This summer, Balatonfüred (Balatonfüred) on Lake Balaton’s north shore is pulling out all the stops with three weeks packed with culture, wine, music, and activities for everyone. From elegant concerts to wild party boats and family-friendly fairy tales, there’s no excuse for boredom between August 8 and August 31, 2025.
Wine Weeks Take Over the Promenade
From August 8 to 31, the famous Tagore Promenade (Tagore sétány) turns into a wine-lover’s paradise. Balatonfüred’s biggest gastronomic event—Borhetek (Wine Weeks)—brings together 24 local winemakers, offering nearly 300 different wines from thirty varieties. Tastings run every day from 10 a.m. to midnight. Grab a glass, find a lakeside bench, and indulge in the best wine the region has to offer.
Theatre, Picnics & Creative Camps
On August 11, Ferenc Molnár’s witty play “Play in the Castle” (Játék a kastélyban) gets a sharp staging by the Pannon Castle Theatre (Pannon Várszínház) at the elegant Anna Grand Hotel. The plot revolves around a mischievous connecting door, a love-struck composer, and a dramatic misunderstanding—classic Molnár at his finest. Tickets start at about $25.
That same week, kids aged 8–12 can join a creative play camp at the Arácsi Community House (Arácsi Közösségi Ház), while local cinemas screen the latest films and lakeside cruise boats wait at the dock.
Party, Chill, and Kids’ Boats
Throughout August, the Füred harbor (Füredi kikötő) launches everything from party boats (Bulihajó) to relaxed “Chill Boats” featuring cocktails and DJs, such as the cruise on August 13 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. A cocktail voucher is included with tickets, which you can purchase online to ensure your spot on deck. There are also regular sailings for families and kids—children’s themed cruises depart on August 15 and 22.
Concert Highlights: Zorán, Charlie, György Korda, Péter Rúzsa
Zorán, the legendary singer-guitarist, brings his annual open-air concert to Gyógy Square (Gyógy tér) on August 14—expect timeless hits and a packed crowd.
Charlie, known for his unmistakable gravelly voice and genre-blending career, takes the stage for “ZeneFüred” on August 18 at the Moonlight Outdoor Stage (Holdfény szabadtéri színpad). His show is a journey through decades of Hungarian rock, jazz, and soul. Tickets range from $36–$42.
György Korda, a national treasure still beloved after 60 years on stage, performs with his wife Klári Balázs on August 16 at the Balaton Leisure and Conference Center’s outdoor stage (Balaton Szabadidő- és Konferencia-központ). Prices: $44–$50.
Don’t miss Péter Rúzsa lighting up the same venue on August 20. This Slovak-Hungarian singer revives retro ‘80s–’90s Hungarian pop and celebrates his recent album “The King,” honoring the memory of Jimmy Zámbó. Concert tickets run $36–$42.
Family Picnics and Traditional Activities
Every Saturday through the end of August, the garden at Huray Villa (Huray Villa) hosts the “Fairy Tale Picnic” (Mesepiknik). Sprawl on a picnic blanket, listen to members of the Reform Era Tradition Society (Reformkori Hagyományőrzők Társasága) read Hungarian folktales, and enjoy homemade treats. On August 16, Béla Mező reads “The Old Soldier” and “The Poor Man’s Vineyard”; August 23 features “The Three Lying Hussars” with László Lasky.
August 16 also features a “Wine Dinner in Jókai’s Footsteps” at Gapa Terrace and Forest (Gapa Terasz és Erdő), where star chef Gábor Krausz and storyteller Zsolt Meskó blend culinary delights with literary anecdotes.
Fireworks, Fashion, and National Day
Balatonfüred celebrates Hungary’s Saint Stephen’s Day (Szent István napja) on August 20 in style: a classic holiday boat cruise for fireworks viewing, street concerts, folk dance shows, and one of the lake’s most famous fireworks displays, beginning at 10 p.m. over the water. The city square comes alive all day, with the Three Roses Trio (Három Rózsa Trió) on the Kisfaludy stage and the Veszprém-Bakony Folk Ensemble (Veszprém-Bakony Néptáncegyüttes) dancing both before and after dinner.
High fashion arrives August 19, when the 12th Balatonfüred Fashion Night brings Katti Zoób’s latest collection to the outdoor runway at Blaha Lujza Street (Blaha Lujza utca). One hundred models sashay down the catwalk—joined by last year’s Queen of the Anna Ball (Anna-bál királynője) and her two ladies-in-waiting.
Final Curtain: Theatre Under the Stars
Catch open-air theatre at its best on August 21 with “The Boys of Paul Street” (A Pál utcai fiúk), Ferenc Molnár’s global classic about youth, loyalty, and betrayal, adapted by the Pannon Castle Theatre for a modern audience. The powerful new staging mixes contemporary music with the dramatic story of Nemecsek, Boka, and Áts Feri. Tickets start at $24.
From wine to fireworks, fairy tales to boat parties, Balatonfüred in August is bursting with experiences, all set against the lake’s soothing waves and endless sunsets.
