by Michal Sliacky
Speaking about tourism one can discover the charms and beauty of Slovakia through a number of various events throughout the year, taking place in each county, region, city or village that attract not only many local visitors, but also more and more foreigners.
Their uniqueness is related to the tradition of these events and to the place where they are held because the uniqueness is connected only with this place. They are often connected with an important anniversary (e.g. the founding of towns and villages), and some of them are repeated every year and are typical of the region, season or feast, and so on.
They include:
• gastronomic events,
• markets, fairs,
• sporting events,
• historical events,
• folklore events,
• music festivals, concerts,
• film festivals,
• theatre festivals,
• multi-genre festivals,
• exhibitions and shows,
• events for children,
and others.
A common feature of all these events, however, is to let the visitors leave with the best possible experiences, impressions and feelings, and continue spreading a good reputation of the event.
Examples of interesting events according to categories:
FILM FESTIVALS
• Art Film Fest
Event venue: Trenčín Region, Trenčianske Teplice – Prameň cinema, Košice
Event date: June
http://www.artfilmfest.sk/
• Febiofest 2015
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: March – April
http://www.febiofest.sk/
• Documentary Film Festival One World
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: November
http://www.jedensvet.sk/
• Ekotopfilm – Festival of Sustainable Development Films
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: November
http://www.ekotopfilm.sk/
• International Film Festival Bratislava
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: November
http://www.iffbratislava.sk/
• International Film Festival Cinematik
Event venue: Trnava Region, Piešťany
Event date: September
http://www.cinematik.sk/
THEATRE FESTIVALS
• Divadelna Nitra
Event venue: Nitra Region, Nitra
Event date: September
http://www.nitrafest.sk
• Festival of Amateur Theatre – The Scenic
Event venue: Žilina Region, Martin
Event date: August
http://www.tikmartin.sk
• Bábkarská Bystrica- Festival of Contemporary Puppet Theatre
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Banská Bystrica
Event date: September
http://www.bdnr.sk
• Summer Shakespeare´s Festival
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava, Bratislava Castle
Event date: July – August
http://www.wshakespeare.sk
• Coronation Ceremony
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: June
http://www.bratislava-info.sk
• White Night / Nuit Blanche
Event venue: Košice Region, Košice
Event date: October
http://www.biela-noc.sk/
• Zvolen Castle Plays
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Zvolen
Event date: June
http://www.djgt.sk
• International Festival of Ghosts and Monsters
Event venue: Trenčín Region, Bojnice, Bojnice Castle
Event date: April – May
http://www.bojnicecastle.sk/
FOLKLORE FESTIVALS
• Folklore festival Východná
Event venue: Žilina Region, Východná
Event date: July
http://www.festivalvychodna.sk
• Folklore Festival below Poľana
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Detva, amphitheatre
Event date: July
http://www.tikdetva.sk
• Craftsmen Days ÚĽUV
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava, Old Town
Event date: September
http://www.uluv.sk/
• European Folk Crafts Festival
Event venue: Prešov Region, Kežmarok
Event date: July
http://elro.kezmarok.sk
• Farming at Lazy of Hriňová Festival
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Hriňová – Slanec
Event date: August
http://www.hrinova.sk/
• The Festival of Rusyn-Ukrainian Culture
Event venue: Prešov Region, Svidník
Event date: June
http://www.svidnik.sk/
• Zemplin Festival
Event venue: Košice Region, Michalovce
Event date: August
http://www.zosmi.sk/
• Zamagurie Folklore Festival
Event venue: Prešov Region, Červený Kláštor
Event date: June
http://www.cervenyklastor.sk/
• International Folklore Festival Myjava
Event venue: Trenčín Region, Myjava
Event date: June
http://www.myjava.sk/
• Jánošík’s Days
Event venue: Žilina Region, Terchová
Event date: July
http://www.janosikovedni.sk
• Hontianska parada Festival
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Hrušov
Event date: August
http://www.hrusov.sk/
• Cultural Festival of Hungarians living in Slovakia
Event venue: Košice Region, Slavec
Event date: June
http://csemadok.sk/
• International Folk Costume Dolls Festival
Event venue: Prešov Region, Poprad, Vysoké Tatry
Event date: May – June
http://www.osvetapoprad.sk/
MUSIC FESTIVALS
• Bažant Pohoda
Event venue: Trenčín Region, Trenčín
Event date: July
http://www.pohodafestival.sk/
• Bratislava Music Festival – BHS
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: October
http://www.bhsfestival.sk/
• Bratislava Jazz Days – BJD
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: October
http://www.bjd.sk/
• Lodenica Festival
Event venue: Trnava Region, Piešťany
Event date: August
http://www.lodenica.sk
• Convergence Bratislava
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: September
http://www.konvergencie.sk/
• Melos – Étos, International Festival of Contemporary Music
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: every odd year in November
http://www.hc.sk/melos-etos/
• Trenčin Music Spring
Event venue: Trenčín Region, Trenčín
Event date: April May
http://www.visittrencin.sk/
• Viva Musica!
