Hungary Celebrates 2010 as ‘Year of the Festival’

Hungary already has an impressive reputation for hosting an array of cultural festivals, but with 2010 being officially declared ‘The Year of the Festival’ by the Hungarian National Tourist Office, this year promises to be something special. Along with the more well known festivals in Budapest, there will be special attention this year on the exciting variety of celebrations on offer in and around the city of Pécs, 2010’s European Capital of Culture.

There really is something for everyone this year in Hungary, with visitors being invited to join in an eclectic range of celebrations from classical music and contemporary art to spectacular battle re-enactments and Harley Davidson parades.

The town of Mohács, just a few miles outside Pécs, hosts a traditional Hungarian celebration from 18^th – 23^rd February 2010. The Busó Carnival gives visitors the opportunity to witness local folk arts and music, and celebrate a great historical event.  According to legend, the 17^th Century residents of Mohács, known as ‘búsos’, dressed in hideous masks and animal pelts to scare away occupying Turkish forces, and now every year the locals dress like the ‘búsos’ to commemorate this day.  To find out more, visit www.hungarybudapestguide.com.

For visitors looking for a cultural celebration, the Budapest Spring Festival is a spectacle not to be missed.  Held from March 19^th – April 5^th 2010, the Spring Festival has grown into one of the major events on the European cultural calendar in the 30 years it has been running. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular array of entertainment including superb orchestral and jazz music, opera and dance performances, and contemporary art exhibitions.    Find out more about this fantastic event at www.festivalcity.hu.

Perhaps the most spectacular of Hungary’s festivals is the National Gallop, which celebrates the legendary Hussars, and takes place in the historic Heroes Square, in Budapest, from 2^nd – 6^th June 2010.  Over 100 horses and riders take part in races and impressive battle re-enactments, whilst visitors can watch and enjoy Hungarian music, dance performances and cuisine. Find out more at www.vagta.hu.

Proving that there really is something for everyone in Hungary in 2010, motorbike enthusiasts can head to the annual Harley Davidson Festival in Alsóörs, near Lake Balaton, from June 13^th to 20^th. Motorcycle fans go all out with an incredible procession of all kinds of Harley Davidson bikes, followed by stunt shows and arm wrestling. If you’re feeling competitive then there are contests in beer drinking, drumming and tug of war. Tribute bands appear on the stages and other highlights include goulash parties, fireworks and Harley Davidson fashion shows. To find out more visit www.hog.hu.

Every year hundreds of thousands of fans and visitors flock to Hungary to enjoy one of the several internationally renowned contemporary music festivals. The Volt Festival is held annually in the town of Sopron, and is regarded as one of the most exciting multi-cultural festivals in Europe. Taking place from June 30^th – July 3^rd 2010, the festival welcomes thousands of visitors from across the world, who come to enjoy nearly 200 top Hungarian and international acts performing across 15 stages. Global icons performing here in 2009 include Franz Ferdinand, Limp Bizkit and Marilyn Manson. Find out more at www.sziget.hu/volt.

The Sziget Festival takes place from the August 9^th – 15^th 2010 and is one of Europe’s largest and most popular music festivals, welcoming over 400,000 people to Obudai Island, in the middle of the Danube River. The festival features some of the most popular artists in contemporary music across all genres, with 2009’s star studded line-up including Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings and Snow Patrol. Find out more at www.sziget.hu.

For those who enjoy treating their taste buds the annual Etyek Culinary Festival, held just outside Budapest in September, offers visitors a chance to discover the best local cuisine, whilst sampling a selection of wines from Hungary’s finest vineyards. The village of Etyek also hosts an annual festival dedicated solely to wine, in May. To find out more, visit www.pincefesztival.hu / www.kezes-labos.hu.

The Budapest International Wine and Champagne Festival, from September 8^th – 12^th 2010, is a fantastic opportunity for visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of Hungarian wine making and meet renowned wine makers, whilst enjoying traditional Hungarian music and gastronomic delights.  Find out more at www.budapestinfo.hu.

Round off the year in the style with a trip to the Budapest Christmas Festival, which runs from 20^th November – 29^th December 2010. Budapest is scattered with attractive Christmas fairs throughout the festive period, with the main one in Vorosmarty Square, where visitors can enjoy delicious hot wine, Hungarian pastries, traditional arts and crafts as well as music. The famous Gerbeaud building overlooks the square, and during this time its many windows turn into a giant advent calendar, one opening through each day of advent to reveal a Christmas image. To find out more visit www.budapestinfo.hu.

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