Come to Children’s Island in Budapest for a Danube Day sturgeon celebration. Join State Secretary for Water, Péter Kovács, at a day of family fun with environmental activities, interactive models and the chance to meet some very special guests: live sturgeon. Children will ‘Get active for the Sturgeon’ by releasing juvenile fish into the river, destined to grow into the monsters of the Danube. Taking place at Hajógyári Sziget (29th June; 10:00- 18:00), the event is organised by the Ministry of Rural Development with the Danube Museum and partners. Find out more at www.duna-nap.kormany.hu.

If you can’t wait until June 29th, there’s a whole summer of river festivities in Budapest’s Danube Flow - Danube Calling celebration (March to October). Located at sites along the Heart of Budapest Trail, bi-monthly events provide a change of pace for city residents, reminding us of the value of the Danube and our ability to reclaim it.

The climax is Danube Day at Kopaszi dam (29th June; 14:00-22:00). Come along for eco games, river quizzes and, back by popular demand, the Danube crime and mystery game: can you turn detective and solve the crime? Drumming performances and evocative folk singing will add to the festival atmosphere. You'll even have the chance to stroke a sturgeon! See the programme on the Danube Flow website.

Throughout the summer, look out for other Danube Flow events including a tango flashmob, concerts, Danube Bend excursions, mystery games, historical quizzes, photography workshops and walking tours, not to mention several conferences and seminars. Read more at hivaduna.hu, danubeflow.eu or Facebook.

29th of June will also see the award ceremony of the national Danube Art Master competition in Budapest. Creators of the 10 best artworks will receive their prizes from Péter Kovács and be treated to a VIP boat trip. Their creations will be exhibited on-board a Mahart Passnave cruiser. At 14:00 hours, a special horn blast will sound out across the river as ships salute their river in the annual Greet the Danube Horn Blast. See GWP Hungary for more information and check out the Art Master finalists on Facebook and Flickr!

Join us for Danube Day in Győr for a colourful afternoon of family entertainment and education on the 28th June. Children’s eco activities, a high-thrill cycling display, hands-on science activities, Danube exhibitions, folk-music and diving demonstrations bring the river to the city. Being held in the city centre won’t stop the sturgeon joining in: come and stroke a sturgeon for Danube Day! Events run from 15:00 to 18:00 at the Baross pedestrian mall and Tourist Information Office. See the programme at Gyor.hu.

The Dunasziget Ecopark in NW Hungary is the location for the inaugural IAD Danube Camp (6th-10th July). The IAD (International Association for Danube Research) will bring together 30 young researchers from the 14 Danube countries to promote international cooperation and knowledge exchange. It brings together a diverse range of young academics to access the benefits arising from a multi-disciplinary approach. Landscape assessment and soil science will be key topics, as well as training of Danube Soil Strategy Network Certified Soil Ambassadors. Students will be tutored in presentation skills with time-off for outdoor cooking, swimming and canoeing! Email Harald Kutzenberger at IAD for more information or download the flyer.

The many organisers include the Ministry for Rural Development, MindSpace NGO, GWP Hungary, Coca-Cola HBC, Danube Museum, City of Győr, National Institute for Environment, IAD, Dunasziget Ecopark and Mahart Passnave Passenger Shipping.

Source: Danube Day