A Captivating Anniversary Atmosphere in the Valley: A Look Back at the 35th Valley of the Arts

What exactly will it be about?

• Not far from Lake Balaton: an island of tranquility
• Plenty of great performers
• Theater, culture and art
• There’s plenty of entertainment for kids, too

Lake Balaton is just a stone’s throw away, the Káli Basin is right next door, and Budapest is just an hour and a half away from the “Valley” - yet it feels as though we have arrived on an island of tranquillity, a place where people go to recharge. We have written before about how Kapolcs is enveloped in a special, almost tangible desire to create, and this can be experienced at any time of year.

This is especially true in the middle of summer, when one of the region’s most prominent events, the Valley of the Arts, takes place. Art, literature, and music intertwine during this time; it would be difficult to even list all the programmes featured in the festival’s line-up year after year in Kapolcs, Vigántpetend, and Taliándörögd.

Just like every year, it would have been worth travelling to the Valley of the Arts this year just for the music line-up alone, as such outstanding performers took the stage as José González, the Swedish singer-songwriter, Kispál és a Borz, Esti Kornél, Elefánt, Carson Coma, and 30Y. In addition to alternative music, hip-hop was also part of this year’s line-up, with Bëlga, Punnany Massif, Co Lee Live Band, Beton.Hofi, and even the first-ever Völgyező Dzsúdló taking the stage; but for the first time, the audience also got to enjoy a concert by Analog Balaton on the Panorama Main Stage. Over the course of the 10 days, the Bagossy Brothers Company and Blahalouisiana also performed, while fans of folk pop and dance music enjoyed concerts by Parno Graszt, Aurevoir, and the Bohemian Betyars. Quimby capped off the anniversary celebration.

This year’s Valley of the Arts featured numerous new additions: the legendary Bánkitó Festival also moved to the Valley, setting up as a separate venue in Gástya-Árok. Here, attendees could listen to public and cultural discussions. Live music was provided by iconic figures of the Hungarian underground scene; among others, Balkán VIP, Bongor, kristoaf, Sierra Delta, and Palo Canto welcomed the Bánkitó fans here, while concerts by Kale Lulugyi, Indigo, and Fran Palermo also commemorated the merger of the two festivals.

Festival-goers might feel a bit overwhelmed when they receive the thick programme booklet along with their wristband on the first day. But once you overcome the sudden FOMO, you’ll quickly get into the swing of things. It’s almost a given that after the guided tour at the MűvészVölgy Mansion, you’ll head to Petőfi Courtyard, and after a little wandering, back to the Panorama Stage for a Quimby concert. It is easy to plan things so that culture-hungry valley residents can retire for the night satisfied, only to start sampling the offerings all over again the next day, since the festival offers an almost inexhaustible array of events.

Visitors were treated to an exceptionally interesting travel experience this year, as anyone could hop aboard the Visa taxi or the Snail Bus. The Valley of the Arts is also special in that here we can not only observe the creative process, but also try our hand at it! At Analóg Udvar, we can try out an old, more patient approach to photography again this year. In the Folk Courtyard of the House of Traditions, we learned catchy folk songs, and it wasn’t uncommon for the audience to break into dance.

Theatre and improvisation programmes played a prominent role in the Valley of the Arts this year as well. In the Momentán Courtyard, the audience could attend talks and performances featuring, among others, Almási Kitti, Csányi Sándor, Hajnóczy Soma and Palya Bea. In Taliándörögd, we could choose from 22 productions at the Theatre Stage and the Theatre Stage Church, including Factory Compagnia Transadriatica’s performance of Paloma and the world premiere – a collaboration with Art-Színtér – of Pál Göttinger’s play Anyós nyelv.

The Klastrom venue also returned for this anniversary year, where light projections and special video installations brought the ruins to life each evening. The festival also won the international Eventex Sustainability Award for its sustainability efforts: for example, as one of this year’s most exciting developments, a composting system helped recycle organic waste generated on-site.

Regular Valley-goers already know that the Valley of the Arts doesn’t just “pamper” adults with one great programme after another. Year after year, the festival offers plenty of activities for the little ones, too – but it’s great fun just to wander around with the kids anyway. Admission is free for children up to age 6, and it’s definitely worth taking advantage of! We got lost in the woodcarver’s wonderful work, browsed among the exhibitors in the crafts courtyard, marvelled at the potters’ gigantic installation, played for a long time by the stream, and even watched a musical puppet show. The Transportation Museum, Board Game Valley, the Single-Parent Centre, and the programmes organized by Visa and SPAR were all equally enjoyable.

Hello Hungary tip: Of course, Kapolcs and its surroundings offer great recreational opportunities not just during the Valley of the Arts festival. The region is brimming with things to discover: rent an e-bike and explore the area! If you’re spending several days here, it’s worth staying in the unique cabins of the award-winning Hello Wood architectural studio, the Kapolcs Rocks, which offer views of the rolling hills of the Balaton Uplands. At the Kapolcsikum Family Estate and Workshop in the settlement, you can buy excellent dried fruits, jams and syrups, and if you’re in the mood for a pleasant lunch, the MICHELIN-recommended 84 Bistro, which serves Mediterranean dishes, is the place to go. You can also book accommodations in the restaurant building.