Many enticing events attract crowds of visitors to the Hungarian countryside all year round, including varied wine festivals, enchanting musical extravaganzas, folk-dance gatherings, and so much more. This handy guide covers many of the major events to discover outside of Budapest throughout 2017, including links for more information on every program. All of the communities that are hosting these events can be reached from Budapest within a few hours by car or public transportation, making it easy to start exploring the diverse attractions that await across Hungary.
2/13
JANUARY
St. Vince Celebration 20-22 January, Pannonhalma
Embark on a high-spirited guided tour to the vineyards that envelop Pannonhalma’s sacred terrain to splash a drop of fresh libation on the vines on January 21st, while throughout the weekend the bibulous crowds can sample ecclesiastical wines and pálinka (Hungary’s traditional fruit-based brandy), alongside regional culinary delights at the underground chambers of the Pannonhalma Archabbey.
More details Winter Picnic in Etyek 21 January, Etyek
The seasonal picnic program is the highlight of Etyek, a rustic wine region found just a 30-minute drive away from Budapest. The winter edition of the festival offers activities that are compatible with the frosty conditions, including pork roasting, a mulled-wine making contest, a crafts market, live music, and dancing.
More details From Cellar to Cellar – Day of St. Vince 21 January, Villány and surrounding towns
Join a cellar-hopping tour and sip aromatic wines amid the scenic settings of Villány, one of Hungary’s major wine regions, found about 220 kilometers south of Budapest. Besides enjoying a selection of fine libations, oenophiles can conclude the high-spirited day by devouring varied local dishes provided at designated cellars.
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3/13
FEBRUARY
Sausage Festival 3-5 February, Fonyód (Sports Center)
Sample a variety of Hungary’s classic sausages and salamis made of ordinary pork, Grey Cattle beef, or Mangalica (a native breed of pig), alongside a selection of local treats like chimney cakes, strudels, and aromatic wines, all available in one place at the southern shore of Lake Balaton. Besides the delicious meals, visitors to the event can join a traditional pig-slaughtering feast or participate in sausage-filling activities.
More details Meat-Jelly Carnival 17-19 February, Miskolc
Plunge into the Magyars’ cheerful Carnival traditions in the eastern Hungarian city of Miskolc, where plenty of aspic dishes are proffered for visitors to try during the weekend. The celebration is complete with a masquerade parade, concerts, a folk-art market, family programs, and much more.
More details The Busó Festival of Mohács 23-28 February, Mohács
As the highlight of Hungary’s Carnival season, spine-chilling characters don eerie masks and furry costumes to chase winter away with a raucous procession at the Busó Festival in Mohács, while a bonfire floats on the Danube in anticipation of springtime’s arrival. Visitors from all over the country and from beyond flock to the southern Hungarian city to be part of this one-of-a-kind experience.
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4/13
MARCH
Pig Feast Days 10-12 March, Hajdúszoboszló (Szent István Park)
Hajdúszoboszló – a popular tourist destination in Hungary due to the abundance of thermal waters circulating under the city – turns into a grand pig-slaughtering feast, drawing attention to traditional local cuisine and drinks.
More details Pork and Pálinka Festival 15-19 March, Szeged (Széchenyi Square)
The central square of downtown Szeged is filled with mouthwatering pork meals and pálinka specialties for a long weekend, creating an authentic pig-slaughtering feast in urban settings, while the first day of the festival marks the country’s national holiday commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.
More details Lake Balaton Supermarathon 23-26 March, Siófok (start/finish: Hotel Magistern)
Thousands of hardcore runners sign up for the annual lakeside competition and run around the entire “Hungarian Sea” to challenge their fitness level throughout 195 kilometers and four days during this scenic annual supermarathon. The contest is open for both individual runners and for relay teams.
More details International Bohém Ragtime and Jazz Festival – Ladies in Jazz 24-26 March, Kecskemét (Cultural Center)
Jazzy ladies are in the spotlight of this year’s bohemian festival in the heart of Hungary’s expansive Great Plains, where prominent international and local performers ensure fascinating nights out, including Bria Skonberg from Canada and Jana Dekánková from Slovakia, taking the stage alongside esteemed jazz ensembles, including Hungary’s own Bohém Ragtime Jazz Band.
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5/13
APRIL
Spring Picnic in Etyek 8-9 April, Etyek
With the arrival of springtime, the tiny stone wine cellars of Etyek open their doors wide to welcome the public to enjoy their good libations amid bucolic settings, just a half-hour drive from central Budapest.
