Wednesday, 20 SEPTEMBER
Venue: Romanian Opera
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Ecumenical service, welcome speeches
THE SHOW – The Commandments
The music of the performance is an extended and developed version of the music of the Radnóti Theatre’s production of „10”. In 2019, 10 received several awards: it won the Theatre Critics Award and Tibor Cári’s work received the Best Music Award at POSZT. In the concert, the composer will play the piano accompanied by a string orchestra and four actors from the Hungarian Theatre in Timișoara will provide vocal accompaniment: Emilia B. Borbély, Etelka Magyari, Csaba András Molnos and Attila Kiss. Also, Éva Farkas Wellmann’s The Commandments Poems will be performed by the actors.
Thursday, 21 SEPTEMBER
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Sleepin’ Insomnia has been playing in this lineup for three years, since then we can say the band is complete. They perform in the genres of alternative/psychedelic rock, grunge, but don’t want to be pigeonholed into one style.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
8Light Minutes, a grunge band well known to the Hungarian audience in Timisoara, was formed almost 8 years ago. A milestone for the band was the summer of 2021, when they released their first album „Ébredj fel” („Wake Up”), but since then the band’s line-up has changed and they plan to release their second album in the fall to truly represent the current line-up. This year, as in previous years, they will take the stage at the Hungarian Cultural Days in Timisoara, but they have also performed at other festivals such as Vibe, DoubleRise, as well as Művészetek Völgye (Valley of the Arts in Hungary). In the summer of 2022, they won the main prize at the Siculus Festival in Odorheiu Secuiesc. They have already played several concerts in Hungary as well, opening for the renowned band 30Y from Pécs, the Csajod band, Middlemist Red and the Crazy Town band from Los Angeles.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, lobby
Organizer: the Association of Hungarian Women in Timisoara, Bastion – Várbástya Association
A selection of works by established artists and new works by talented young artists. The framework is provided by a common theme, Alzheimer’s disease. The exhibits feature a variety of techniques and genres.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organizer: the Association of Hungarian Women in Timisoara, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Presentation of the poetry volume of the Transylvanian poet Éva Farkas Wellman, winner of the Attila József Prize.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Lilla Vincze is an EMeRTON award-winning Hungarian singer, lyricist and lead singer of Napoleon Boulevard. Her participation in the Interpop Festival in Siofok in 1986, which the band won, a pivotal moment in her career. She performs regularly with her renewed orchestra and also gives concerts in churches and song nights.
Friday, 22 SEPTEMBER
Location: park of Huniade Castle
Organiser: Losonczy István HSE, Diaspora Foundation
Camp to preserve historical traditions with many activities
Location: Liberty Square
Organiser: Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
We invite students in grades V-VII to an exciting game where they can test their skills and knowledge in different areas (languages, music, visual arts, environment, strategic thinking). Participants will receive maps to help them find their way around the game workshops. All those who successfully complete the Cultural Carousel route will be rewarded. Workshop leaders: teachers and older students from Béla Bartók High School.
Location: Delamarina street
Organiser: the Hungarian Students’ Organisation of Timisoara
TECHESVÁR is back!
This year the place for young people is at Techesvár! A youth tent organised and dedicated to young people. Here, fun and relaxation are at the forefront, and we will do our best to make sure participants have an unforgettable experience.
Guaranteed, there will be no boredom in the tent. We’ll be warming up the atmosphere with music and entertaining those present with board games. This year, for the first time, there will be a DJ competition to decide who will play on the Techesvár stage.
This year, from Friday to Sunday, from 2pm to 6pm, there will be sports activities and then the party starts!
Location: Timisoara Project Centre
Organiser: Összetartozunk Association, Diaspora Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Historical lectures by György Mandics and András Záhonyi
Location: Timisoara Project Centre
Organiser: New Millennium Reformed Centre, Bastion – Várbástya Association
The book with the big question mark was published in 2021 by Tortoma Publishing House in Baraolt. The author, then aged 85, thought it was time to look back. It was in this spirit that this 400-page volume of memoirs was born, chronicling the day-to-day struggle of a creative life in the „clutches of time”, or its grip. The events recounted are interspersed with diary extracts and informants’ reports, as well as orders from security officers. Above all, however, there is a cumulative question: why is someone labelled a villain, a villain, a class enemy, if they are trying to do something? Why is he suspect if he works, wants to teach classes honestly, write monographs about artists, lead student theatre groups, organize excursions, collect and organize the memories of the last living witnesses of the past? Perhaps because he is Hungarian??????????
