The Spring Festival in Hortobágy, a tradition dating back several decades and associated with St. George’s Day, will take place once again on April 25 at the foot of the Nine-Arch Bridge, in the Hortobágy Fairgrounds, following a hiatus of several years. The event is organized by Hortobágy Nonprofit Kft. with the help of the Hortobágy National Park Directorate, and the Hortobágy Municipal Government.
Among livestock-raising communities, St. George’s Day on April 24 was one of the most significant dates of the agricultural year, as—depending on the weather and the condition of the pastures—this was the time when livestock were driven from their winter quarters to the summer pastures, and when shepherds were hired.
Many elements of the Hortobágy heritage are still part of everyday life in this region, yet today these values are unknown to many; nationwide events such as the Herd Drive Festival on April 25 play a major role in introducing and promoting them.
Hortobágy. Photo: Pixabay
Starting at 10 a.m., the Hortobágy National Park Directorate will host the “Kihajtási Ünnep” (Herd Drive Festival) in front of the Shepherd Museum, offering family activities, folk and nature-themed games, craft workshops, and Ferkó Kádár’s Photo Theater for visitors of all ages. With the help of the RaptorMobil, you can explore the exciting world of birds of prey through an interactive, experience-rich activity.
Hortobágy National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the cultural landscape category since 1999. This year’s featured guest at the event is the Aggtelek National Park Directorate—the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst Caves, a World Heritage Site.
Nine-arch bridge, Hortobágy. Photo: Pexels
The most spectacular part of the Drive-Out Festival, which begins at 2:00 p.m., is the sight of livestock, traditional horse-drawn carriages, a flock of racka sheep, and the rare four-buffalo and six-gray-cattle teams crossing the nearly 200-year-old Nine-Arch Bridge accompanied by their herders.
Hortobágy. Photo: Pixabay
During the festival, there will be a tribute to Hortobágy’s hereditary shepherds and the annual report by the head shepherds, as well as opportunities to meet the shepherds and their livestock and watch a horse-riding demonstration.
In the square in front of the Shepherd’s Museum, the Hortobágyi Csárda awaits visitors with shepherd’s dishes cooked in a cauldron.
At the fairgrounds, as part of a craft fair showcasing traditional crafts throughout the day, visitors can browse various goods and discover products bearing the National Park Product trademark.
On this day, the Hortobágy National Park Directorate’s exhibition venues in the village center (Visitor Center, Shepherd’s Museum) can be visited with discounted admission tickets. Participation in the program is free.
Via Turizmus.com; Featured photo: Hungary Today
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