Szeged Wine Festival and Day of Szeged Celebration Series 2022 - all you need to know
After two years, one of the biggest wine festivals of Hungary returns to the city of sunshine to turn downtown squares and streets into a bustling gastronomy festival. The 26th Szeged Wine Festival and the 10-day-long Day of Szeged Celebration Series start on Friday, May 13.
Szeged Wine Festival and Day of Szeged Celebration Series in 2022
The Szeged Wine Festival is one of the biggest wine-related events in Hungary, with approximately 150 winemakers this year, arriving from all corners of the country to present the best of their produce. This is an excellent opportunity to taste literally all of Hungary as the selection at the wine stalls covers all 22 wine regions of the country.
Stalls offering brandies (pálinka), craft beer, handmade cheese, and several other gastronomy specialties will also be part of the 2022 event.
The Szeged Wine Festival, and other iconic programs, like the extremely popular Bridge Fair, are part of the Day of Szeged Celebration Series. The 10-day event offers numerous programs, different music performances, and fascinating concerts.
Reusable wine glasses at the Szeged Wine Festival
In an effort to make the city’s festivals greener, the organizers decided to replace the plastic wine cups this year with reusable wine glasses. Visitors can either buy a glass to take home or one that can be returned at the end.
Wine glasses can be obtained from any wine producer. The ones that have the Szeged Wine Festival’s logo cost 900 HUF and cannot be returned, but can serve as a souvenir. Glasses decorated with the coat of arms of Szeged cost 700 HUF and can be returned at stall No.185 for a refund of 500 HUF.
Venues of the 2022 Szeged Wine Festival and Day of Szeged Celebration Series
2022 Szeged Wine Festival at Széchenyi Square
As in previous years, Széchenyi Square will host most of the wine producers’ stalls. In addition to the Hungarian repertoire covering all 22 wine regions of the country, some stalls will offer international wines and champagne.
Next to the excellent wines from all over Hungary, the equally famous Hungarian brandy (pálinka) will also be present, thanks to some of the best pálinka producers in the country.
Tables already set up around the Vásárhelyi Pál statue at Széchenyi Square. Image: Szegedify / Szilvia Molnar
The Széchenyi Square location will host a good number of food stalls too, offering fish, chips, grilled food, pizza, handmade cheese, flatbreads, and chimney cake among others. No. 71 and 97 will be dedicated coffee stalls.
A wide variety of music performances - jazz, blues, and folk formations, and some of Hungary’s favorite performers - will set the ambiance on three podium stages located at different parts of the square.
Klauzál Square and Kárász Street
Apart from the main location on Széchenyi Square, other areas of downtown Szeged will also be bustling with accompanying programs.
Klauzál Square and a part of Kárász Street - between Klauzál and Széchenyi Squares - will host a Craft and Gastro Square, where in addition to fine wines, craft beers, and mouth-watering food await visitors.
At the same time, this area will be home to several local artisans displaying their handcrafted goods, such as natural cosmetics, handmade jewelry, leather accessories, ceramics, wooden toys, and more.
Dugonics Square
Dugonics Square will transform into a Treasure Square with local produce and handicraft items. Some stalls will be here for all 10 days, others for only the first or the second part of the event.
A stage will be set up at the fountain to host music performances with popular Hungarian artists.
This location will also have food and drink stalls, offering chimney cake, Asian street food, sweets, bubble tea, and beer among others.
Day of Szeged Celebration Series accompanying programs and locations
Choirs in Downtown Szeged
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 14, choirs will fill downtown Szeged with singing. Nearly 30 short concerts will take place at four courtyards: REÖK, Átrium Café, SZTE Rector’s Office, and Wagner Udvar.
The choirs start at 2 p.m. with a flashmob on Kárász Street and end their program with another flashmob starting at 5:30 p.m. at Dugonics Square.
Find more info about the event on Facebook.
Dóm Square
On the second weekend of the Day of Szeged celebration series - May 20-22 - spectacular concerts await visitors at the Dóm Square Cavalcade, with fireworks on May 21, at 9:30 p.m.
Previous concert at the Dóm Square Cavalcade. Image via SZVP - Szegedi Városkép és Piac
Szeged Bridge Fair at Belvárosi Bridge, Híd Street and Oskola Street
On May 21-22, the 21st Szeged Bridge Fair will host one of the biggest handicraft markets in the country, spanning Belvárosi Bridge (Belvárosi-híd) and Híd Street. At the same time, visitors can get to know local NGOs and their work on Oskola Street.
Móra Ferenc Park
The 21st Hungarian Majorette Championship will take place on the same weekend, May 21-22, at Móra Park (in front of Móra Ferenc Museum).
The 20th Szeged Bridge Fair in 2019. Image credit: Szabó Bálint Fotó
Changes in traffic and public transport during the 2022 Szeged Wine Festival and Day of Szeged Celebration Series
Parking and traffic restrictions
Széchenyi Square will be partly closed to parking and car traffic until Friday, May 27.
Belvárosi Bridge will be fully closed to traffic during the Szeged Bridge Fair, May 21-22. On these two days, trolleybusses No. 5, 7A, 9, and 19 will be redirected to a modified route, avoiding the Széchényi Square (Kelemen u.) station.
In general, if you are coming to Szeged by car during the 10 days of the Day of Szeged Celebration Series, try to avoid the following parts of the downtown area:
Széchenyi Square
Belvárosi Bridge
Híd Street
Oskola Street
Dóm Square
Somogyi Street
Public transport discount ticket for the Day of Szeged Celebration Series
During the festival (May 13-22), any single ticket validated on board after 6 p.m. entitles unlimited travel on any type of public transport until 6 a.m. the following morning.
Single tickets bought in advance (one-by-one or in a 10-pack), tickets bought on board (from the driver or the ticket machine), and single tickets purchased via the mobile app are all eligible. Please note that tickets purchased at the onboard machine don’t need validation, these are issued already validated.
Exceptions of the above: 91E, 92E, 93E, 94E lines
Nostalgia tram and trolleybus
During the 2022 Szeged Wine Festival and Day of Szeged Celebration Series, the transport company in Szeged launches nostalgia tram and trolleybus services.
The FVV 813 articulated tram to and from Európa liget will operate on May 21 and 22 only.
The Ikarus 280T nostalgia trolleybus operates during the whole celebration series, from May 13 to May 22, between Víztorony tér and Klinikák stations.
For a map with the stations of the nostalgia tram and trolleybus, click here.
What is the Day of Szeged celebration about
Every year, the city of sunshine celebrates the Day of Szeged on May 21.
The area of Szeged has been inhabited since the Neolithic. The city was first mentioned in 1183 and became a royal free city in 1498. After the Turkish invasion, Szeged got its royal free city status back in 1715. It received a coat of arms on May 21, 1719, and this day is still celebrated today as the Day of Szeged.
Coat of arms given to Szeged on May 21, 1719. Source: Wikibooks.org
Disclaimer
The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the programs announced.
At Szegedify we try to provide the most accurate information possible and we double-check everything. However, we are not liable for inaccurate information (if any) provided by our sources.
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Featured image only for illustration. Credit: Caroline Attwood / Unsplash
