Marking the 125th anniversary of the birth of Ksaver Šandor Gjalski in Zabok in 1979, the Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Literary Award was established. In 1985, the award became an annual literary award, a prestigious recognition of the author of the best published prose literary work in the Republic of Croatia. From the initial idea of awarding a literary prize, a cultural event has developed with numerous and varied activities.

Cultural event Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Days is held every year in late October, the week when Gjalski was born. Numerous cultural programs are organized – exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, book promotions and the award ceremony as the central part of the program.