From August 6 to 10, 2025, the 33rd Csángó Festival will take over Jászberény (Jászberény) for five days packed with nearly 40 programs. Over 500 performers, concerts, artisan market stalls, dance shows, children’s activities, and street food await, celebrating the traditions of European minorities—especially the unique culture of the Csángó Hungarians (Csángó magyarok). Hosted by the Folklore Cultural Foundation and the Jászság Folk Ensemble (Jászság Népi Együttes), the festival transforms the town into a hub of folk music, dance, and delicious Hungarian specialties.
Highlights and Main Programs
The lineup is overflowing with folk music concerts, dance parades, nighttime shows, children’s programs, light installations, and a spectacular fireworks display. The excitement even begins early, on August 4 at 8:30 PM, with “SOLO TOGETHER”—a night featuring the student soloists of the Viganó Art School (Viganó Művészeti Iskola) at the Jászság Folk Ensemble’s headquarters. Tickets? Just $6.90 at the door, followed by a dance party led by the Duhaj Zenekar.
The grand premiere arrives on August 7: “My Sun, My Bright Sun…”—a heartfelt tribute to the legendary composer Zoltán Kodály (Kodály Zoltán) and an exclusive first viewing for the festival audience. Purchase tickets daily from 3 to 10 PM at Lehel Film Theatre (Lehel Film-Színház).
Don’t miss the documentary screening on August 8: “I Would Wander Over Hills and Valleys…” about Csángó singer Ilona Nyisztor (Nyisztor Ilona), at Lehel Film Theatre (4 PM). Meet the star and the director, Ágnes Maksay, after the show. Registration is required but admission is free—reserve your seat early online or at the cinema box office.
Folklore, Dance & Nightlife
Folk Pub X Csángó Festival brings back-to-back pulsating nights. From Friday, August 8, 8 PM, through Sunday, August 10, 3 AM, it’s party time at 1 Víz Street (Víz utca 1). Friday night features a Moldavian and Gyimesian folk dance house (“táncház”), followed by two Roma bands—Ritmusa Band (Ritmusa Zenekar) and Szászcsávás Band (Szászcsávási Banda)—celebrating International Gypsy Song Day.
Saturday night brings Ferenczi György, a judge from Hungary’s talent show “A Dal,” with his band 1-ső Pesti Rackák, who will headline the festival’s grand finale party. Limited tickets (about 100 per night) will go fast, and discounted dual-access tickets are available for those who want to secure entry for both evenings.
On August 8 at 8:30 PM, the MAGYAR BANDA concert bursts onto the Székely Mihály Open-Air Stage (Székely Mihály Szabadtéri Színpad), supported by the Jászság Folk Ensemble. This band reinterprets Hungarian folk in a fresh, pop-infused style, featuring star soloists like Eszter Laky and Izabella Caussanel (from Ötödik Évszak/Fifth Season). Tickets are $9.60 (early bird until July 18), then $11, and $12.30 at the door.
Later that night at 11 PM, at the Folk Ensemble headquarters, Ritmusa Band and Szászcsávás Band will perform a wild mix of Hungarian and Roma music, merging tradition with modern, high-energy styles.
On Saturday, August 9, at 11 PM, 1-ső Pesti Rackák lead a genre-blending show laced with Hungarian poetry, folk, rock’n’roll, rhythm & blues, reggae, and humor. Tickets are limited—buy in advance.
Artisan Market and Flavors of Hungary
The Folk Art Market and “Street of Flavors” open on Friday, August 8 at 1 PM, running through the weekend’s end. More than 110 artisans offer everything from traditional Transylvanian and Csángó arts, costumes, jewelry, textiles, and hand-crafted homeware, to local treats like honey, jams, syrups, vegetable spreads, spices, specialty beers, wines, and pálinka. Discover rare, authentic, hand-made Hungarian and European folk goods and support talented craftsmen and women.
Events will take place across Lehel Vezér Square (Lehel Vezér tér), Holy Trinity Square (Szentháromság tér), Szerviz Road (Szerviz út), Holló András Street (Holló András utca), and Hatvani Street (Hatvani út) throughout downtown Jászberény.
The Csángó Mission and the Organizers
The festival’s roots run deep: the Jászság Folk Ensemble, founded in 1971, aims to preserve and revitalize Hungary’s peasant and musical folklore traditions. Their first ethnographic research trip to Moldova (Moldva) was in 1990; soon after, they welcomed a busload of Moldavian and Transylvanian dancers and musicians to their international camp, raising awareness of Hungarian minorities isolated for centuries.
Today, with about 50 dancers, the Jászság Folk Ensemble has won high honors: “Perpetual Excellent Ensemble,” the Bartók Prize, triumphs at “Fölszállott a páva” (the acclaimed folk talent contest), the Csokonai and Prima awards, and the Hungarian Heritage Prize, among others.
Their mission: to preserve the unique Csángó Hungarian culture and ensure both domestic and diaspora communities experience genuine, living Hungarian and European folk traditions. Artistic director Gábor Szűcs and Franciska Vajai lead the team.
Jászberény (Jászberény) will pulse with folk rhythms, flames, and flavors from August 6-10, 2025—don’t miss the most essential festival of minority music, art, and culinary delights in Hungary.