The author will be interviewed by his son, Pastor István Gazda.
Location: courtyard and hall on the ground floor of the Roman Catholic Theological High School Gerhardinum
Organizer: Roman Catholic Theological High School Gerhardinum
Astronomy demonstration and astrophotography exhibition for children and adults Activity leaders: amateur astronomers Csaba Torma (Dorobanți) and Armand Popa (Arad)
Location: Timisoara Project Centre
Organiser: Consulate General of Hungary in Cluj-Napoca, Bastion – Várbástya Association
A conversation with János Háy, poet laureate of the Attila József Prize and the Térey Scholarship, who has been a regular guest of the Petőfi Literary Caravan in recent years. The literary programme will include a presentation of his latest book of poems, entitled Szerelmes, istenes, okosos (Of Love, of God, of Reason), as well as a discussion of his creative relationship with the great Sándor Petőfi, born 200 years ago.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organiser: City of Kiskőrös (Hungary), Bastion – Várbástya Association
In the context of the Petőfi 200 commemorative year, Kiskőrös, the poet’s hometown, has hosted a series of major multi-day events over the past year and will continue to host a series of events in 2023-2024. Participants will learn about the importance of the Petőfi 200 Memorial Year, Kiskőrös’ tourist offer and the region’s wines.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Jóvilágvan is a Slovak band consisting of four members. The pop-rock band was formed in 2007 in southern Slovakia. The band originated from a children’s band, the musicians being childhood friends. Singer Réka Bokor joined the band when it was formed. The group of friends developed together during the years they played together, and their unique sound is the result of the varied musical tastes of the band members, which has changed a lot over the years, sometimes sounding full to the brim, sometimes minimal.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Performance by musician and composer Varga B. Tamás
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Vintage Dolls returns to the Hungarian Days in Timisoara.
The Hungarian Jukebox show debuted in April 2022 with a backbone of familiar Hungarian hits from the last century. It will feature mainly Hungarian songs, which are given a new shape in the Vintage Dolls’ signature vocal arrangement.
The members of the band are Eszter Munkácsy, Lili Benedek, Ágnes Szász – vocals, Áron Benedek – trumpet, Illés Szabó – guitar, Krisztián Oláh – piano, Ádám Bögöthy – bass, Tamás Hidász – drums.
Location: Roman Catholic High School Gerhardinum, festive hall
Organiser: Esélyt a Szórványnak Foundation, Hungarian Academy of Arts
The Theological Seminary of Timișoara, as a secondary and higher education institution, played a very important role in the Banat area. Hungarian-language clerical education not only meant excellent and educated priests in religious life, but also supported the spread of mother-tongue education to thousands of inhabitants of villages and towns from 1806 onwards. In fact, the album serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it is an attempt to present an architectural masterpiece of the early 20th century, which was also a high-level cultural institution, and on the other hand, one of reconstruction of the past, as today only the walls of this institution of excellence remain. The presentation is therefore made with the help of sketches, photographs and other surviving documents.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The idea of founding the pop-rock band Rius & Band from Oradea was born in 2020, from the mind of frontman Marius Oltean. The final line-up of the band, which will perform only original songs, took shape in November 2022.
Since then, they boast a number of original compositions, an album and many projects in the pipeline. The most recent of these is the track Elf.
The year they started their activity, they won the „debutant in career” award of the Peron talent contest, and in 2022 they participated in one of the biggest festivals in Transylvania, Vibe, as well as in the Siculus festival.
Location: catholic high school Gerhardinum
Organizer: START – Consultancy and Training Office, Association of Hungarian Journalists in Romania and Oradea Cultural Magazine
Literary evening
Location: Timisoara Project Centre
Organiser: Integratio Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
The tenth volume of the Treasure Books series, featuring Timișoara as the protagonist, has been published. After more than a year of work, the editors (Bálint Zágoni, Balázs Zágoni and Júlia Gecse-Madaras), illustrator (Andrea Jánosi) and local experts (Zsuzsanna Kopeczny, Enikő Fodor and Éva Fenyvesi) of the series have collaborated to produce the long-awaited volume, published by Projectgraph Publishing. The local project was initiated by Ildikó Erdei and the publication costs were covered by the Integratio Foundation.
The authors of the book will be interviewed by Tibor Toró, Director General of Integratio Foundation.
On the occasion of the book launch, the public will also be able to see a sample of Andrea Jánosi’s original illustrations.
