The Hungarian Girl » Events & Festivals

Oktoberfest Celebrates 200 Years!

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:02:51 +0000

Oktoberfest is the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. The festival traces its roots back to 1810 when the citizens of Bavaria came together to honor the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

On October 12, 1810, the townspeople of Munich came together to honor the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

The following day, celebrations continued with various activities, including concerts, parties, balls, and even a horse race. It was so spectacular and intense that the royals of Bavaria decided to hold another event a year later. Eventually, it was agreed that Oktoberfest would become an annual event which was prolonged and moved forward into September for better weather conditions.

Oktoberfest is now the world’s largest fair with over six million people attending every year. It consists of 30 different tents across the grounds of Theresienwiese Park, each specializing in different beers, food and music.

This year Oktoberfest will mark 200 years since it first began as a royal wedding celebration. Officially Oktoberfest has only taken place 176 times due to cancellations from wars and conflicts. However, organizers still consider this to be an important year and have arranged for some special activities including extending the festival by a day at opening and closing.

Events include a historic reconstruction of the original festival using an antique Oktoberfest tent and exhibition of historical fun fair attractions. Traditional horse races will be held daily twice a day. The last time a horse race occurred was in 1938, after which it was cancelled for political reasons.

The city of Munich will also host a special tribute of its own. The Oktoberfest-Exhibition at the City Museum of Munich will showcase the history of Oktoberfest from its origins as Bavarian celebration with royal overtones to the world’s largest beer and folk festival from July 9 through the end of October. Approximately 800 artifacts are on display including those that were directly involved in the original festivities at one time or another.

Visitors can also purchase an official 200 year jubilee stein handmade by the company Rastal. It features image of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen along with the “Muenchner Kindl” (the coat of arms of Munich). The stein can be purchased from the official Oktoberfest website.

This year’s festivities will run from Friday, September 17th through Monday, October 4th. The official tapping of the first beer barrel will be celebrated on Saturday 18th at noon. Admission to the event is free.

So get ready for two weeks of thigh-slapping-om-pah-pah-merriment!

Sziget Festival

The Hungarian Girl — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:24:12 +0000

The Sziget Festival takes place on Óbudai-sziget ("Old-Buda Island"), an island in the Danube, Budapest, Hungary. Photo courtesy of Sziget Festival.

Get the party started!

Hungary’s largest and most popular music festival will be happening from August 11- 16th on Óbudai Island, in the heart of Budapest.

The event draws hundreds of thousands of revellers for a week of great music, camping and partying.

Highlights for this year include performances by Iron Maiden, Muse, Fear Factory, Billy Talent, as well as upcoming bands from Hungary. A series of art exhibitions, literary events and classical music concerts and children’s programmes are also held at the festival, making it a highly diverse gathering.

The Sziget Festival originally started in 1993 as a relatively low-profile student event playing host to various Hungarian artists and has grown into a large European festival attracting over 400,000 visitors each year, half of which come from outside Hungary.

For more information including the program schedule and tickets, visit the Sziget Festival website.

International Street Arts Festival (Sztuka Ulicy)

The Hungarian Girl — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:59:54 +0000

Circus performers at the International Street Arts Festival in Warsaw.

The International Street Arts Festival is happening from July 2th – 6th in Warsaw.

Artists from several countries, presenting a wide range of different street art trends, visions and achievements, will take part in the six day festival. Performances are held in many of Warsaw’s most popular and most beautiful spots including the New and Old Town Square, the Agrykola Park, Pole Mokotowskie Park, and Plac Zamkowy.

Since 1993, the International Street Arts Festival has grown to become one of the largest events in Warsaw attracting over a million visitors annually. For more information, visit the International Street Arts Festival website.

BudaFest Summer Music Festival

The Hungarian Girl — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:21:41 +0000

Andrassy Avenue viewed from below the arches of the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest.

The annual BudaFest Summer Music Festival will be happening from July 6th – August 17th in the heart of Budapest.

Featuring traditional klezmer (music of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe), folk and jazz music, as well as famous operas, the festival is held in some of the city’s most beautiful historical buildings – the Hilton Dominican Court and the Hungarian State Opera House.

The mission of the festival is to promote the cultures of Hungarian music to locals and foreigners alike.

For more information about the event including the schedule, visit the VIP Arts Management website.

BeerFest Slovenia

The Hungarian Girl — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:26:35 +0000

The 1st annual event of BeerFest Slovenia will be taking place from June 16th – June 20th in Ljubljana at their Exhibition and convention centre.

A wide range of beers from various Slovenian and European breweries will be represented at the festival. In addition, visitors can relax and enjoy live music and entertainment.

In cooperation with the City of Ljubljana, live public viewings of the World Cup in South Africa will be also be available.

Admission to the event is free.

For more information, visit the BeerFest Slovenia website.

Vienna Restaurant Week

The Hungarian Girl — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:16:35 +0000

Anna Sacher restaurant located in Vienna. Photo courtesy of Hotel Sacher.

Looking to sample some of the best food in Austria?

