Based on the rich baroque tradition and music of Varaždin, the festival of Varaždin Baroque Evenings was founded in 1968 holding its first festival in 1971. In Autumn, between the months of September and October, a wealth of baroque music is performed by not only Croatian but equally world musicians and music ensembles. Performances can be heard within the ambiance of the well-preserved, restored town churches, Varaždin's old town together with many castles and churches spreading through the entire north-west region of Croatia. The programme of "Baroque Evenings" is focused on research of both European and Croatian baroque music with a clear emphasis on the music genre of Varaždin. As a vibrant festival, it represents a combination of the visual arts, literacy and gastronomically baroque treasures taking place at a time of the yearly grape harvest in this wine-rich area. Within the concept of the Varaždin Baroque Evenings, Neo-baroque music  was introduced and steadily the popularity of the festival grew, currently holding up to 30 concerts yearly.