Love Lake Balaton! STRAND Festival launches campaign in collaboration with the Balaton Limnological Research Institute

One ​​of the pillars of the “Love Balaton!” campaign is an educational series, which presents the ecological functioning of Lake Balaton, its current challenges and the small but important steps that anyone can take to protect the lake in an understandable and exciting way on the social media platforms of the STRAND Festival.  

Experts from the Balaton Limnological Research Institute will also be actively present at the festival site: between August 19 and 22, 2026, they will bring science closer to the audience in Zamárdi through interactive and spectacular programs. Visitors can get to know the work of the researchers up close at hand during field instrument demonstrations, where they can try out the tools used to examine the water of Lake Balaton, while discovering the invisible wildlife of the lake through algae samples and microscopic examinations. 

During the programs, water chemistry demonstrations help you understand what processes take place in the water, while live fish aquariums demonstrate the characteristic features of Lake Balaton. species. Special emphasis is placed on the human impact: those interested can learn about human-origin pollutants and their consequences in an interactive way. At one of the festival’s most popular daytime venues, STRAND CITY, they can meet researchers in a “biology class” where they can deepen their knowledge of Lake Balaton through direct, experiential conversations.

“It is of utmost importance to the HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute that scientific results are not only utilized within the professional community, but also reach the wider layers of society in an understandable form. Lake Balaton is not only a natural asset, but also an extremely complex ecological system, where the functioning of living communities is determined by finely regulated biological, chemical and geological processes. Understanding these is a fundamental condition for preserving the health of the lake in the long term. This cooperation with the STRAND Festival is therefore particularly valuable for us, as we can address people in a setting where they have direct experience of Lake Balaton. It is an opportunity to show: what processes take place underwater, what challenges the lake faces, and what role each of us has in preserving it. We hope that through the festival we can bring science and the Balaton Limnological Research Institute closer to visitors, and contribute to ensuring that the values ​​of Balaton are not only enjoyed, but also better understood and responsibly protected.”

– said Gábor Vasas, Director General of HUN-REN BLKI. 

“Our Love the Balaton! campaign is a personal pleasure for me. As an event directly on the shores of Lake Balaton, we truly live together for a significant part of the summer “We are surrounded by the lake and it is natural for us to not only enjoy it, but also want to protect it. We have been watching this wonderful giant live and breathe next to us for years, so we are looking forward to the cooperation with the Balaton Limnological Research Institute with a mixture of pride and curiosity.” – said Kata Ádám, head of the STRAND Festival. The organizer also revealed that this year the STRAND Festival and its communication campaign will promote Lake Balaton in almost every element. The organizers of the STRAND Festival consider it extremely important that entertainment and environmental awareness go hand in hand. Through this year’s collaboration, the festival not only offers musical experiences, but also actively contributes to shaping the attitudes of visitors.  

The common message is simple, yet important: Love Lake Balaton! – and take care of it while having a good time! 

Further information about research and educational content related to Lake Balaton can be found on the Balaton Limnological Research Institute’s Facebook page BalatonScience. 

https://www.facebook.com/BalatoniLimnologiaiKutatointezet