From Monday June 28th until Sunday July 4th, Vienna’s finest restaurants will offer their exquisite menus at affordable set prices. Diners can choose between a two-course lunch version for €12.50 or a three-course evening meal for €25.00. Restaurants awarded with 2 or more toques by Gault Millau will ask a surcharge of €5.00 for lunch and €10.00 for dinner.

Participating restaurants include Anna Sacher, at eight, Kloster Und, RieGi, Vestibül, and Yohm.

Reservations can be made at the DiningCity website (German only) from four weeks before the event.

Summer on the Chain Bridge 2010

The Hungarian Girl — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:23:36 +0000

The historic Chain Bridge is Budapest's oldest bridge, which first linked the Buda and Pest sides of the city.

The largest free cultural festival in Budapest will be taking place each weekend from June 26 – August 15th along the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

Traffic will be closed in the area to give way to pedestrians, baby strollers, roller skaters and onlookers.

Visitors can enjoy the pleasant views of the Danube while taking in performances of music, theatre and dance. There are also a number of food and drink stalls, arts and crafts for sale, and cultural displays. Programs are available for both children and adults alike.

The event brings a lively and upbeat atmosphere into the heart of the city.

For more information, visit the Budapest Festival Centre website.

The National Gallop 2010

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:36:51 +0000

The National Gallop is one of Hungary's largest equestrian events. Highlights include the historical gallop race in which Hungarian settlements compete against each other. Photo courtesy of vagta.hu.

The 2010 National Gallop will be happening from June 2 – 6th in Budapest.

The five day event is a celebration of Hungarian horsemanship dating back thousands of years when the Magyars first settled into the region. It includes traditional Hussar races, show jumping, dressageas, processions, historical parades, as well as children’s horse riding shows.

Visitors can get a glimpse into Hungarian horse riding culture by walking through the craft’s market known as “Gallop Promenade” along Andrássy Street, between Bajza street and Heroes’ Square. Participating villages and towns will each have a pavilion in which they can introduce themselves. Folk music performances and traditional Hungarian cuisine are also part of the event.

Over 300,00 visitors attend the festival each year including horse enthusiasts from around the world.

The National Gallop is a free event. Tickets are available for VIP and grandstand seating.

More information about the event, visit the National Gallop website.

Easter Festival in Holloko

The Hungarian Girl — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:50:42 +0000

Historic wooden church in Holloko, Hungary. Photo courtesy of istockphoto.com.

If you want to explore the traditional customs of Easter in Hungary, visiting the annual Easter Festival in Hollókö is a must!

Proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hollókö and its surrounding area is a ethnographic village comprising of beautiful and vibrant historical houses and dwellings mainly from the 17th and 18th century. The village is currently home to 400 residents who are a Palóc ethnic minority group in Hungary.

The festival features townspeople in traditional dress, egg paintings, craft workshops, a children’s playground, culinary demonstrations, and an art fair.

The festival runs from April 04 – 05, 2010. For more details about the event, visit the official city of Hollókö website.

Official Website of the City of Hollókö
http://www.holloko.hu

Vienna’s Easter Markets

The Hungarian Girl — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:43:56 +0000

Easter Market Schönbrunn Palace. Photo courtesy of MTS Wien/Foto: Grinner.

Easter in Vienna is a very special time. Each year colorful and vibrant Easter markets are set-up throughout the city. These markets offer a variety of handcrafted Easter eggs, flowers and wreaths, local arts and crafts, and speciality foods.

The following is an overview of some of the most popular Easter markets in Vienna.

Easter Market Schönbrunn Palace

When: March 20 to April 05, 2010
Where: 1130 Vienna, Court of Honor Schönbrunn Palace U4 Schönbrunn
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00am – 7:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.ostermarkt.co.at

This beautiful market is located on the main courtyard of Schönbrunn Palace. It features more than 45 exhibitors with flower arrangements and wreaths, handmade crafts, wood carvings, miniatures, glass, ceramic and stone objects, wooden and tin toys and more. The market also features daily jazz performances in an atmosphere ideal for relaxing and swinging with the beat. A variety of local culinary specialties is also available.

Traditional Viennese Easter Market

When: March 19 to April 05, 2010
Where: 1, Freyung
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00am – 8:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.altwiener-markt.at

Located on the Freyung, the traditional Viennese Easter Market features exquisite craftwork, baked goods and a varied cultural programme. It provides a somewhat quieter and less touristic atmosphere.

Arts and Crafts Market Am Hof

When: March 19 – April 05, 2010
Where: 1, Am Hof
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00am -7:00pm and Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00-7:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.kunsthandwerksmarkt.at

This market is known for its unique hand-crafted works from local artists. Metal and glass objects, paintings on glass, knitted and felted wool items, ceramic figures, jewelry and much more are sold here.

Kalvarienbergmarkt

When: February 25 – April 13, 2010
Where: 17, Kalvarienberggasse
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.kalvarienberg.at

The Kalvarienbergmarkt, a traditional Viennese Lenten market offers a splendid Easter atmosphere. There is much to do and see, especially for children including rides, workshops, and live performances.