For those seeking a summer celebration with a little bit of everything—food, sports, music, funfair rides, and bold Hungarian flavors—the Jármi Village Day and 2nd Gastronomy Festival (Jármi Falu Nap és II. Gasztronómiai Fesztivál) is coming on August 16, 2025. Held at the sports field on Petőfi Street 16 (Petőfi utca 16), this lively corner of northeastern Hungary promises a festival as generous as its portions.
All-Day Fun on the Field
From morning till midnight, the village transforms its sports ground into a buzzing festival arena. The headline event is a cooking contest, with local teams and aspiring chefs trying to impress with their culinary skills and regional specialties. For those who want to do more than stir a wooden spoon, there’s a football tournament where neighbors compete for glory (and probably spill a little lager).
All day, the main stage hosts performances and concerts, culminating in the evening when the local celebrity act ByeAlex and His Crew (ByeAlex és a Slepp) take the spotlight. Not to be overlooked, kids can roam free among the bouncy castle, merry-go-round, and a charming little funfair.
The night closes with a 10:00 p.m. fireworks show worthy of Instagram’s toughest critics. Entry to all this costs about USD 8, including food tastings, so pace yourself for the inevitable food coma.
Where to Stay: Jewels and Hideouts
Out-of-towners have a range of places to stay. Nyírbátor, a town famed for its cultural sites, historic legends, and the charming fortress Bástya Wellness Hotel (Bástya Wellness Hotel)—described as a true gem that stays open year-round—is a top choice. If you want a spa and some local stories alongside your paprika chicken, this is the hotel to choose.
For something closer to nature, the Gergelyiugornya Tisza riverside (Gergelyiugornyai Tisza-part) is the local getaway. Each year, tens of thousands flock to its sandy beaches and stilted wooden holiday homes, turning the area into a real-life vacation village. The Heart of Bereg Holiday Center (Bereg Szíve Üdülőközpont) also serves as a cool kayak and canoe base, offering beds, campsites, campfire pits, and boats for rent.
If you’re here for group adventures or just want to hide out in an orchard, the Cibere Guesthouse (Cibere Vendégház) blends into its lush, spacious garden. Built mainly from natural wood, it’s eco-comfort for those seeking peace and quiet.
Prefer your festival weekend with a slice of home comfort? The on-site campsite offers eight heated wooden chalets, each with four or five beds, showers, cable TV, and air conditioning. Altogether, 40 festival-goers can sleep here, with a home-style restaurant next door serving up regional flavors, fresh Tisza fish, and specialties that’ll have you booking next year’s festival before dessert.
Historical Inspirations & Spiritual Escapes
The region isn’t just for foodies and football fans. Máriapócs is one of Hungary’s biggest Marian pilgrimage sites and has been a national sanctuary since 2005. The Pilgrim House (Zarándokház), right across from the Basilica, offers tranquil comfort for those seeking peace, prayer, or organized spiritual retreats.
Looking for a taste of modernity? The updated Europa Pension (Európa Panzió), in the heart of Mátészalka’s city center, offers both convenience and calm. The Fenyves Hotel and Conference Center (Fenyves Szálloda és Konferencia Központ), located just 17 miles from Nyíregyháza and 11 miles from the M3 highway, invites explorers on castle tours and bird-watching getaways, with a cozy bed in the woods to return to each night.
Vásárosnamény’s downtown features a child-friendly hotel with a three-section restaurant perfect for all ages and events—think weddings, banquets, and Sunday brunches. For smaller groups, brand-new, accessible guesthouses on the Upper Tisza (Felső-Tisza) even accommodate guests with limited mobility.
Historic tastes are not neglected. Nyírbátor’s main square places you in a 1905 mansion, right next to the award-winning Kakukk Restaurant (Kakukk Étterem)—the region’s culinary hotspot.
Eating, Hungarian Style
Festival or not, your taste buds are in for a wild ride spanning everything from pizza to medieval banquets. Béci Büfé is famous for its delicious offerings—pizza, burgers, fried treats—served fresh and fast in spotless, family-friendly surroundings. Eldoradó Pizza World & Caffè (Eldoradó Pizza Világ & Kávézó) adapts its menu to local tastes, all day, every day.
Film buffs and foodies find common ground at Hollywood Restaurant (Hollywood Étterem). Not only can you enjoy local or Mediterranean fare and authentic Italian pizza, but you can also marvel at props from classics like Indiana Jones and Back to the Future, scattered throughout the dining room.
Add a touch of history and you’re dining in the Báthory family’s medieval hall or refueling Hungarian-style in eateries promising hearty homemade flavors and service just like your grandma’s. Quite a few spots also serve as event venues and guesthouses, making the whole region one big, welcoming dinner table.
Please Note
Organizers reserve the right to modify the schedule or change programs—because in Hungary, even the best-laid plans can be enhanced with a shot of pálinka and a last-minute brass band.