Venue: Cafeneaua Verde, Libertății Square
Organizer: Timis County RMDSZ
We talk to Barna Tánczos, former Minister of Environment, Water and Forests on behalf of the RMDSZ, about the challenges of the past and the challenges ahead, from the Arthur bear to waste management, forest protection and hiking.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The latest performance of Studio Yorick, Soul Fitness is a musical theatre and prose performance composed from the works of contemporary writer and poet János Lackfi – a musical evening, in which we playfully question the meaning of our lives with the help of poetry and music.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organizer: National Hungarian Council of Transylvania, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Tamás Borbély is one of the leading winemakers in Badacsony, the only one from this wine-growing region to receive the title of „Wine Producer of the Year” in 2020, known as the Kossuth Award of the wine industry. The 20-hectare family estate was founded in 1981, and since then has been delighting wine lovers with increasingly exciting and chiselled wines, as confirmed by the results achieved in national and international competitions. Their selection is one of the prides of the wine region.
Note: Participation fee: 50 lei. The number of places is limited, so an appointment is required on varbastyatm@gmail.com or on Facebook, or during the event at info point.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The band debuted on July 10, 2022 as the first indie folk band from Romania.
Their debut track, Warm Freeze, has reached over 20,000 views on YouTube in just ten days, and Transylvanian radio stations are also playing the song with great preference. Mano & Gregor was formed with the aim of bringing Indie Folk music to Romania in a high-quality production. After 16 years of friendship, „Mano” Botond Ráduly and „Gregor” Gergő Petri decided to create an unconventional and diverse musical project, not only musically, but also in terms of approach, where the messages of the songs are as important as the music itself. In 2023, the band released their second major video.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Deák Bill Gyula is a Hungarian singer and songwriter, one of the leading figures of Hungarian rock music, known as the „king of Hungarian blues”. He started making music in the early 1970s, first as a guest of the Hobo Blues Band, then became a permanent member of the band and soon became one of the leading figures of the Hungarian rock and blues scene. In the 1980s, however, he began a solo career and soon after became the leader of the Deák Bill Blues Band. During his musical career, he created several successful albums, such as „Rossz vér” and „Mindhalálig Blues,” and wrote and performed songs such as „Felszarvazottak balladája,” A végtelen felé” and many others.
Deák Bill popularized and developed the Hungarian blues genre, and his work is respected by many in Hungarian music circles. His voice and unique playing style are a source of comfort and inspiration to many people. At this year’s Hungarian Days in Timisoara we can travel to infinity with Captain Bill.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
„The best Beatles memorial band in Hungary”, began Attila Várkonyi (DJ Dominique), Retro Radio host and active Retro DJ, his interview with members of Beatles memorial band The Bits.
The Bits represented Hungary at the world’s biggest Beatles festival in Liverpool as part of International Beatle Week 2019, where the band played 9 concerts, including on the stage of the Beatles’ „sacred” mecca, the legendary Cavern Club, where The Beatles played in the early 1960s. Out of 80 bands from around the world, The Bits were voted the best band in their category at the festival. In Timisoara, you can have a great time at the Best of Beatles show.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The main character of SOLAR ECLIPSE’s brilliant show: light, symbolizing the ineffable energy of the human soul. A driving force that can work wonders. Using this magic, the artists paint images in the air with their juggling instruments programmed to music, taking the audience on a unique visual journey. In the performance, dancers also bring to life unique peacock skirts and futuristic illuminated jewellery created by Szilvia Rémiás. The eye-catching programme is a memorable experience for all ages.
Saturday, 23 SEPTEMBER
Location: Hunyadi Castle Park
Organized by Losonczy István HSE, Szórvány Foundation
Camp to preserve historical traditions with multiple activities
Location: Timisoara Project Centre
Organizer: Diaspora Foundation
A retrospective of 30 years of Diaspora Foundation activity and current civic engagement. Pro Minority Award Presentation.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Minestrone Band was formed at the end of September 2011. The band’s specialty is performing on vegetables, while the general public can watch the process of making „instruments” in an interactive way. Between 15 and 20 kg of vegetables are used during a performance. During its concerts, the Minestrone Band makes instruments out of different vegetables such as aubergines, pumpkin, celery, carrots, courgettes, leeks, corn, nuts and plays on them. The programme also promotes healthy lifestyle education, playfully introducing vitamins between songs, and develops children’s creativity and imagination by letting them make their own musical instruments out of vegetables to play with the band at the end of the concert.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Losonczy István HSE, Bastion – Várbástya Association
A performance based on Renaissance traditions, evoking the festive events of the Italian nobility in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Loc: Liberty Square, Children’s Empire
Organiser: Béla Bartók Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
A game for children. The young cloud chaser takes his place in the plane. Using the cloud catcher, he has to hit three clouds sliding down the rope in front of the plane.