More details Open Cellar Days 8-9 April, Hajós
Several authentic cellars in Hungary’s winding Hajós wine region open their doors to the public to pour glassfuls of fragrant Cserszegi Fűszeres, Kadarka, and Cabernet Sauvignon wines to the bibulous crowds for sampling amid fairy-tale settings, while tongue-tickling Magyar meals accompany the aromatic libations.
More details Easter Festival in Hollókő 15-17 April, Hollókő
Classic Easter celebrations come alive in this historic World Heritage-listed village of Hollókő – a hillside community of old-fashioned homes, found a short journey north of Budapest – during this three-day open-air jamboree involving poetry, traditional “Palóc” gastronomy (meals characteristic to the northeastern region of Hungary), folk-dance performances, and plenty of splashing.
More details Easter Festival in Szentendre 16-17 April, Skanzen Hungarian Open Air Museum
Experience Hungary’s old-time Easter traditions amid the time-transcending hamlet of the Skanzen Hungarian Open Air Museum (a meticulously recreated Magyar village found in the charming town of Szentendre just north of Budapest), where exciting folklore events await revelers around the varied cottages and settings.
More details Tokaj Spring – Great Tokaj Wine Auction 21-23 April, Tokaj
Select libations by several of the region’s top producers go under the hammer, including an exclusive assortment of dry wines, delicate Aszú, late-harvest libations, and honey-sweet Essencia. A share of the proceeds benefits the Tokaj Wine Region, an area registered as being part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More details Pálinka Festival 28-30 April, Gyula (Várkert)
A Medieval castle in the southeast corner of Hungary is home to an intoxicating annual festival that features numerous local pálinka producers, serving a diverse collection of the country’s most prized potent potable.
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6/13
MAY
Concours D’Elegance 5-7 May, Balatonfüred
A collection of classic automobiles – like Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Citroen – lines Balatonfüred’s charming Tagore Promenade for a weekend, with all of the exhibited cars built before 1980.
More details ULTRABALATON 19-21 May, Balatonvilágos (Club Aliga)
Being an eagerly anticipated event among super-athletes, ULTRABALATON can’t receive any more entries at the moment, but anyone can go cheer for the contestants during this major jogging and cycling challenge that embraces spectacular Lake Balaton. Participants of the competition can choose their preferred speed and time, while enjoying numerous refreshment points all along the route that covers 220 kilometers within three days.
More details St. Orbán’s Day Wine Feast 26-28 May, Hajós
The vine-draped village of Hajós turns into a lively rural community around St. Orbán’s Day, when wine aficionados head to discover this hidden gem in southern Hungary to join refreshing tours and celebrations centered around the region’s intoxicating nectar.
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7/13
JUNE
Pentecost Pálinka Picnic 3-4 June, Tihany (Visszhang Hill)
Tihany’s panoramic hilltop echoes with merriment as visitors gather to taste some of Hungary’s special pálinka varieties and local gastronomy treats, all set before the scenic backdrop of Lake Balaton’s azure waters.
More details Harley-Davidson Open Road Fest 7-10 June, Alsóörs (Európa Camping)
Those who visit this rocking biker rally can mingle with a freedom-seeking community in Alsóörs on the northern shore of Balaton, where several concerts await with international and local star performers during five days.
More details Summer Picnic in Etyek 10-11 June, Etyek
The sun-splashed slopes of Etyek becomes a major meeting spot for oenophiles coming from Hungary’s capital and the nearby cities to enjoy a two-day outdoor get-together, where everything is about wine.
More details Lavender Festival 19-30 June, Tihany
Learn all about lavender cultivation and processing during this fragrant festival, happening every year on the Lake Balaton peninsula of Tihany. Besides honoring age-old traditions, several workshops introduce the various usage of the purple-colored plant. The highlight of the event is the lavender harvest that anyone can join.
More details Fishing on Orfű 20-24 June, Orfű (Panorama Camping)
Assorted local bands perform merry shows covering all genres of Hungarian music on multiple stages, including pop, rock, hip-hop, and more. This five-day alfresco extravaganza – held amid pristine nature just a short drive away from the city of Pécs – celebrates its 5th anniversary this year with performers including Csík Zenekar, Budapest Bár, and award-winning Hungarian musician András Lovasi.
More details VOLT Festival 27 June-1 July, Sopron
World-famous musicians throw great gigs at a forested campground in the hills above Sopron, providing one of Hungary’s greatest annual good-time gatherings. This year’s lineup includes several crowd-pulling names, like Linkin Park, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons, and Fritz Kalkbrenner, all playing amid plenty of open-air pubs and colorful attractions.