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: June – July
http://www.vivamusica.sk/
MULTI-GENRE FESTIVALS
• Banská Bystrica: Barbakan Festival
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Banská Bystrica
Event date: October
http://www.barbakanfest.sk/
• European Festival of Humour and Satire KREMNICA GAGS
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Kremnica
Event date: August
http://www.gagy.sk/
• Salamander Days Banská Štiavnica
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Banská Štiavnica
Event date: September
http://www.banskastiavnica.sk/
TRADITIONAL GRAPE HARVEST FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
• Bardejov Fair
Event venue: Prešov Region, Bardejov
Event date: last weekend in August
http://www.bardejov.sk/
• Bartolomej Fair
Event venue: Trenčín Region, Ilava
Event date: August
http://www.ilava.sk/
• Bratislava Christmas markets
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: November – December
http://www.bratislava.sk/
• Feasts in individual boroughs
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava – boroughs
Event date: September
o Dúbravka Feast – Farm fest
o Karlová Ves Feast
o Ružinov Feast – Farm fest
http://www.tourismbratislava.com/
• Grape Harvest Festival in Sebechleby
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Sebechleby
Event date: October
http://www.sebechleby.com/
• Radvan Fair
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Banská Bystrica
Event date: September
http://www.icbb.sk/
• Spiš Markets
Event venue: Košice Region, Spišská Nová Ves
Event date: July
http:///www.spisskanovaves.eu
• Štúr Fair
Event venue: Nitra Region, Štúrovo
Event date: October
http://www.sturovo.sk/
• Traditional Trnava Fair
Event venue: Trnava Region, Trnava
Event date: September
http://www.trnava.sk/
• Wine Festivals : Rača, Pezinok, Modra
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Modra
Event date: September
o Rača Wine Festival
o Pezinok Wine Festival
o Modra Wine Festival
https://slovakia.travel/en/vintage-festivals-2016
GASTRONOMIC EVENTS
• Deň zelá- Cabbage days
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Stupava
Event date: October
http://www.mkic.sk/
• Gourmet Fest
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava, Horse racing venue Petržalka
Event date: June
http://www.gurmanfestibratislava.sk/
• Košice Gourmet Fest
Event venue: Košice Region, Košice
Event date: June
http://www.visitkosice.eu/
• Košice Wine Festival
Event venue: Košice Region, Košice
Event date: September
http://www.visitkosice.eu/
• Slovak Food Festival
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava, Bratislava Castle
Event date: May
http://www.slovakfoodfestival.sk/
• Trdlofest
Event venue: Trnava Region, Skalica
Event date: May
http://www.skalica.sk/
• Halušky Terchová
Event venue: Žilina Region, Terchová
Event date: May
http://www.haluskyterchova.sk/
• Halušky FEST Turecká
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, village of Turecká
Event date: July
http://www.haluskyfest.sk/
• Fyzulnačka Pezinok
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Pezinok
Event date: August
http://www.pezinok.sk/
• Beer Salon in the Old Market Hall
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava, Old Market Hall
Event date: September
http://www.salonpiva.sk/
SPORTING EVENTS
• Marathon Banská Bystrica
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Banská Bystrica
Event date: September
http://www.marathonbb.com/
• Košice Night Run
Event venue: Košice Region, Košice
Event date: September
http://w.kosicenightrun.sk/
• International Peace Marathon
Event venue: Košice Region, Košice
Event date: October
http://www.kosicemarathon.com/
• International Air Fest SIAF
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Sielnica, Sliač Airport
Event date: August
http://www.siaf.sk/
• Spartan Race
Event venue: Prešov Region, High Tatras
Event date: September
http://spartanrace.sk/
EXHIBITIONS
• Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava, BIBIANA
Event date: September – October
http://www.bibiana.sk/
• Month of Photography Bratislava
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: November
http://www.sedf.sk/
OTHER EVENTS
• Saint Hubert´s days
Event venue: Banská Bystrica Region, Banská Štiavnica district, Svätý Anton
Event date: September
http://www.banskastiavnica.travel/
• Speed Carving Competition
Event venue: Žilina Region, Liptovský Ján
Event date: September
http://www.liptovskyjan.sk/ic.html/
• Pilgrimage to “Marianska Hora” Mountain in Levoča
Event venue: Prešov Region, Levoča
Event date: July
http://www.ik.levoca.eu/
• Farm Horses Competition
Event venue: Žilina Region, Terchová
Event date: February
http://slovakia.travel/en/farmers-horse-race
• Roman Games in Rusovce
Event venue: Bratislava Region, Bratislava
Event date: September
http://slovakia.travel/en/roman-games-in-rusovce-september
• Varicup – compact tractors competitions
Event venue: Nitra Region, Tesárske Mlyňany
Event date: August
http://www.varicup.sk/