Location: project centre, inner courtyard
Leader: Zoltán Fockler, PhD candidate at the ELTE Doctoral School of Physics
Organizers: Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) will host fun activities for children and young people at the Hungarian Days in Timisoara. The interactive astronomy and space physics session will take place in three different groups of 25 people.
What are scientists doing in space? Is there life beyond Earth? What are the latest advances in space technology? What scenarios could humanity face? Is life on another planet possible? Topics include: comparisons between science fiction and reality, the scientific basis of the Star Wars universe, simulation games, reflection exercises and physics experiments.
Places for this activity are limited and pre-registration is required.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Losonczy István HSE, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Sonivius Vappae is a band of noisy scoundrels, resurrected from the dust of the Middle Ages, doomed to eternal wandering and tormenting those in their path with their racket. Condemned by the same means, punishing at the same time those destined to a similar doom.
Their instruments of torture (musical instruments): medieval bagpipe, medieval flute, flute, human voice, drums: tapan, djembe (occasionally lute, lute).
Their instruments of torture (musical instruments): medieval bagpipes, medieval whistles, flutes, cisterns, human voice, drums: tapan, djembe (possibly a reel-organ, lute).
Location: Liberty Square
Organizer: Diaspora Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Kids can try the OneMove Sports Association’s outdoor climbing wall.
Location: Liberty Square
Organizer: the Association of Hungarian Women from Timișoara, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Lectures on healthy lifestyle, movement, dance.
Loc: Liberty Square, Children’s Empire
Organiser: Béla Bartók Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Teachers from Bartók Béla Theoretical High School, Gerhardinum Roman-Catholic Theological High School, teachers of kindergartens with Hungarian language teaching.
Children eager to play and create are expected to come up with lots of ideas. Different techniques can be experimented, objects or toys can be made with a lot of imagination.
Location: meet at the Info tent
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Visit the Bishop’s Palace and the Catholic Dome.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Losonczy István HSE, Bastion – Várbástya Association
The Pavane group from Szeged performs Renaissance and medieval dances, accompanied by the Renaissance Consort early music ensemble.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Speaker: Dr. Annamária Kádár, psychologist, trainer, university lecturer
Organiser: Corvinus Collegium, Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Fairy tales are not just folk tales and contemporary stories, they are our life stories: the way we position ourselves in the world, the way we draw our own boundaries, the choices we make and don’t make, the parenting situations we choose, the way we relate to the world – it’s all our own story.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Béla Bartók Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Mesebőrönd is a company formed by Hortenzia Tőtős (dance teacher) and Boglárka Tamásné Deme (storyteller) from Nagykanizsa. Their aim is to pass on folk culture, games, songs and dances to the younger generation.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organized by Bastion – Várbástya Association, Diana Dindelegan Ballet Studio
The Ballet Studio coordinated by Diana Dindelegan started its activity in October 2016. Diana is a young woman who loves the beautiful art of ballet and wants her childhood passion to be passed on to both children and adults. Together with some of the studio’s students, she will present two moments from the ballet Coppelia: the Bedhead in the first act and the moment of war and discord in the third act.
Venue: Timisoara Project Centre, performance hall
Speaker: Milán Constantinovits, Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs, MCC
Organiser: Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
What makes a presentation attention-grabbing? How to solve the stage drag? What makes an effective speaker? Mastering rhetoric for high school students through practical exercises.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The Shake Quartet is back at the Hungarian Days. The members of the band are the artists of the Hungarian State Theatre Timișoara Csiky Gergely: Emilia B. Borbély, Enikő Éder, Attila Kiss and Csaba András Molnos. For more than a decade they have been touring in many places in the country and abroad. At their concerts, the songs are performed in a unique shake sound.
This year, the Hungarian Days audience will be transported beyond the world of operetta and into the world of film, musicals and operettas.
Location: street Delamarina
Organiser: the Hungarian Students’ Organisation of Timisoara
TECHESVÁR is back!
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organiser: the Hungarian State Theatre Csiky Gergely, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Performance based on Hungarian folk ballads and ballads by János Arany
A production of the Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre in Timișoara, directed by Attila Balázs.
