was among the vendors.

Before the cultural program, we heard brief remarks from Mayor Matjaž Hočevar, who attended the event alongside Member of Parliament Dejan Zakrajšek. The president of our association welcomed the attendees, thanked sponsors and everyone who helped organize the event, and introdiced stallholders. Next, performances were given by pupils from the Turjak Primary School, our Krheljčki group, and the Marlenke singers from the Velike Lašče Pensioners' Association. We were especially delighted when the Turjak Primary School pupils recited a poem about our village of Gradež and the society, written by the school's head, Meta Kovačič.

For the exhibition, a mushroom identifier from Hočevje identified 115 different species —poisonous, inedible, and edible mushrooms — that we members had gathered on Friday and Saturday.

Archers happily taught the skill to anyone interested, while Scouts entertained the youngest visitors with games. 

In the evening, the band Pojav provided music for entertainment and dancing; as was the case last year, the dancing was opened by members of the Moravče Pensioners' Association.

Following the official program, two firefighters from the Škocjan Volunteer Fire Department — who had earlier managed safe parking — provided further entertainment with their accordions. 

More details (including summaries of conversations with hikers and other visitors) will be published in the next issue of Trobla. 

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