We can also taste the most delicious Hungarian dishes of the Carpathian Basin on St. Stephen’s Day

Between August 18 and 20, lovers of gastronomy and tradition can once again take possession of Vörösmarty Square, where the Csárda Festival takes place for three days. Every year, the event is a special meeting point for tradition-loving and curious gourmets: the participating csárdas offer the best of traditional Hungarian cuisine, while folk dance groups, orchestras and art formations present the diversity of Hungarian culture on stage for three days.

The program will begin on Sunday, August 18, with the BEM Dance Ensemble’s “Dances from the Carpathian Basin” program, but the Zűrös Banda, the Magyar Banda, and the Gipsy Chamber Orchestra led by Elemér Duka will also take the stage. The day will end with a joy dance performance by the Dezső Fitos Company and late-night table music.

On Monday, August 19, traditions beyond the border will also come into focus: the Debrecen Folk Ensemble and the Romanian Szilágysági Dance Ensemble will prepare a joint production, and in the afternoon, visitors can also enjoy the Duna Dance Workshop’s “Folk-contemporary-montage” performance and the Duna Artists’ Ensemble’s “Garden of Love” dance concert. The program will also feature concerts by the Szilvásy Gypsy Band and the Göncöl Orchestra, the latter with the participation of Ágnes Enyedi.

On August 20, the day of the founding of the state, the Balaton Dance Ensemble and the Tarsoly Orchestra will open the day, later children’s dance groups, the Bulgarian dance house with the Pravo orchestra, and the anniversary concert of Pál István Szalonna and Band will raise the festive mood. The evening will be closed by “Inns Dialects”, which will showcase the dance traditions of different regions.

In addition to the performers, the inns will also be preparing exciting surprises: each inn offers unique, characteristic food at affordable prices. The selection includes, among others, classic Hungarian dishes, Székely flavors, game dishes, homemade lecsó and charcoal-grilled specialties. The organizers also paid special attention to ensuring that people with various food allergies can find dishes that they can eat – the staff of the catering units will provide information about gluten- and lactose-free and vegetarian dishes.

The Csárda Festival offers not only a gastronomic but also a cultural experience: it affects all our senses by presenting folk traditions, music and dances, while being worthily connected to the week-long series of celebrations of St. Stephen’s Day. Detailed programs, performers and gastronomic venues are available on the website www.szentistvannap.hu, as well as in the event’s official mobile application.