Venue: Timisoara Project Centre, performance hall
Speakers: Máté Litkei, Director, MCC Climate Policy Institute, Melinda Hal, Clinical Psychologist, MCC Learning Research Institute, Senior Researcher
Moderator: Kinga Tóth, teacher at Béla Bartók High School
Organiser: Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
How big a threat is climate change to the next generation? Do we have solutions or is our fate predetermined? What role does the media play in shaping society’s image of climate change? Why are climate change alarm bells becoming increasingly common in Western societies? These questions will be answered by Melinda Hal, clinical psychologist, and Máté Litkei, director of the Institute for Climate Policy.
Location: courtyard and hall on the ground floor of the Roman Catholic Theological High School Gerhardinum
Organizer: Roman Catholic Theological High School Gerhardinum
Astronomy demonstration and astrophotography exhibition for children and adults led by amateur astronomers Csaba Torma (Dorobanți) and Armand Popa (Arad)
Location: Victoriei Square
Organizer: Harmonia Dance Group
The Harmonia dance group prepared a surprise dance to Abba. We invite dance lovers of all ages to join us and relax a fun and easy group dance.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Béla Bartók Foundation, Rákóczi Association, Bastion – Várbástya Association
The Rákóczi Union’s Hungarian School Choice Support Programme has been running since 2004 with the aim that more and more families from abroad take on the responsibility of enrolling their child in a Hungarian-language school, thereby promoting the sustainability of Hungarian communities. This year the programme is aimed at around 9000 primary school pupils. Behind the Hungarian School Choice Programme, a broad social solidarity has been created. All pupils and their parents who have started their studies in a Hungarian-language school in Timis County in the school year just started are expected to attend the scholarship ceremony!
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Musical journey through time – a production of Lehőcz-Takács-Maronics creative workshop
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The children’s band was founded in 2009 and since then has had regular gigs at festivals and events. From the beginning, they have paid great attention to the quality of the songs, whether performed or recorded. They only perform poems written by themselves and their own compositions. Based on audience feedback, their music is aimed at children, but at the same time is enjoyable for adults, so it can be enjoyed by the whole family. To date they have released six albums, two of which have gone gold, and have been nominated for two Fonogram awards. The band members are Bori Varga – vocals, saxophones, flutes, Gábor Sántha – vocals, guitar, Attila Boros – bass guitar, Ákos Angler – percussion.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Organizer: the Reformed Parish Timișoara-Cetate, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Economic crises, pandemics, wars, migration challenges, climate change, widening social gaps, digital economy, artificial intelligence, post-democracy. The world we live in has changed and continues to change. What are we doing about it?
Imre Somody, the inventor of the Vitamin Plus tablet, was mentioned in newspapers as a star entrepreneur in the 1990s and 2000s. Year after year, his name appeared on the list of the richest Hungarians. He was an active and visible part of Hungarian public life not only through his companies and investments, but also through his social initiatives and the work of his foundations.
Location: the main hall of the University of Music
Organizer: Timis County Organization of RMDSZ
Journalist and editor Csaba Bartha talks to Gyula Winkler, MEP from the RMDSZ, about the crises affecting the European Union, the 2024 European Parliament elections and the changes we can expect following the election results.
Location: 8th grade on the first floor of the main building of the Roman Catholic Theological High School Gerhardinum
Organizer: Roman Catholic Theological High School Gerhardinum
The story of the film is essentially about finding a way, about accepting our destiny. At first, both characters rebel against the future that awaits them, until, after getting to know each other, they find their faith and manage to embark on a journey that opens a new stage of their lives. After the screening, we will have a discussion with director Timothy Sós.
Venue: Timisoara Project Centre, performance hall
Speaker: Dr. János Setényi, Director, MCC Institute of Learning Research
Organiser: Mathias Corvinus Collegium, Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
The presenter will briefly review the main artificial intelligence products from the US, China and Europe that have been launched since CHAT GPT. He will address two distinct directions of AI development: the problem of intelligence versus general intelligence embedded in products. Finally, he will look at what the new wave of AI could bring to education.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The film presents the life of Ferenc Illy, who was born and grew up in Timișoara. We learn how a dream became a revolutionary invention, how a „metal can” of coffee became a giant company exporting to over 140 countries around the world.
One of his grandchildren, Andrea Illy, writes in his memoirs: „My grandfather had three great loves: the city of Triest, coffee and the beautiful Vittoria.”
