Szekszárd’s Babits Mihály Cultural Center is rolling out a lively slate of children’s and youth programs month after month, right in the heart of the city at 7100 Szekszárd, Szent István Square (Szent István tér) 10. Expect theater shows, kids’ concerts, and hands-on craft workshops designed for little ones and school groups, all an easy walk from downtown with a friendly local vibe to match.
Stage Magic: The Seven-Headed Fairy (A hétfejű tündér)
The headline draw this February is Ervin Lázár’s The Seven-Headed Fairy (A hétfejű tündér), a musical fairy tale staged by the Fellegjárók Társulat. It plays in Szekszárd on February 16, and again on February 17 with two performances at 10:00 and 14:30. Tickets are a flat 2,500 HUF (about 6.80 USD). The show blends gentle humor, music, and timeless storytelling—ideal for families and school outings—and turns the cultural center into a kid-powered wonderland for two days.
Where to Stay: From Wine Hotels to Highway Motels
If you’re planning a family weekend around the shows, Szekszárd’s accommodations lean into the wine-country mood. Hotel Merops**** sits in the city center, steps from the Mészáros wine house and a short stroll from the main square. It pairs a calm small-town setting with the charm of the region’s vineyards, promising both quiet downtime and active escapes. Expect distinctive interiors, a well-trained, attentive staff, and a broad range of tailor-made services for guests.
Merops keeps it intimate with 8 rooms and 2 apartments, and folds food into the experience across Szekszárd and nearby hotspots. The Main Street Bistro in the Nádasdi House wins locals and visitors with a wide, flavor-forward menu, while winery tastings add a swirl of terroir to the trip. Down in the cellar, you can host Szekszárd-flavored celebrations—birthdays, friendly dinners, or company events—shaped into memorable, wine-laced evenings.
Sió Motel offers a practical option at the northern gateway to Szekszárd, right off Route 6 on a 2.5-hectare plot, tucked between the Szekszárd and Tolna wine regions. It’s also well placed for detours to the Gemenc Forest and the Sárköz area, turning a kids’ show into a mini nature escape.
Hotel Zodiaco*** bills itself as the only three-star hotel in and around Szekszárd, with a modern, elegant setting. Its motto is satisfaction: year by year, they upgrade with smart, guest-friendly solutions to make business stays and weekend breaks smoother and more comfortable.
Wine Country, Family Style
Beyond the kids’ theater run, Szekszárd’s wine estates open up the region’s signature reds and rosés for grown-ups. Attila Birtok sits in the Baranya Valley with 14 hectares of vines, working Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), Kadarka, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zweigelt.
Bodri Winery (Bodri Pincészet) doubles as a tourism hub on 247 acres at Szekszárd’s southern edge, nestled in a postcard-pretty valley. The 19,375-square-foot main cellar ripples under twelve domes, while a 3,229-square-foot aging cellar shows off its secrets during tours. The 15,069-square-foot rosé facility turns out top-quality, larger batches. Up to 61 guests can check into the estate’s thoughtfully designed rooms and unwind in a thermal-water underground Roman bath with domes, plus a jacuzzi and sauna. At Optimus Restaurant (Optimus Étterem), expect the best of Hungarian cuisine, modernized with a light touch and paired meticulously with Bodri wines.
Cellars With Character
Borfaragó Cellar (Borfaragó Pince) hides in Szekszárd’s “upper town,” where a former carpentry and woodcarving workshop now hosts tastings of handcrafted wines alongside folk woodcarving gems. It’s off the main drag but easy to reach—great for gatherings with friends or colleagues without the city-center buzz.
On Várdomb Hill, a winery hub champions Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) for its versatility and reliability, using it solo and as the backbone for blends. They also focus on Rhine Riesling (Rajnai rizling), Cserszegi Fűszeres, Kadarka, Kékoportó (Blauer Portugieser), Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.
A craft winery in the Porkoláb Valley tends its own vineyards and keeps winemaking purist: no commercial yeasts, malolactic starters, enzymes, fining agents, colorants, or additives to tweak taste, aroma, or acidity—no filtration, sterilization, oxygen dosing, or heat treatments. Every wine is bottled at the source.
Another cellar leans into experimentation, from local staples like Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) and Kadarka to Merlot, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir. Nearly every red grape becomes a rosé, with strong showings at international competitions. Their reds stay proudly Szekszárd at heart.
Eszterbauer Winery, rooted in Swabian and Serbian family traditions, hosts tastings presented by family members in a showcase wine house and see-through cellar. Groups of 8 to 50 can book tastings with bites, from simple nibbles to multi-course dinners, and shop award-winning bottles online.
A family estate works 16.3 acres spread across four corners of the Szekszárd region, planting Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch). Different setting, same theme: switch off on the vineyard hillside, kick back, and enjoy good wine.
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
