Vörs, tucked into the northwestern corner of Somogy County between the Small-Balaton (Kis-Balaton), Lake Balaton and the Marcali Hills, turns late autumn into a gentle procession of light, craft and tradition. With no through traffic, the village stays calm even as visitors stream in for its famed nativity scenes, a fire service museum like no other, an impressive church and a lovingly preserved folk house with original furniture. Add the draw of nearby thermal havens Zalakaros and Hévíz, and Vörs becomes a snug December base for lake-and-spa wanderers.
The 2025 Advent calendar in Vörs stretches from the first Sunday of Advent into January with exhibitions, markets, church services and festive gatherings. Times are local and most programs cluster around the village center and St. Martin’s Church, with side venues hosting pop-up shows and sales. Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so double-check before you travel.
Week One: Crafts, Textiles and a Visit from Santa
From Sunday, November 30 to Saturday, December 6, the village opens with a compact lineup that sets the tone: textiles, toys and tradition. Daily, 10:00–16:00, browse Enikő Radics’s textile dollmaker exhibition. These characterful figures channel regional folk dress and storytelling through fabric and thread, and the show is an easy drop-in for families between strolls and warm drinks.
On Friday, December 6, the Mikulás celebration starts at 17:00. Santa’s Day in Hungary is a stand-alone event: children line up their boots, sweets appear, and village gatherings fill with songs, lights and small surprises. Expect a friendly, very local vibe—ideal for kids and grandparents alike.
Advent Sundays and Community Gatherings
Sunday, December 7 brings a Holy Mass at 14:00, the first of a run of afternoon services that anchor the Advent rhythm in Vörs. On Saturday, December 13, the Christmas celebration starts at 17:00, a village favorite that bundles carols, community greetings and festive décor. Sunday Mass returns on December 14 at 14:00, and again on December 21 at 14:00, giving visitors several options to experience the church’s warm acoustics and Advent liturgy.
Heritage on Stage: Puppets, Light and Tradition
Saturday, December 20 is a double feature. At 15:00, the show Bábtáncoltatók Karácsonyi Öröksége—Puppeteers’ Christmas Heritage—takes over St. Martin’s Church. This is the living culture of Vörs: singing angels, dancing shepherds, and the folk practice of “puppet dancing” that animates nativity scenes with music and movement. Later the same day, the Fénymenet—the Light Parade—glows through the village, a shimmering procession that threads candles, lanterns and seasonal lights into a shared walk. Bring warm layers and a good camera; this is pure postcard Vörs.
Markets, Nativity Scenes and Winter Exhibitions
The Advent Market runs from November 30 to December 21, sprinkled with handmade gifts, winter flavors and small-batch treats. It’s a browse-and-warm-your-hands affair, the kind of place you linger over mulled drinks and pick up last-minute treasures.
From December 1, 2025 to January 6, 2026, Csaba Horváth’s RETRO toy exhibition opens a nostalgic trove—think classic pieces that spark intergenerational storytelling. Kids point, grandparents reminisce, and everyone finds a favorite.
Running November 30, 2025 to January 6, 2026, the exhibition Dancing Shepherds, Singing Angels – Puppet-animated Nativity Scenes from the Vörs Region (Táncoló pásztorok, éneklő angyalok – Bábtáncoltató betlehemek Vörs vidékéről) draws on the Marcali Museum’s ethnographic collection. It’s a rare deep dive into local nativity artistry, with movable figures and ingenious mechanics giving the classic story a regional heartbeat.
From November 30, 2025 to January 8, 2026, Margó Menyhért’s textile sculpture exhibition showcases sculptural forms in fabric. Open 10:00–16:00 daily except Wednesdays, it’s a clean bridge between folk textile tradition and contemporary craft language.
And from November 30, 2025 all the way to January 25, 2026, the Vörs Nativity Scene (Vörsi Betlehem)—Vörs’s renowned nativity scene—stands as the season’s flagship. The scale and detail make it a regional must-see, drawing travelers year after year for its moving figures, layered landscape and warm storytelling.
Stay Near the Lights: Where to Sleep
If you base yourself in the wider Western Balaton area, choices stretch from lakeside classics to spa-side comfort. In Keszthely, the 4-star superior Hotel Helikon offers 176 fully renovated rooms, a huge wellness area and family-friendly programming. Abbázia Club Hotel sits between the Balaton shore and Festetics Palace with spacious apartments for 2, 4 or 6 guests. Admiral Family Resort, in a large park near the marina and the bike path, opens May–September for a green, family-forward vibe.
Hévíz is a thermal town dream: Bonvital Wellness & Gastro Hotel is adults-only (14+), blending gastronomy, wellness and medical care; Aal Guesthouse brings a calm, budget-friendly stay with the town’s first 3-crown rating; smaller apartments near the thermal lake offer quiet convenience. In Zalakaros, Hotel Forrás sits next to the famed spa, with 37 double rooms and 10 family apartments, plus Wi‑Fi, balconies and an elevator across its three floors.
Eat, Sip, Explore: Food and Wine
On the Keszthely shore, Hotel Helikon’s restaurant serves Hungarian and international favorites with local ingredients, open to non-residents for à la carte, buffet breakfast and dinner. In Hévíz, Brix Bistro pairs a distinctive interior with a wide wine list, cocktails, desserts and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Wine lovers can roam the Badacsony region: tiny 2×2-hectare estates on St. George Hill (Szent György-hegy) focus—unusually for the area—on reds, with six-wine tastings by appointment. Eight hectares on the edge of the Bakony yield olaszrizling (Welschriesling), szürkebarát (Pinot Gris), cserszegi fűszeres, kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), plus Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, with guided tastings for groups of 4–50 and even herbal wines and Syrah-based red wine vinegar. A historic Festetics cellar serves food and wine beneath old vaults; Bagolykő Winery near Badacsonyörs and Ábrahámhegy showcases ottonel muskotály (Muscat Ottonel), olaszrizling (Welschriesling) and rózsakő with tastings and vineyard walks. In Lesencetomaj, another cellar plans visits by reservation, crafting olaszrizling (Welschriesling), rizlingszilváni (Müller-Thurgau), szürkebarát (Pinot Gris), rajnai rizling (Riesling) and Pinot Noir with a quietly spiritual touch.
One Last Note
Bring curiosity and warm clothes. Vörs rewards both. And remember: organizers may change times or programs. Check ahead, then let the lights lead you.
