For families, community enthusiasts, and culture seekers alike, Vác (Vác) will be the place to be from September 19-21, 2025. The three-day Family and Communities Festival promises non-stop fun with interactive children’s programs, craft workshops, stage performances, historical talks, spiritual presentations, and rousing concerts from nationally known bands like Eucharist (Euchariszt), Misztrál (Misztrál), and the St. EFREM Male Choir (Szent Efrém Férfikar).
Set against the breathtaking backdrops of the Bishop’s Palace (Püspöki Palota) gardens and the renovated Cathedral Square (Székesegyház tér), the festival will be as colorful and entertaining as its venues—filled with civil society booths, local organizations, and community groups, all showcasing what makes Vác special. And the best part? Every event is free, open to the entire family, and will go on rain or shine.
Kicking Off with Today’s Big Questions
The festival begins on September 19th with a serious look at pressing modern issues, celebrating ten years of Pope Francis’s (Ferenc pápa) encyclical Laudato si’. This conference, held in the grand hall of the Bishop’s Palace (Püspöki Palota), explores planetary stewardship and the complex challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Participation is free, but registration is required, as space is limited to 80 people.
The morning opens with “Néz a hatalmas…”—musical renditions of Sándor Weöres’s poetry performed by the Komp Kollektíva. This leads into welcoming remarks by Bishop János Székely (Székely János püspök), who places Laudato si’ in context among papal declarations.
Renowned experts and educators such as Márió Nobilis and Ilona Keresztes (Keresztes Ilona) will examine ecological perspectives and the value of life—tackling complex paradoxes about population, consumerism, and human dignity in an age of climate anxiety. Their talks focus on the kind of image of God and humanity needed in these turbulent times. Discussions continue with an engaging roundtable on “life protection and stewardship of creation,” featuring a panel of leaders from faith and science.
A lunch break at the BishopVác Event Center (PüspökVác Rendezvényközpont) gives participants a chance to recharge before the afternoon’s deep dive into AI and language. Gábor Prószéky, director at the HUN-REN Linguistic Research Center (HUN-REN Nyelvtudományi Kutatóközpont), presents the latest breakthroughs: massive Hungarian language models that provide privacy and autonomy for local institutions. He explains why locally developed AI models like PULI are important, especially for the 60-billion-word Hungarian text corpus, and discusses possibilities beyond the closed boundaries of giants like ChatGPT and Gemini.
Education meets technology in a timely lecture by Zoltán Gloviczki from Apor Vilmos Catholic College (Apor Vilmos Katolikus Főiskola), who explores how AI disrupts—and enhances—teaching. The day’s learning concludes with a panel discussion on AI in everyday life and education, moderated by TV personality Szilárd Horváth.
Official Opening in Style
In true dramatic fashion, the festival’s official opening at 4 pm lights up Constantine Square (Konstantin tér), with Bishop Zsolt Marton (Marton Zsolt püspök) starting the festivities. The mayor, Ilona Matkovich (Matkovich Ilona), will join local dignitaries for the welcome. Expect pageantry, courtesy of the Central Military Wind Orchestra (Központi Katonai Fúvószenekar) and the Cathedral’s St. Cecilia Choir (Szent Cecília Kórus).
Festivities move to the cathedral at 6 pm for a celebratory Mass conducted by Bishop Székely, with soaring choral music from the Cathedral Choir School (Székesegyházi Kántorképző Iskola)—broadcast live on Catholic Radio (Katolikus Rádió), bringing the celebration to listeners at home.
Friday Night Lights and Music
Evenings buzz with insight and inspiration. Starting at 7:30 pm, Father Ferenc Pál (Pál Ferenc) leads a talk entitled “Me, Us, Everyone–The Possibility of Self-Realization,” drawing on his extensive experience as a priest, mental health professional, and educator. Registration is required to attend.
Meanwhile, at 8 pm, music lovers can enjoy the Eucharist band (Euchariszt) in Constantine Square. The Gável brothers, mainstays of the Hungarian worship scene, will unite spiritual themes and uplifting music in a rousing concert, continuing their three-decade tradition. Expect well-loved festival and church favorites.
Saturday Bursting with Family Fun
The festival’s main day offers a jam-packed program welcoming children, families, and communities to lively Constantine Square.
Catholic schools take the stage at 9 am and again at 10:30 am, separated by a dazzling dance and juggling show. Giant puppets and live music animate the Garagulya Stilt Company’s (Garagulya Gólyalábasok) 11:30 performance, followed by the whimsical musical story “Mad Istók” (Bolond Istók) at 1:30 pm. For sports fans, freestyle football champion Endre Zelei (Zelei Endre) presents a performance at 2:30 pm, joined by trampoline, acrobatic, and stunt artists throughout the afternoon.
Don’t miss the grand concert at 4 pm by the Saint Stephen Philharmonic Orchestra (Szent István Filharmonikusok), followed by the “Compassionate Jesus Roma Mission” (Irgalmas Jézus Roma Misszió) folk performance. At 6:30 pm, the acclaimed Misztrál band (“Masters of Ballads”) takes the stage, whose unique sound has toured everywhere from Transylvania (Erdély) to the US.
The night ends with a fiery fire-juggler troupe lighting up the square!
Activities All Day for Kids and Families
In the palace garden, families can play from 9 am to 6 pm among traditional wooden games, face painting, blacksmithing, wood carving, basket weaving, enormous bouncy castles and slides, crafts, fire engine tours, balloon clowns, football demonstrations, and juggling—guaranteeing children of all ages something to enjoy.
With all this, Vác’s Family and Communities Festival is shaping up to be the highlight of 2025—so bring your loved ones, curiosity, and community spirit for a weekend you won’t forget.
