Best of Budapest & Hungary

The 21st Balaton Wine and Fish Festival will be held in Balatonfüred on the Pentecost weekend, with children's day programs also taking place in the town located on the northern shore of the lake.

As festival organizer Anett Kositzky told MTI, the four-day festival will offer a selection of Balaton wineries, artisanal cheeses and fish dishes, performances by Ági Szalóki and the Góbé band, and commemorate the anniversary of the birth of renowned 19th century Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi.

The event will be opened by Mihály Figula, winner of last year's Wine Producer of the Year award, next Friday, with nine wineries offering their wines. The opening day will feature performances by the Balatonfüred Town Wind Orchestra, the Góbé band, the Klára Hajdu & Milán Szakonyi Duo and the Antal Gábor Trio.

On Saturday, in addition to Ági Szalóki's children's concert, the youngest children can take part in a creative workshop, where they can make a kite, among other things. There will also be a baker's demonstration and a workshop, and a children's show by the Mesemanók band.

On Sunday, during the Children's Day in the town, the Lilliput train will transport children and accompanying adults free of charge, there will be a children's fishing competition and science experiments will also be on display.

On the main stage, there will be a children's performance by the Mesekocsi Theater, clown doctors, a police demonstration and a concert by the Füred Dixieland Band.

On Monday there will be a dog exhibition organized by the Hungarian Komondor and Kuvasz Association. On the main stage, a children's show by the Bergengóc Music Society will entertain the little ones," the festival director said.

She added that the event will also present the national parks, giving visitors a comprehensive overview of Hungary's natural, ecotourism and cultural offerings.

On Saturday evening, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sándor Petőfi, a concert Petőfi's Praise will be performed on the main stage by the founder of the Ghymes orchestra, Gyula Szarka.

On Sunday, the audience will be able to listen to Sándor Petőfi's poems set to music in the performance the title of which recalls a famous line from one of his poems: Felül a gálya [‘Rides the Galley’]. The Holdongolf Project will perform a musical standup show interpreted by Zsolt Kathy, guitarist András Petruska and accordionist Szabolcs Bíró Maszkura.