Who is the mysterious lady Vittoria? How will the grandchildren manage to keep Ferenc Illy’s memory alive? We found out the answers to these questions during our wanderings through Triest and Timișoara. After the screening, we talk to Andrea Makó, the film’s director.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organised by the Eszterlanc Cultural Association, Bastion – Várbástya Association,
The show will present folk dance groups from Timis county, offering a sample of the diversity of Hungarian folk-dance culture.
On stage, joy, humility and respect for folk dance intertwine between the dancers in the performing groups. They hope that the happiness they experience through dance radiates from the stage in a way that simply captivates the audience.
The dancers will be accompanied by the Hungarian orchestra Suttyomba.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
DEFENDER has been one of the best-known rock bands in Transylvania for over 20 years. The band’s hits are well known and are sung together at their shows by young and old alike.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Balázs Bágyi New Quartet’s music is dominated by acoustic, contemporary jazz based on elements of post-bop and classical music. Drummer-composer Balázs Bágyi is one of the leading artists of the Hungarian jazz scene, who regularly performs abroad, and his partners are leading representatives of Hungarian jazz: saxophonist Sándor Soso Lakatos, who graduated in the Netherlands, pianist Dezső Oláh, winner of the Prima Junior Award, and one of the greatest bass players in Central Europe, Péter Oláh. The band has performed at numerous European jazz festivals in recent years and has also played regularly in China. In 2016, their album Homage To Shakespeare, made in collaboration with singer Kriszta Pocsai, was awarded the Gramophone Prize by the international jury. The group’s repertoire is based on the compositions of Balázs Bágyi, who was voted Composer of the Year in 2016 and Drummer of the Year in 2022 by the JazzMa.hu portal.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
A group of stegari evoke the festive events of the Italian nobility of the 15th and 16th centuries following the Renaissance traditions.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organizer: National Hungarian Council of Transylvania, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Maurer Oszkár cultivates its vines in the north of Vojvodina, in the Hajdújárás area and in Sremska, one of the best endowed historical Hungarian wine regions, where it produces natural wines of exceptional quality, usually without sulphur. Its wines are included on the wine lists of Michelin-starred restaurants. Oscar is a statue of determination. He has stated on several occasions that „where faith and will fight shoulder to shoulder, the impossible becomes possible”. His whole life can be seen as a testament to this credo.
Note: Participation fee: 50 lei. The number of places is limited, so an appointment is required on varbastyatm@gmail.com or on Facebook, or during the event at infotent.
Location: meet at the Info tent
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association, Béla Bartók High School
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The band plays music on the border between pop-funk-reggae-world music.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Repül a bálna, Szeretni valakit valamiért, Engedj közelebb, Ha itt lennél velem, A 67-es út, Kék és narancssárga, Szállj el kismadár…, just to mention a few of the countless Republic hits that have brought up entire generations and made this band an indestructible bastion of Hungarian pop culture.
Venue: Victory Square
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Fire show by the SOLAR ECLIPSE team.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Organized by Eszterlánc Cultural Association, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Folk dance evening following the concert on the main stage.
Location: Modex shop, 1st floor
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Sunday, 24 SEPTEMBER
Location: Hunyadi Castle Park
Organized by Losonczy István HSE, Diaspora Foundation
Camp to preserve historical traditions with multiple activities
Location: Liberty Square
Organizer: Diaspora Foundation, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Children can try the hand-operated wooden carousel and 30 traditional wooden toys.
Location: Liberty Square
Organized by: Bastion – Várbástya Association, Association of Hungarian Women in Timișoara,
Lectures on healthy lifestyle, movement, dance.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
A group of stegari evoke the festive events of the Italian nobility in the 15th and 16th centuries, based on Renaissance traditions.
Location: meet at the Info tent
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association, Béla Bartók High School
Location: Liberty Square
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
A spectacular, humorous and interactive fairground comedy on stilts. Non-stage show, fun for kids and adults alike.
Venue: meeting at the Info tent.
Organiser: Integratio Foundation, Béla Bartók High School, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Programme managers: Enikő Fodor, Borbála Szilágyi
The family treasure hunt game is aimed at teams of at least two people who want to get to know the stories and tales of Timișoara in a playful way. The new tasks are related to the stories in the recently published treasure book photo volume. You can sign up at the link provided at the FB event or at the Info Tent just before the event, between 10.45 and 11.00.
Location: Liberty Square
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Historical play performed by the historical re-enactors of the Order of the Red Lion.
