8 Fascinating Hungarian Folk Festivals

Held in the Hungarian town of Mohács, every February the streets are filled with fun and frolics as this festival celebrating Hungary’s carnival season, or farsang, takes place. Busójárás sees the men of the village don scary looking carved masks and parade through the streets, while there’s also plenty of pálinka and general revelry. The festival is celebrated by the Šokci people, an ethnic Croation minority, although it’s become so popular that today everyone joins in the fun. It’s held both to round off winter and welcome spring; and to commemorate the triumphant return of the Šokci people to the historically Ottoman occupied town of Mohács hundreds of years ago.

When: February 8 – 13, 2018

Where: Mohács, Baranya county, Hungary

Located on the shores of Lake Balaton and known for its rich wine growing culture, Badacsony plays host to a number of wine and folk art related events spread over the space of two weeks every year known as the Badacsony Wine Weeks. The region’s wines are well known and the festival combines tastings and an opportunity to learn more about the area’s vineyards, with an arts and crafts fair, live music, folklore performances and more.

When: July 14 – July 30, 2017

Where: Badacsony, Lake Balaton, Hungary

Take a trip back in time to 19th century Hungary thanks to this festival held near Lake Balaton, celebrating the country’s Reform Era (1825 – 1848), during which the idea of a Hungarian national identity began to flourish. Traditional cultural aspects such as clothing, art and music enjoyed a renaissance in the country and every year the Romantic Reform Era Festival celebrates this with a weekend of artistic and culinary events. Typical Hungarian costume from the 1800s, applied arts, food and drink of the era and more are all to be enjoyed at this heritage folk festival.

When: September 21 – 24, 2017

Where: Balatonfüred, Vesprém county, Hungary