Siófok rolls out a year-round carousel of children’s entertainment on the south shore of Lake Balaton: holiday shows, workshops, family concerts, festivals, pirate cruises, kids’ theater, and playhouses. The family-friendly resort town goes big on stories and play, with December packing in classics, fresh musicals, and a citywide Santa moment to close the year.
Süsü the Dragon roars back on stage
Friday, December 12, 10:00 — Imre Kálmán Cultural Center (Kálmán Imre Kulturális Központ)
István Csukás and István Bergendy’s Süsü, a sárkány (Süsü, the Dragon) returns as a two-part musical fairy tale from Hadart Színház, running about 120 minutes with an intermission. The beloved one-headed dragon is cast out of the dragon realm by his fearsome three-headed father. At first, everyone fears Süsü, but he soon befriends a wandering prince, and both eventually find a new home at the royal court. Along the way, meet the wistful princess awaiting a prince, the caring nurse, the perpetually shivering king, and the hapless mercenaries. The full-scale, two-act production features a rotating grand-stage set and the officially authorized 6.6-foot Süsü puppet, plus original, reorchestrated music.
Cast: Süsü — Ádám Lévai; Prince — Mihály Bordás; Princess — Éva Bátyai / Boglárka Háda; King — János Háda; Nurse — Szilvia Molnár; Trunkó — Csaba Gieler; Brunkó — Gábor Maday; Dragonweed Seller — György Juhász; Court Jester I — Boglárka Háda / Jázmin Háda; Court Jester II — Réka Lakatos / Réka Zsigmond. Directed by János Háda.
The Grinch tries to steal Christmas—twice in one day
December 16, 10:00 (Kisvakond season) and 14:00 (Csimota season) — Imre Kálmán Cultural Center (Kálmán Imre Kulturális Központ), theater hall
Pesti Művész Színház stages Grincs, a one-act play about a cynical, grouchy green furball set on stealing Christmas—until a little girl’s unfiltered holiday cheer reboots his heart. It’s a funny, warm reminder of what the season is really about and the stubborn power of optimism. The Grinch lives alone in a gadget-filled cave on Mount Kobak with his loyal dog, Max, venturing into Whoville only when he runs out of food. The town’s ever bigger, brighter, louder festivities disturb his solitude, and when the Whos announce this year’s Christmas will be triple-sized, he decides there’s only one way to restore peace: steal it. Disguised as Santa and hitching his plans to a whiny reindeer, he sets off. Down in Whoville, Cindy-Lou Ki, overflowing with festive spirit, plots with friends to trap Santa just to thank him for helping her overworked mom. As Christmas nears, her sweet scheme is on a collision course with the Grinch’s mischief.
Pablo and Picasso bridge worlds in a family musical
Saturday, December 20, 14:00 — Imre Kálmán Cultural Center (Kálmán Imre Kulturális Központ), theater hall
Pannon Castle Theatre (Pannon Várszínház) brings Pablo and Picasso – or Carnival of the Animals (Pablo és Picasso – avagy Az állatok karneválja), billed for the adventurous and the rule-breakers. One lead is Pablo the rhinoceros; the other is a talented young boy nicknamed Picasso. They’re bound by shared absence—perhaps love and acceptance—and boundless imagination. Moving through human and animal communities, they tumble into vivid adventures, find new friends, and finally voice a shared wish: children, animals, and plants unite to build a bridge to a world where every form of life matters.
Tickets: adults 4,000 HUF (about 11.20 USD), children 3,500 HUF (about 9.80 USD).
Cast highlights: Alex “Picasso” Szekfű — Ákos Ruzsin; Pablo the rhino — András Koscsisák; Mother — Erika Gyenis / Vanda Horváth; Zenobia, salamander lady — Barbara Kárpáti; Severius, chivalrous iguana — Dávid Szelle; Dia the spider — Borbála Szalontai; Isidore the snail — Zoltán Dániel Pintér; Kriksz — Fruzsina Farkas / Flóra Sági; Kraksz — Zsófia Kovács; Parlando the longhorn beetle — Titán Perger; Falafel the vegan lion — Gergely Kuti; Ti-Ti Szün the eastern parrot — Nóra Magashegyi; Date the fussy chimp — Boglárka Takáts / Flóra Sági; Coconut — Zsanett Fanni Kutasi; Bamboo — Manka Kiss-Kocsis; Bori — Panka Kiss / Panna Bori Balogh; Somolyay, businessman — László Keresztesi; Ivett, his secretary — Kamilla Kátai; Lizard, Zenobia’s agent — Flóra Sági / András Czombál; plus ensemble. Play space by László Vándorfi; costumes by Erzsébet Rátkai; choreography by Kristóf Widder; associate direction by Márton Lenchés; director László Vándorfi, with team members Kitti Szücs and Nikolett Balázs.
Mark the dates
December 16, 2025 — Siófok
December 23, 2025 — City Santa (Városi Mikulás), Siófok
Organizers reserve the right to change the program and schedule.
