XVI. BALATON FESTIVAL
 

Keszthely
11 - 18 May 2008. 

Count György Festetics organised the very first Helikon Festival in Keszthely in 1817 for the students of Georgikon, the local grammar school and the conservatoire with the participation of noted Transdanubian writers and poets of his time (Berzsenyi, S. Kisfaludy, Judit Takács Dukai, Ádám Horváth Palóczi and others).
The festivals suddenly came to a stop with the death of Festetics in 1819. Attempts were made to renew the events in 1921 and 1932 when the Helikon of Keszhely became a national issue. In 1957 for the 140-year anniversary of the original celebrations public education experts and some teachers who felt great devotion to Keszthely decided to revive the events of the past. So started a process towards a series of the modern, more or less unchanged Helikon Festivals, which became reality in 1990.
The Local Government of Keszhely and the Goldmark Károly Community Centre modernised the festivals in 1992 in the form of a foundation and the celebrations have been organised every other year since then. For these large-scale festivals all Transdanubian secondary schools are invited to send their eminent students in order to compete in front of and to be judged by a reputable jury in 18 art categories. The festival attracts over 3000 students to the capital of Lake Balaton, to Keszthely.

10-12 May (Saturay-Monday)

XXVI. PENTECOSTAL REGATTA international sailors' meeting 

11 May (Sunday)

11 a.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
JÓZSEF EGRY painter was born 125 years ago - An exhibition from items of the Balatoni Museum and the Municipial Museum of Art - Győr.

4 p.m. - Bandstand, shore of Lake Balaton
Ceremonial FESTIVAL OPENING

4.15 p.m. - shore of Lake Balaton
Performance of jazz ballet groups of the Károly Goldmark Community Centre

5 p.m. - shore of Lake Balaton
Performance of the Tátika Folk Song Ensemble of Cserszegtomaj    

11-12 May (Sunday-Monday)

Pedestrian Street
„Colours, tastes and moods of May” - A two-day outdoor programme Folk artists, painters, folk dances, wine tasting, gastronomic delights.

12 May (Monday)

5 p.m. - Pedestrian Street - Presentation of the Károly Goldmark Community Centre folk artist study groups

6 p.m. - Pedestrian Street
Pentecostal Performance of the Nagyváthy Folk Dance Ensemble

7 p.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
László Tolcsvay - Béla Tolcsvay: HUNGARIAN MASS rock oratorium 

13 May (Tuesday)

4 p.m. - Pedestrian Street Stiltmen of Nagykanizsa

5 p.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
Concert of JUDIT HALÁSZ - concert for children    

14 May (Wednesday)

5.30 p.m. - Pedestrian Street
Elvis of Keszthely

7 p.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
Concert of MIKLÓS FENYŐ - rock and roll, nostalgia 

15 May (Thursday)

11 a.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
JÓZSEF EGRY and KESZTHELY (szimpózium)

2 p.m. - Pedestrian Street
Mask making in the Gateway Gallery (Kossuth L. str. 28.)

7 p.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
A piano recital by DÓRA BIZJÁK - KÁROLY ZENTAI    

16 May (Friday)

5.30 p.m. - Garten der Stadtbücherei - Concert of MUSICA ANTIQUA Ensemble in year of Renaissance

6 p.m. - Pedestrian Street
Dance Festival with the Boroszlán Folk Music Band

7 p.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
Piano concert of CSILLA SZENTPÉTERI 

17 May (Saturday)

6 p.m. - Pedestrian Street
Performance of a children's folk dance group of Sármellék

7 p.m. - BCCT
Jubilee evening of the GEORGIKON FOLK DANCE ENSEMBLE    

 

18 May (Sunday)

3 p.m. - Pedestrian Street
Performance of jazz ballet groups of the Károly Goldmark Community Centre

3 p.m. - Balaton Congress Center and Theatre
XI. BALATON DANCE COMPETITION

Programs around Keszthely

Balatongyörök

10-11 May Pentecostal Season Opening Days - Promenade next to the pier / Community Centre
(Programmes for children, musical performances street dance, kids' club, wreathing of the Balaton.)
10-23 May Photographic exhibition with the theme 'Balatongyörök' - Community Centre
(A selection from the items of the photographic competition announced in 2007.)

Gyenesdiás

9-12 May Pentecostal Season Opening in Gyenesdiás - Parish Hall / Anglers' Camp
(Exhibition of potter Szabolcs Kollár and aembroider Zoltánné Urbán in the Parish Hall; open days for families, folklore programmes, cooking of Hungarian goulash and fish soup and anglers' competition in the Anglers' Camp.)
17 May Georgikon Coop Sailing Regatta - Sailing Harbour
18 May Kürtös Cup XCO mountain bike round race - Nagymező

Hévíz

09-12 May Pentecostal Festival - Hévíz Gallery
16-18 May Spring in Hévíz - Hévíz Gallery
(Exhibition and market with cultural programmes - organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.)

Sümegprága

11 May XV. Potters' meeting folk art exhibition and market - Csermely-Hill

Vonyarcvashegy

10-11 May Ducal Almond Days - Helikon Tavern / Community Centre
(Fine arts, gastronomic, cultural events, market.)

Information

Goldmark
8360 Keszthely, Kossuth L. str. 28.
Tel./fax: 00 36 83/515-251

Tourinform Office
8360 Keszthely, Kossuth L. str. 28.
Tel./fax: 00 36 83/511-772 

Balaton Theater
8360 Keszthely, Fő tér 3.
Tel./fax: 00 36 83/515-231  

Tickets - Box-office

8360 Keszthely, Fő tér 3.
Tel./fax: 00 36 83/515-232