The Wine and Gastro Festival brings a full-on autumn feast to Hajdúszoboszló from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026, transforming Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park) into a weekend-long celebration of flavor, music, and community. Entry is free, and the doors are open to everyone who wants to eat, drink, dance, and discover the best of Hungarian culinary culture and wine regions in one buzzing spot.
Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park), 4200 Hajdúszoboszló, is the heart of the action for three days, where producers, chefs, and winemakers share their craft and passion. Daytime brings family-friendly shows and cultural programs, while nights light up with concerts, dance acts, and a DJ party that keeps the energy high across generations. If you love food, wine, music, and the lively, unpretentious warmth of a local festival, mark the dates and bring your appetite.
Three Days, Endless Flavor
The lineup is pure fall comfort: regional specialties cooked on the spot, street-food twists beside traditional plates, and stalls that sizzle from lunch till late. Think smoky grills, market-fresh bites, and dessert stands that keep the sweet tooth in play. The drink program showcases standout bottles from Hungary’s wine regions, with crisp whites, complex reds, easygoing rosés, and craft pours made for lingering over. Whether you’re a serious taster or just here for a clink and a chat, the selection is wide and welcoming.
Music and movement thread through the schedule, with stage shows and cultural performances giving way to evening concerts. When the lights drop, the DJ takes over and the park shifts into party mode. It’s built for all ages: daytime strolls with a glass in hand, sunsets with live sets, and a dance floor under the stars. The organizers reserve the right to change the date or program, so keep an eye on updates, but the promise stands—there’s something for everyone all weekend long.
Where It Happens
You’ll find the festival in Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park), a central, leafy stretch that’s easy to reach and perfect for wandering from stall to stage. The address appears multiple times for a reason: this is the place to plug into the city’s autumn vibe. Expect a friendly crowd, a practical layout, and that unmistakable small-city hospitality that defines Hajdúszoboszló at its best.
Stay Close, Settle In
If you’re planning a full weekend, accommodation options cluster around the spa district and within walking distance of the park. Hotel Friendship (Hotel Barátság) rises above the neighborhood with panoramic views and an in-house bath and wellness complex—thermal and alternating-temperature pools, hot tubs, saunas, an infrared sauna, and steam baths designed for real reset time. It’s set up for both leisure and business, blending rooms, wellness, and event spaces at one address.
Guesthouses and apartments bring the quiet-garden vibe. Holiday homes sit about a 5-minute walk from the beach-style strand, with four separate upstairs apartments—two for two people, one for four, and one for five—open all year. Other private stays line Kölcsey and Major streets, just 100 to 200 meters from the strand gates, close to restaurants, markets, and grocery stores. Some apartments are set 200 meters from the strand and 150 meters from the bus station—ideal if you’re arriving by coach and want to keep things simple.
Looking for silence after the music? Several guesthouses in the garden district specialize in uninterrupted rest. They’re a short stroll to the Medical Spa (Gyógyfürdő) and Peace Spa (Béke) complexes, and often include free yard parking and a shared breakfast kitchen. If you want a central base, you’ll also find stays “in the heart of Hajdúszoboszló,” just minutes on foot from the thermal baths. For families, a 107-room, kid-friendly hotel in the resort area offers everything from doubles and triples to 2+2 family apartments and suites, plus its own therapeutic and wellness area. Rooms come with TV, minibar, phone, safe—many with air conditioning and balconies—and all with private bathrooms.
Eats, Drinks, and After Hours
Beyond the festival grounds, the city’s hospitality scene runs deep. U-Pub Bar rolls entertainment into one stop with an escape room, bowling, billiards, darts, air hockey, and table football, alongside a wide, fairly priced drinks list and an easygoing crowd. Mirage Restaurant has been fully refreshed, with an upscale interior, an eye-catching pálinka wall, seasonal menus, and guest-first service—the kind of spot that works for family dinners or date nights.
Kemencés Csárda digs into Great Plain (Alföld) traditions and reimagines them with care. Inspired by the old roadside inns that once anchored the Great Hungarian Plain, it preserves and showcases heritage in the menu and interior, offering a rooted, modern csárda experience. Nearby, a romantic, elegant dining complex near the spa features a 150-seat covered terrace and an 80-seat panoramic terrace upstairs—tailor-made for long, lovely meals. Major Guesthouse and Restaurant (Major Panzió és Étterem) sits in a quiet corner of the spa zone, about 8 minutes from the winter entrance and 2 minutes from the summer one, perfect for quick hops between hot water and hot plates.
Craving grilled specialties? No. 8 in the spa district is a go-to from day to night, serving classics and signature grills. Its summer-winter terrace runs from April through late November, and the nearly 80-seat pergola is one of the city’s largest—ideal for cocktails and soul-warming drinks after a stroll. For a treat by the gate, a spot just a minute from the Hungarospa Medical Spa (Hungarospa Gyógyfürdő) entrance dishes out sweet and savory crêpes and craft ice creams, plus inventive lemonades, cocktails, and coffee specials.
Plan It Right
The festival is free. Dates: September 18–20, 2026. Location: Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park), 4200 Hajdúszoboszló. Watch for program updates and possible changes. Book a room, grab a table, and bring friends—autumn tastes better together.