Location: Project Centre
Organiser: the Hungarian Youth Organisation of Timișoara, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Who were the local heroes of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848? Which memorials (or which no longer exist) are left for posterity? We can find out about the history of these heroes in the volume of local historiography published by the Hungarian Youth Organisation of Timișoara.
On the occasion of the book’s launch, its author, László István Balázs, professor of geography and tour guide, invites us on an interesting historical journey.
Location: Opera Square
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Orbán-Barra Gábor , winner of three Guinness World Records and holder of multiple awards, will present his acrobatic cycling show on the first and only mobile track in Romania.
Location: Liberty Square
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Renaissance and medieval dances performed by the Pavane troupe from Szeged, accompanied by the Renaissance Consort.
Location: Project Centre
Organiser: the Association of the Banat Carpathians, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Presentation about the excursions of the Association Carpatine Bănățene.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Live music concert for children with giant puppets, Vuk, Süsü, Big-Ho-Ho-Hooker
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
We invite you on a sparkling musical journey. Ladies! Break out the sequined dresses, intense makeup and stunning jewelry! Gentlemen! Vests, suspenders, bow ties, hats, walking sticks and of course, manners!
Andrea Mahó, Panna Bogi Simon, Attila Csengeri and Dr. Norbert Káel are waiting for the audience to take a little trip back in time.
The well-known Hungarian hits of the early years of the last century have been kept alive for over 100 years by theatre performances, concerts, artists and, not least, the public.
Location: street V. V. Delamarina
Organiser: the Hungarian Students’ Organisation of Timisoara
TECHESVÁR is back!
Come and join us, because TECHESVÁR is waiting for you!
Location: Project Centre
Organiser: Association of the Banat Carpathians, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Presentation of Mihály Illés’ book
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Organizer: the Reformed Parish Timișoara-Centru, Bastion – Várbástya Association
Will you be my friend? – the children boldly ask the question without mincing words.
But who is a true friend? How do we recognize him? We read in the Bible that „…there is a friend more devoted than a brother” (Pro 18:24) What is this affection and what makes this precious treasure, friendship, so important? Is it a skill that can be learned and developed?
The puppet show will be presented by the Csemete group of puppeteers of the Reformed Congregation Timișoara-Cetate.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The Fonogram award-winning programme Jazzkívánságműsor magyarul presents jazz arrangements of the greatest Hungarian hits.
In recent years, the team has performed over a hundred highly successful shows with this production. Jazz evenings are a real joy, where the audience sings along with the band and the atmosphere is like a good home party!
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The band Emberöltő was founded on October 23, 2013, and after initial changes of members and musical direction, has been active since 2015. Their first show also took place in 2015, when the core of the band was formed, which has carried the group forward steadily until today.
Location: Project Centre
Organiser: the Hungarian Youth Organisation of Timișoara, Bastion – Várbástya Association
The success of OTMT’s popular game nights was the origin of the idea for the game championships, and now we’ve come up with a new edition: we’re turning the attention of board game enthusiasts to a well-known, fun game: in this popular game the main goal is to buy raw materials and build roads and settlements on Catan Island.
„Will yours be the most developed field on Catan? Gather the necessary raw materials, build roads, villages, towns. If you need something, trade with the other owners. May yours be the strongest knightly domain or the longest road! Collect ten victory points before someone beats you to it!”
A simple, easy to learn, fun game with up to 4 players at a table. A good atmosphere is guaranteed. As Catan is a strategic game, in order to ensure the dynamics of the championship, the lower age limit for participation is 14. All board game enthusiasts are welcome!
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Great Hall
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Round table with Imre Bedő, economist
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
You can taste the best Hungarian craft beers under the guidance of gourmet István Vásárhelyi.
Note: Participation fee: 30 lei. The number of places is limited, so an appointment is required on varbastyatm@gmail.com or on Facebook, or during the event at infotent.
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Mel’amour is a young indie-pop-rock band from Târgu Mureș, Transylvania, consisting of six people.
Location: meet at the Info tent
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association, Béla Bartók High School
Venue: Liberty Square, small stage
Organiser: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Titán was founded in 2003 in Reghin and grew out of a high school band. In July of the same year they got a recording opportunity at the Sendus Music label in Satu Mare, where they recorded their first album, „Titanium”, which was released in September 2003 on the Transylvanian music market.
Shortly after forming, they won second place at the national festival „Saint-George Rock Night”.
In 2023, they won the Dal 2023 talent contest with the song „Midnight Flight”.
