Ice cream ferry and battle of Balaton flavors – the Balaton Fagyija election is coming

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 05. 06. 11:44

On May 9th, not only will the ferry between Tihany and Szántód set sail, but also a whole special gastronomic experience: the Balaton Fagyija 2025 election, on board a mobile ice cream parlor, complete with free ice cream, a fabulous panorama and charity.

An ice cream competition that goes beyond the funnel

Tamás Fekete, president of the Balaton Tourism Association, announced that this year’s Balaton Fagyija election will be held on May 9th – and not just any location, but on a ferry that crosses Lake Balaton on the Tihany-Szántód route. The event is not only a competition between the region’s ice cream masters, but also a unique, experiential program, where visitors can taste more than twenty types of artisanal ice cream specialties.

“We wanted something really special that would showcase both the ice cream culture of Balaton and the lake as an experience. And the ice cream ferry is the perfect symbol of this,” said Tamás Fekete.

Free ice cream and charity on board

The special thing about the event is that on May 9th between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, every passenger who boards the ferry will receive a free ice cream. This way, participants can not only enjoy the spring face of Lake Balaton from the water, but they can also be part of a real gastronomic adventure.

The program also has a charitable aspect: the One Cup of Love initiative will be present in the harbor, offering visitors special teas made from Balaton lavender. The proceeds from this will be used to purchase storybooks that will be distributed among the beach libraries of Balaton during the summer season.

More than just ice cream: media attention and economic impact

The Balaton Fagyija election has now become one of the most popular spring events in the region. Last year, the competition received more than 150 media appearances – more than the Blue Ribbon or even the Anna Ball. This clearly shows that ice cream on Lake Balaton is no longer just a summer dessert, but also a gastronomic and tourist attraction.

The participating pastry shops did not miss out on the good news: thanks to the media attention, their turnover increased by an average of 15% last year. This is especially important, considering that ice cream is now not only a cooling treat, but also an economic factor in the region.