More details Szeged Open-Air Festival June-August, Szeged
Culture aficionados fill the temporary amphitheater on Szeged’s Dóm Square to watch live theatrical performances – including productions like Mamma Mia or Puccini’s Tosca – through the warm summer nights, all set in front of the soaring backdrop of the city’s majestic dome.
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8/13
JULY
Balaton Cross-Swimming 1 July, Révfülöp
Plunge into refreshing water to cover a 5.2-kilometer distance by swimming across Lake Balaton, starting from the northern shore of Révfülöp, all the way to Platan beach in Balatonboglár on the south. Participants can start swimming anytime between 8am and 2pm, after the compulsory registration and medical examination processes required to qualify for the competition.
More details Balaton Sound 5-9 July, Zamárdi
Cheerful revelers flood to the southern shore of Lake Balaton to let loose amid electronica beats, all happening on the sprawling lawns of a waterfront recreation area in Zamárdi. This five-day multi-stage beach party blasts pulsating music across the “Hungarian Sea”, while headliners spice up the sun-splashed scenes like BLASTERJAXX, Hardwell, Headhunters, and Nicky Romero from the Netherlands, The Bloody Beetroots from Italy, Dave Clarke and John Digweed from UK, or Robin Schulz from Germany.
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Blue Ribbon Sailing Competition 6-8 July, Balatonfüred
Around 600 boats participate every year at this long-established regatta that’s known as one of the oldest round-the-lake sailing competitions in Europe. Kicking off at the harbor of Balatonfüred, the fleet conquers a 160-kilometer distance through Balatonkenese, Tihany, and Keszthely before sailing back to the starting line.
More details Lakeside Weekend 6-9 July, Agárd (Park Camping)
Blasting music is heard from the south shore of Balaton at the beginning of July, where local and international names throw a bombastic rock’n’roll jamboree – the list of performers to take the stage this year is yet to be announced.
More details Bull’s Blood Festival 6-9 July, Eger
A free festival attracts wine lovers from all over the country, honoring the reowned Hungarian Bull’s Blood wine in Eger, a city that boasts a prime terroir north of Hungary. During the gluttonous feast, guests can sample a variety of the famous red wine and devour regional gastronomical delights, while DJs spin discs late into the night.
More details Fish-Soup Festival 6-9 July, Baja
The aroma of paprika-infused fish soup wafts in the air on the main square at the riverside city of Baja, where an impressive number of fire-heated cauldrons is placed side by side, all filled with the Magyars’ favorite piscine specialty. The best soup earns nationwide fame, while visitors to this southern Hungarian city can try hot bowfuls from many of the cooking stations.
More details Rock Marathon 11-16 July, Dunaújváros (Szalki-sziget)
Several international punk, rock, and metal bands shake the fairgrounds of Dunaújváros (located 80 kilometers from Budapest) as they send blasting tunes into the air at the peak of the summer months. Performers of this year’s festival are yet to be announced.
More details EFOTT 11-17 July, Velence
The British band Hurts is the first name revealed to perform at this year’s EFOTT Festival, which has long stepped beyond its original aim of being “Hungary’s biggest student party”. The waterside jamboree – happening at Lake Velence, just 50 kilometers southwest of Budapest – provides lively daytime activities and blasting concerts for an entire week.
More details Veszprém Fest 12-15 July, Veszprém
Top performers in many different musical genres take the stage in front of the city’s Baroque-style castle building during Veszprém Fest, offering a diverse mix of concert shows, including jazz, swing, pop, and world-music styles. The celebration is complete with a wine festival featuring Hungarian Rieslings and rosé specialties.
More details Bánkitó Festival 12-15 July, Bánki Lake
Pulsating tunes, assorted art displays, and cultural programs await revelers through multiple days across the shores of Bánki Lake, located in northern Hungary. Every year, the festival’s theme is centered around an important message, with this event being focused on corruption.
More details Badacsony Wine Weeks 14-31 July, Badacsony
Sprawling vineyards crisscross the undulating hills at the northern shores of Balaton, an area known for some of the country’s best wines. Now, anyone can sample the aromatic nectars during the two-week festival that brings oenophiles to the volcanic slopes of Badacsony, not just for drinking but to enjoy varied cultural programs, including folklore and music shows.
More details Babel Sound World Music Festival 17-22 July, Balatonboglár
Kick off your shoes and frolic amid Balaton’s golden sunset as the joy of music frees revelers’ souls at this multi-disciplinary festival that brings musical gems and thrilling theatrical performances to the lakeside paradise of Balatonboglár.
