Lake Events

Besides beautiful beaches, Lake Balaton has much more to offer. Whether musical, sport or cultural interest – everyone can find an event in this vacation region which will match his/her interests. Throughout the year and especially in summer when the midday heat gives a place to the warm evenings numerous folk festivals and various events are taking place.

The vacation season opens in May in Keszthely – a small town on the western shore of Lake Balaton. Besides the palace built in Baroque style and the museum Keszthely offers a festival with a colorful program.

Events with music and dance can be found around the lake and many of them with gypsy music and church concerts reflect the true soul of Hungary.

Folklore evenings in June in Zalakaros in the picturesque nature reserve Kis-Balaton or church feasts in northern Balatonalmádi in the summer – is a great possibility for tourists to learn more about Hungarian culture and enjoy the hospitability of Hungarians.

The region is traditionally rich in viticulture events. During the harvest in autumn each year around the Lake Balaton big festivals are celebrated. Besides tasting and sales of various sorts of wine and grape drinks this events also attract tourists with parades and processions in which the clubs, involved in producing elaborately crafted costumes, are presented. Diversified stage programs can be also expected from these events.

One of the most famous harvest festivals, called "Boglári Szüret", is held in Balatonboglar. The "international city of grape and wine" has over 3,500 hectares of vineyards and each year attracts thousands of visitors from home and abroad.

Sport fans can be active participants or spectators of many sport events held at Lake Balaton. For example, in Keszthely a marathon run through the city occurs annually and in Balatonfured sportsmen compete for the national triathlon championship. Not far from them as part of the "Balaton Atuszas" between Balatonboglár and Révfülöp (at the narrowest point of Lake) a swimming race is annually held.

Two beach volleyball tournaments take place in Vonyarcvashegy and the large sailing regatta – in Fonyod, the second largest port on Lake Balaton.