The festival was opened by mayor Nikola Grguric. Also in attendance was the director of the National Tourist Board, Kristjan Stanicic, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli as the prime minister's envoy and MP Josip Boric as the parliament speaker's envoy.
The three-day festival brings 700 costumed participants to Rab's streets. On Thursday, costumed coopers, shoemakers, goldsmiths, stonemasons, carpenters, candlemakers, bakers, blacksmiths and others will present medieval trades and crafts.
Visitors can also learn about old fishing techniques and taste fish dishes and other delicacies, including the island's most famous treat, the Rab cake.
A crossbow tournament will be held on St. Christopher Day, Rab's patron saint, and the festival will close with fireworks at midnight on Friday.
The first Rapska Fjera was held in July 1364, when the town council wished to thank King Louis the Great for liberating the island from the Republic of Venice. In the Middle Ages, the festival lasted two weeks and its re-enactments began in 2002.