Gyula lines up a full year of culture, history, food, and fun, barely leaving a weekend without a headliner. Exhibitions, concerts, theater, gastro events, museum workshops, sports, and a stack of guaranteed and optional experiences fill the calendar. The fortress, the open-air Castle Theater (Gyulai Várszínház), and the beloved thermal Castle Bath (Gyulai Várfürdő), plus pálinka and sausage traditions, make this historic spa town a magnet from spring to fall—and beyond. Many festivals and premium programs take over the fortress precincts most months, and the Gyulai Várfürdő remains one of Hungary’s favorite healing baths.
January Starts With Steel, Falcons, and Candlelight
On January 10, Gyula Castle (Gyulai Vár) kicks off with a working blacksmith workshop demo, a prison visit, a sabre fencing demonstration with instruction, and a falconry show. Candlelit castle tours and the glow-soaked “The Castle by Candlelight” (A kastély gyertyafényben) bring the romance, while the Gyulai Várfürdő runs an after-dark spa session for late-night unwinders. The Ladics House hosts “The Empress’s Cup” (Császárné csészéje), while Almásy Castle focuses on women’s history and fashion with “Women’s Salon – Treasures of Almásy Castle” (Női szalon – Az Almásy-kastély kincsei) and “Corset and Revolution” (Fűző és forradalom). Beer people: “Brewery Drop-In” (Sörházi beugró) leads behind the scenes at Elixbeer Brewery with tastings. All of this is in Gyula.
Tactical Walks, Family Tours, and City Rambles
January 11 layers on the castle’s Siege Walk (Ostromséta) and an Armory Inspection (Fegyvertári szemle). The family-friendly “Castle Tour with Dönci the Dachshund” (Kastélytúra Tacskó Döncivel) returns on multiple Sundays. Between January 9 and 11, the castle offers guaranteed programs, then city sightseeing “Downtown Rambles” (Belvárosi barangoló) appear on January 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, and 30. Theme lovers: “Honvéd Officers in the Castle Garden” (Honvédtisztek a Várkertben)—a guided walk of the castle garden through the lens of Hungarian military officers—lands January 16 and 23.
Stand-up, Readings, and Museum Magic
Comedy and literature dot mid-month: Sándor Badár (Badár Sándor) serves a solo stand-up set on January 15 via Gyulakult. On January 22, the Castle Theater (Várszínház) hosts a László Krasznahorkai conference and reading, and the castle presents “Sieges Through the Centuries” (Évszázadok ostromai), a tour through centuries of sieges. Museum Free University talks also step in: on January 28, “Magical Tools and Technologies in the Roman World” (Varázseszközök és mágikus technikák a római világban) explores Rome’s magical tech; later sessions include “Herod, Jesus, and the Holy City” (Heródes, Jézus és a Szent Város) on February 25, “March 15, 1848” (1848. március 15.) on March 25, and “Commanders or Martyrs?” (Hadvezérek vagy mártírok?) on April 29.
Markets, Music, and Multi-Course Dinners
Weekends bring the Portéka craft and producer market by the World Clock (Világóra) on January 17, 24, and 31. Evenings lean into flavor and melody: Romantika Bistro (Romantika Bisztró) hosts “Dinner Melodies with Tibi Sztojka” (Vacsora dallamok Sztojka Tibivel) on January 16, 23, and 30, while La Sposa Caffè runs “The Chef’s Dinner” (A Séf vacsorája)—six courses—on January 23 and March 7. The János Mogyoróssy City Library (Mogyoróssy János Városi Könyvtár) presents a “Gesztenye Street Tales” (Gesztenye úti mesék) book launch on January 30.
Guaranteed Castle Programs Keep Rolling
The fortress maintains guaranteed programming across January 16–18, January 23–25, and January 30–February 1. Expect recurring highlights: falconry demos, blacksmith action, sabre classes, prison tours, candlelit fortress tours, and the siege and armory walks. Night spa experiences at the Várfürdő return on January 17, 24, 31, and February 7.
February: Musicals, Illusions, and Big Names
February 8 brings “Somewhere in America / Bon Bon 30” (Valahol Amerika / Bon Bon 30), a musical with Gyulakult; on February 9, Dumaszínház hosts András Somogyi and his solo show “Borrowed Faces” (Somogyi András: Kölcsön Arcok). February 12 features Dr. Kitti Almási with “Loose Ends” (Elvarratlan szálak). Theater continues with Mór Jókai: “The Count of Fools” (A bolondok grófja) by the Déryné Company (Déryné Társulat) on February 17 and Magda Szabó: “Abigail” (Abigél) on February 25. The Illusion Masters arrive February 27 for “The Illusion Masters in Gyula” (Az Illúzió Mesterei Gyulán). Candlelit fortress tours return February 7.
Spring: Dachshunds, Agility, and Flowers
March heats up with “Claus-things” (Clauságok)—Claudia Liptai’s solo evening—on March 5 and a Dachshund meetup at the Almásy Castle Visitor Center (Almásy-kastély Látogatóközpont) on March 21. April 24–26 sees the Medivid Agility and ParAgility Festival for a high-energy dog sport weekend. Spring’s academic thread continues April 29 with “Commanders or Martyrs?” (Hadvezérek vagy mártírok?) and May 27 with “From the Corset to the Bob” (A fűzőtől a bubifrizuráig), charting fashion from corsets to bob cuts.
May and August: Flowers, Pálinka, and Zumba
The Gyula Flower Festival (Gyulai Virágok Fesztiválja) blooms May 9–10, and the city’s signature Gyula Pálinka Festival (Gyulai Pálinkafesztivál) pours May 22–24. Summer caps with the 4th Zumba Festival Gyula (IV. Zumba Festival Gyula) on August 21–23, a kinetic exclamation point to a jam-packed year.
Beer, Often
Elixbeer’s “Brewery Drop-In” (Sörházi beugró) tastings and brewery visits are practically a rhythm section: January 10, 13–16, 17, 20–21, 22–24, 27–31, plus February 1 and more, keeping beer lovers busy between castle tours and spa nights.
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs. Total listings: 45.
