Festivals and events in Slovakia

The festivals

When to go for the festivals in Slovakia

Slovakia’s year of festivities follows the rhythm of the seasons and the traditions of each region. In winter, Bratislava sets up its Christmas market on the main square of the Old Town, with food stalls, hot drinks and handicrafts, and Advent fills the nights of the historic centre.

Summer is the time for folklore. In July, villages and towns in the central and northern parts of the country host music and dance groups from all regions: Východná, below the Kriváň peak; Detva, at the foot of the Poľana massif; and Terchová, the birthplace of the legendary Juraj Jánošík, where local music is recognised by UNESCO. That same month Kežmarok fills its streets with craftsmen, and the old Trenčín airfield hosts Pohoda, the country’s leading music festival. In summer Bratislava also recreates the coronations of Hungarian kings, which were celebrated in the city between the 16th and 19th centuries.

September is harvest time in the Small Carpathians, with burčiak, the fermenting grape must, on the squares of Pezinok, and the night parade of the Salamander in Banská Štiavnica, the old mining town. In autumn the Slovak Philharmonic opens its season with the Bratislavské hudobné slávnosti, and Košice dedicates the first Sunday of October to its marathon, held since 1924.