European Folk Handicraft Festival of Kežmarok

The festival

What is European Folk Handicraft Festival of Kežmarok

Kežmarok, a royal free town in the Spiš region at the foot of the High Tatras, had more than forty craftsmen’s guilds between the 15th and 19th centuries. From that heritage was born in 1991 the Európske ľudové remeslo, the European Folk Handicraft Festival, known by the acronym EĽRO. For three days in July, the main square and the streets of the center transform into a market of crafts.

More than a hundred artisans and folk artists from Slovakia and other countries demonstrate dozens of trades in front of the public: blacksmiths, potters, weavers, basket makers, woodcarvers, candle makers, gingerbread makers, fujara makers and makers of objects from corn husks. At each edition, a historic guild of the town is highlighted with an exhibition and reenactments, such as the goldsmiths, tanners or textile manufacturers.

The opening is staged: fencers take the town gates and the artisans arrive in procession to the center. On the stages, folklore groups from Slovakia and neighboring countries perform throughout the day, while actors recreate the life of the old guilds. Kežmarok Castle hosts part of the program, with exhibitions and shows, and the wooden articulated church, a UNESCO site, usually hosts a gala concert.

For children there are workshops where you can try some crafts, as well as games and performances. Many visitors take the opportunity to buy handmade pieces directly from the makers.

The festival is worth the trip for those interested in handicrafts and folk culture and pairs well with a stay in the High Tatras, a few kilometers away: it’s an opportunity to see the historic town full of life and to learn about crafts that have almost disappeared.