More details Street-Music Festival 19-22 July, Veszprém
The charming cobblestoned lanes of Veszprém’s city center turn into one big festival scene, with inspirational musicians from multiple countries performing all over the city’s streets from morning till the late-night hours.
More details Campus Festival 19-23 July, Debrecen (Nagyerdő)
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, this woodland festival attracts local and international bands, comedians, and actors to provide entertainment in the sylvan settings of Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city. Besides the rowdy revelries, the multi-day event also hosts movie screenings, gastronomy treats, and a selection of local wines.
More details Solar United Natives Festival (S.U.N. Festival) 20-24 July, Bercel, Csobánkapuszta
Join a sunlight celebration in the scenic green valley of the Cserhát Mountains located in northern Hungary. Creating an authentic Goa-style scene, the festival features eclectic electronica tunes, various workshops, organic food, and numerous healing hotspots, all set amid a breezy atmosphere.
More details Valley of Arts 21-30 July, Kapolcs
The tiny settlement of Kapolcs north of Lake Balaton, alongside the surrounding villages, attracts an intellectual crowd with craft stalls, live music, and traditional activities, all set amid the communities’ rustic streets and courtyards.
More details Ozora Festival 31 July-6 August, Ozora, Dádpuszta
Embark on a spiritual journey to Ozora, located about 130 kilometers southwest of Budapest, to join a psychedelic tribal gathering where festivalgoers unite to form free-flowing dance formations in a valley of peace and serenity.
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9/13
AUGUST
Ördögkatlan Festival 1-5 August, multiple locations in Baranya County
Theater, music, literature, and fine-art programs provide intellectual entertainment for visitors from near and far at this multi-cultural event that spans four small villages in the southern county of Baranya.
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FEZEN 2-5 August, Székesfehérvár
A wide array of rock tunes fill Székesfehérvár – known as Hungary’s City of Kings, just 65 kilometers southwest of Budapest – during this rowdy revelry that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
More details Jazz Capital 3-6 August, Kecskemét
After debuting in 2016, this new addition to Hungary’s colorful festival scene brought jazz-infused entertainment into the summer days and nights of Kecskemét, a charming town located in the Great Plains of Hungary. This four-day multi-stage extravaganza – considered as one of Europe’s biggest alfresco jazz festivals – boasts esteemed international and local performers of the genre, all set across the city’s lakeside location.
More details Samsara Festival Europe 8-13 August, Siófok (Töreki Wood)
The Hungarian edition of this international fiesta welcomes the world’s contemporary tribes to celebrate free spirit, peace, love, and unity with chilling yoga activities, free-flowing dance, meditation, and guided healing sessions during the day, while the night brings thrilling trance tunes to Siófok’s sylvan setting.
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Summerfest International Folklore Festival 12-22 August, Százhalombatta, Ráckeve, Tököl
Participants from 20 countries and five continents flock to the small towns of Százhalombatta, Tököl, and Ráckeve – just a short journey away from the Hungarian capital – to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere while entertaining visitors for ten days with folk dance, world-music concerts, local gastronomy specialties, and much more.
More details Balatonfüred Wine Weeks 13 August-3 September, Balatonfüred
Magyar reds, whites, and rosés from the Balatonfüred and Csopak wine regions star during the month of August, when oenophiles and many who simply love wines traverse the panoramic Tagore Promenade with a fine libation in hand, in this historic city by Lake Balaton.
More details International Folk-Dance Festival 17-20 August, Mohács
Booming whooping mixes with sounds of stomping boots when the world of folk dance collides in Mohács with international acts from Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Turkey, while open dance instructions create unmatched scenes on the festival grounds.
More details Flower Carnival August 20, Debrecen
Every August 20th, Debrecen celebrates Hungary’s founding king St. Stephen with a national blast and a fragrant flower festival that festoons the city’s majestic scenes with vibrant hues.
More details B my Lake 23-26 August, Zamárdi
Located on a sprawling lakefront area in Zamárdi on the southern shore of Lake Balaton, B my Lake is continually crowded with swimsuit-clad party people from near and far, who congregate to let loose amid epic electronica tunes, while about 100 DJs play in front of sweeping views.
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STRAND Festival 23-26 August, Zamárdi
Happening in Zamárdi at the same time as the B my Lake Festival, this waterside extravaganza hosts a number of international and local headliners this year, including Bastille, John Newman, Redfoo, and Icona Pop, among many other names that are yet to be revealed.
