Our Social Dinner: Real and relaxed
You walk in and it does not feel like a conference dinner. That is still the first thing worth saying.
For LeishVet UP!, we knew early on we did not want another predictable evening. It works, technically. But it disappears from memory almost instantly. So we went looking for something else. Not bigger. Not fancier. Just… more real.
That search led us just outside Bled, to Begunje. A short drive. Ten minutes, maybe a bit more if people get distracted by the scenery, which they usually do. Mountains in the background, open space, that quiet shift from “conference mode” to something looser. You can feel it even before arriving.
Gostilna Avsenik was not chosen by accident. And once you step inside, it makes sense.
The evening will take place in the Dvorana Pod Avsenikovo marelo. It is not just a dining room. It is a space that has hosted television shows, concerts, music competitions, even theatre. You can feel that history in the room. It is built for gatherings that matter. Not just meals. We are creating a shared moment.
Capacity is not an issue either. The space comfortably holds large groups, but what is interesting is that it still feels intimate once people are inside. That balance is not easy to get right.
And then there is the stage.
A proper one. Not a small corner with a speaker and a microphone. A real stage, designed for performances. That changes everything. It allows the evening to evolve naturally. Dinner is just one part of it. Music, interaction, maybe even a few surprises. The space invites it.
Here is where things shift from a standard event to something more memorable, because this is where people start to relax.
The structure of the evening helps. A welcome drink that is not rushed. People arriving in waves, conversations building naturally instead of being forced. Then dinner, rooted in Slovenian tradition. Generous, comforting, easy to share and talk about. No one is overthinking the menu. That is a good sign.
Then, almost without a hard transition, the energy lifts. Music fills the room. Not background noise. Something you notice immediately. Something that belongs to this place. There is always a moment, just a few seconds, where people are not sure what to do. Look around, smile, take it in.
And then it clicks.
Conversations get louder. People lean in. Someone laughs. Someone else starts tapping along to the rhythm. The room becomes more fluid, less structured. Titles and roles matter a little less.
For a congress like LeishVet UP!, that shift is incredibly valuable. During the day, everything is focused, precise, structured. Talks, data, discussions. Necessary, of course. But also intense. In the evening, you need something that releases that pressure without losing the sense of purpose. This setting does exactly that.
It creates space for real connection.
You start to see different dynamics. People who did not interact during sessions suddenly sharing a table conversation. New collaborations being hinted at over dessert. Small groups forming and reforming. It is subtle, but it is where the real value of a congress often lives.
And then there is the cultural layer.
We are not just hosting an event. We are inviting people into a piece of Slovenia that goes beyond the obvious highlights. Yes, Bled is beautiful. Everyone knows that. But this is something deeper. Music with roots. Food with context. A space that has been used for celebration, performance, and gathering long before our event arrived.
Months later, attendees might not remember every presentation. That is normal. But they will remember this night. The atmosphere. The sound of live music in a full room. The sense of being part of something that was not generic.
But the real reason goes beyond logistics. It gives the event a different kind of energy. One that is harder to describe, but easy to recognise when you are in the room.
And if people leave thinking, “that was not just another conference dinner,” then we have done our job.
So what do you need to do if you are coming to LeishVet UP! Congress 2026?
You just need to confirm your attendance for organisation purposes. The Social Dinner on October 16th 2026 is included in your registration rate, as well as the transport organised from the congress premises to the restaurant and back.
We hope you can join us!