Hanna
Gulyás is the mastermind behind the festival, which launched its pilot version in 2020 with only 100 attendees, with enormous success. She is also known
for hosting a series of secret concerts in secluded locations around
Budapest, known as the Garden Wonder concerts.
The idea for the festival grew
out of those shows, a way to extend the experience beyond just the performance.
“I noticed that a lot of people were sticking around after the concerts,” Hanna
explains, “and we’d often end up at a bar afterwards with the artists and fans
all mingling together, chatting until two, three, four in the morning!”
The festival is located on the private grounds of a local Transylvanian couple, which Hanna describes as like “stepping into Alice in Wonderland”. Grassy fields are framed by tall, aromatic pines, with a backdrop of mist-laden mountains completing the picture, and a gurgling, crystalline stream providing the site with water. It’s not far to a lake for swimming – the most beautiful in Romania according to Hanna – and with no mobile reception to distract, it’s the perfect place to practise the festival’s motto: Here. Now.
How much are tickets?
The festival is currently offering two tickets: the normal pass is 33,900 forints for the four-day festival programme and tent space. A planet-friendly version is 38,000 which includes the planting of a tree in your name, to offset your carbon emissions. This is done through the Plant a Tree project in Nyíradony, which readers may remember from their summer Gin & Tonic special.
How do I get there?
Currently
there are two options. The first is the simplest: A return bus will take you
directly from Budapest to the festival (with a stop in Debrecen) for 15,000 forints,
departing at 6am on 8 July (Thursday) from Heroes' Square, and returning at 8pm
on 11 July (Sunday).
Guests can also drive to the festival, and a
Facebook group has been set up to facilitate carpooling between attendees.
What do I need to cross the border?
The Hungarian government has just given the green light to all border crossings between Hungary and Romania, meaning that anyone who has Hungarian residency or work contract will be allowed free access between the two countries.
What will I eat?
The Festival Kitchen aims to bring festivalgoers together each day as a place to talk and mingle, and Hanna’s eyes light up when the subject turns to the menu. “Other than the music,” she says, “I’m most excited about the food!” The organisers have hired Gergely Zsolnay as chef for the project – when not supplying gourmet, locally-sourced meals to festivalgoers, you can catch him as the vegan chef for FLOW Café in Budapest.
All the fresh produce for the festival is coming directly from Transylvanian farms and suppliers, which the organizers see as a way of giving back to the local community. “This isn’t ordinary camping food,” Hanna stresses. She swipes through photos from the menu test a few days earlier: beetroot, peanuts and lentils, creamy melon soup and crunchy red-cabbage salads, to name just a few options.
Gergely is focusing the menu to be nutrient-rich and able to sustain attendees throughout the entire day. Meal tickets are 14,900 forints which includes three breakfasts and three dinners, coming out to about 3,000 forints per sitting. All of the meals are suitable for vegan diets, with many also being gluten-free.
Even alcohol is something special here. Founder of craft brewery Bers Nova is dedicating a unique, one-time run to the festival: the Wonderest Spruce Ale, spiced with young fir-tree buds as a nod to the Alpine location.
What other activities will be available?
In addition to music, the festival will be alive
with events and activities for guests to take part in, from yoga classes to
talks on sustainability and hikes to the nearby lake, where it’s possible to
swim. A special Sunrise Concert encourages attendees to wake up early enough to
witness the sunrise at least once – with free coffee to compensate you for the
effort!
Zero-waste and sustainability
The festival is committed to being as green as possible, and that means that no waste will be permitted in the grounds. Guests will be given a bin bag upon arrival, and any rubbish they end up with must be taken back out again. Also, all cups, bowls and plates must be brought in by festival attendees, as the food will be served directly into guests’ own tableware.
What if I don’t like camping?
While your ticket includes camping space, Hanna is quick to point out that other accommodation is available, including luxurious AirBnBs in the area which can fit up to eight people, and run to about 70,000 forints/person for three nights.
More information on the festival can be found on the website, Facebook page, Instagram and YouTube. Artists will be coming in from all over the world, and Hanna hopes to see an equally diverse crowd show up in the audience. “It’s a really special experience,” she says. “It’s just a really friendly, chill vibe.”
All tickets are available on the dedicated ticket portal.