More details SZIN 23-26 August, Szeged
This riverside music festival came to life with the young generation in mind, and it happens every year in Szeged near the Serbian and Romanian borders of Hungary. Headliners in previous years included the Cure, Diana King, Scooter, and many other international performers, while this year’s gigs are yet to be announced.
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10/13
SEPTEMBER
Autumn Picnic in Etyek 2-3 September, Etyek
As the leaves start changing colors, Etyek hosts its last picnic of the year, with open cellars attracting visitors from Budapest and beyond to frolic amid a real village-style jamboree while enjoying a weekend with flowing wines and delicious dishes.
More details Jameson CineFest International Film Festival 8-17 September, Miskolc
Exclusive film premieres, movie screenings, roundtable discussions, and high-spirited parties await visitors at the Jameson CineFest International Film Festival, held in the historic city of Miskolc in northeastern Hungary.
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Bio Food and Wine Festival 15-17 September, Hajdúszoboszló
Known as the City of Spas with its healing thermal waters, Hajdúszoboszló puts great emphasis on a super-fit lifestyle with events like the organic food-and-wine festival that proffers nourishing natural foodstuffs and wine for those who want to maintain a balanced diet.
More details Paprika Festival 15-17 September, Kalocsa
A piquant festival adds spice to life in Kalocsa, a city of crimson paprika and finely embroidered folk art 130 kilometers south of Budapest, where varied paprika-infused meals, local farmers’ fairs, and glassfuls of wine and pálinka ensure a hearty day out.
More details Romantic Reform Era 22-24 September, Balatonfüred
Historic scenes of the 19th century unfold before our eyes, when the spirit of the 1800s comes alive through period costumes, folk and applied art forms, and traditional dishes of the era, all coming together as a heritage parade on the north shore of Lake Balaton.
More details Pumpkin Festival 22-24 September, Őrség region (Őriszentpéter, Szalafő, Magyarszombatfa, Nagyrákos)
The country’s Őrség region – located in the west near the Austrian and Slovenian borders to Hungary, about a three-hour drive from Budapest – displays centuries past with its heritage settlements of traditional homes and activities. Pumpkins are important elements of the area’s cuisine and culture, to such an extent that the round-shaped produce is the star of an annual festival, where visitors can taste all that can be made of this grand gourd, try preparing pumpkin-seed oil, and join a spectacular jack-o’-lantern parade.
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11/13
OCTOBER
Harvest Festival of Tokaj 6-8 October, Tokaj
The historic winemaking town in the east of Hungary celebrates autumn days on the first weekend of October with a harvest procession, cooking competition, stage shows, and an abundance of local wines and gastronomy delights, all centered along the city’s main square and inside its subterranean chambers.
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Day of Cabbage Meals 7 October, Demjén
Meals made with cabbage are proffered across this delicious event in Demjén, a small town located just a short drive away from the city of Eger, home of the famous Bull’s Blood wine.
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12/13
NOVEMBER
St. Martin’s Day Feast 11 November, Egerszalók
Binge on a variety of goose-based meals and wash down the delectable bites with aromatic wines during the St. Martin’s Day Feast, a celebration that honors St. Martin of Tours, one of Hungary’s patron saints born within this nation’s boundaries, who was canonized for his good deeds and benevolence.
More details Festival of the Goose and New Wine 11-12 November, Szentendre (Skanzen Hungarian Open Air Museum)
Join the whirlwind of a real local hootenanny amid authentic settings at Szentendre’s Skanzen Museum, located just over 20 kilometers from downtown Budapest, where Magyar folklore is celebrated within a recreated village of centuries-old Hungarian homes. During the event, visitors can sample a variety of goose dishes and several autumn-time favorites, while folk-music bands play cheerful tunes.
More details Wild Geese Festival 25 November, Tata
Those who look up at the sky with naked eyes or by using binoculars can admire the unparalleled scenes of bird migration on the shores of Öreg Lake in Tata, located about 70 kilometers west from Budapest.
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13/13
DECEMBER
Advent Festivals and Christmas Fairs through December, multiple locations
Myriad sparkling festive lights shine bright across Hungary, and various holiday bazaars pop up nationwide to provide merry merchandise to the rosy-cheeked crowds. Through December, the festive spirit peaks in many of Hungary’s major cities and smaller communities, all providing a distinct addition to the country’s Yuletide atmosphere, including cinnamon-scented Christmas fairs in Szeged, Debrecen, Győr, Pécs, Esztergom, Gödöllő, Szentendre, and many other towns nationwide.
