This year’s focus is on playing and the country of honor is Uzbekistan, and there will be craftsmen from many other countries, predicting the reformation of the festival for the Jubilee.

Thirty years. The Pearl Jubilee of the Festival. The Festival that now officially has entertained several generations over the years around the date of 20. August in the Buda Castle. The Association of Hungarian Folk Artists have first organized the festival in 1986, where the best local artists were introduced.

The Árpás Tóth Promanade used to serve as the venue of the festival, but after several years craftsmen have occupied the Buda Castle, and the Festival of Folk Arts became one of the summer’s main family events with its entertaining stage programs and kids playgrounds.

2017 is not only the year of celebration but also of changes: due to building works taking place in the Castle, fans of folk arts will celebrate at a slightly changed location (still around the Castle). However, as always, guests will be provided with maps to help orientation.

For many years now, the festival has welcomed craftsmen from various countries, which will be the case for the Jubilee as well, however with more countries represented than ever before. So we really can call it an international festival.

This year’s special guest will be Uzbekistan, and artists from Turkey, Spain, China, Yakutia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan will dazzle visitors of the festival.

„In the last few years we have been guests of many events around the world with the representatives of Hungarian folk arts, therefore we have a good relationship with several partner organisations. Those attending our festival in previous years have all contacted us to show interest in being a guest this year again, which makes us feel very honored – tells Gabriella Igyártó, director of the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists, organiser of the festival.

„Thus, we decided that for the 30th anniversary we organize an international festival, where visitors can not only meet amazing Hungarian craftsmen but also see folk art from an international perspective. And while we present and reserve our nation’s qualities, we are potentially looking to stay open-minded and welcome craftsmen from more and more countries.”

This year’s focus is on playing.

On one hand, the material culture of folk toys with the help of toy makers will be presented, and on the other hand, traditional games and artistic performances will also be part of the programme.

There will be fairground puppeteers, comedians, traditional street theater presentations, traditional and skill developing playful exercises for children, musical performances, dancing possibilities, and story-telling-, musical- and puppet performances.

Folk games will also play an important role in folk dance shows, and evening programs will once again be an outstanding musical and viewer experience for visitors.

Opening hours of the Festival of Folk Arts: 10.00 AM – 11.00 PM

The market will be open for public from 10.00 AM to 9.00 PM, and you can enjoy the programme of the stages and gastronomy until 11.00 PM.

Source: Festival of Folk Arts