Venue: Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre, Studio Hall
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
Bence Dula is known for its lush Pinot Noir „blanc de noir” and rosés, as well as its long-aged red wines. His batches of over ten years are at their peak, showing no signs of fatigue. Ten years on, his 1999 Hegybíró Bikavér won gold medals at the Bordeaux Wine Olympics in 2004 and 2014, a feat only one other winery in the world, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, can boast.
Note: Participation fee: 50 lei. The number of places is limited, so an appointment is required on varbastyatm@gmail.com or on Facebook, or during the event at infotent.
Venue: Victoriei Square, main stage
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
The Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra is a Hungarian symphony orchestra made up of Roma musicians. The artists focus on works by composers inspired by Hungarian folk and urban music, including Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Vittorio Monti, Piotr Tchaikovsky, Johann Strauss and Johann Strauss II. The orchestra has been operating as a classical symphony orchestra for 30 years.
In 2000 they won the Hungarian Heritage Award, the same year they were included in the Guinness Book of Records. Since its foundation, the orchestra has released 27 CDs and 5 DVDs, of which 5 have been certified platinum and 9 gold.
The orchestra has been included in the Hungarikum Collection as a „world-renowned artistic and traditional practice” and is therefore entitled to use the Hungarikum title as of 18 March 2014. The Hungarikum qualification is a distinction worthy of mention, a value worthy of highlighting, representing the highest achievement of the Hungarian nation.
Location: Victoriei Square
Organizer: Bastion – Várbástya Association
We end this year’s edition of the Hungarian Days in Timisoara with a spectacular multimedia laser show. With the help of light, we will trace the history of Timișoara for over 700 years.
Living History in the park of Huniade Castle 22-23-24 September 2023
Timisoara, bastion of Europe
Historical and cultural festival
Organizer: Diaspora Foundation
Partner: Losonczy István Sports and Tradition Preservation Association
Location: park of Huniade Castle
„The project is part of the National Cultural Programme Timisoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023 and is funded by the LightFest+ programme, implemented by the Timis County Centre for Culture and Arts, with funds allocated from the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Culture.”
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
During the 1552 siege of Timișoara, Losonczy István and the defenders of the city heroically resisted against the besieging Ottoman forces between 25 June and 27 July and gave their lives for their faith and homeland. On this occasion, the archers of the re-enactment groups will fire a total of 1552 arrows from 15 metres away from their targets.
Trail: Opera Square – Libertății Square – Unirii Square – Huniade Castle Park
Evening at the court of the Timis Committee Filippo Scolari: jugglers, auctioneers, knightly duels, knightly feast, Renaissance dances, fire jugglers, minstrels, but also knights and nobles will recreate a banquet evening at the court of the Timis Committee.
SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
Hațegan Ioan, Timisoara: Ozorai Pipo, Filippo Scolari Committee of Timis
Kopeczny Zsuzsa, Timisoara: Archaeological excavations at Huniade Castle in Timișoara
Petrovics István, Szeged: Timisoara and Timis County in the Late Middle Ages
Molnár Dániel, Budapest: Losonczy István, the hero defender of Timișoara
Participate: Sonovius Vappae, Peregrinii, Renaissance Consort
Some parts of the presentation involve interaction with the audience.
Presented and prepared by the Order of the Knights Fishermen of Baja, Hungary
The presentation is interactive, involving the audience.
Presentation „Life in the swamp” with Tibor Somlai
Trail: Huniade Castle Park – Lucian Blaga Street – Unirii Square, Libertății Square, Victoriei Square – Opera Square
Trials of bravery and skill for young and old. Those who successfully pass the tests become Knights of the Citadel.
Presented by the Order of Saint Longinus of Zenta, Huniadeak Örökében of Szentes, Börzsönyi Nehézgyalogság of Szob and the Order of the Golden Gryphon of Odorheiu Secuiesc
Organized by Losonczy István HSE, Thúry Fortress Braves
Paul the Chinese and the Christian army, attacking the Osman camp of the Malkocs-oglu Bey.
A memorable presentation of the siege of Timișoara in 1552, when Losonczy István and the defenders of the fortress heroically resisted the assaults of the Ottoman army from 25 June to 27 July, repelling several attacks and sacrificing their lives during the exit from the fortress, in the name of their faith and homeland.
Presented by the Seymen of Tata Fortress, Tradition Keepers Egri Félhold, Elayetul of Timișoara, Egri Vitézlő Oskola, Nádasdy Bandérium, Sólyom Association of Becej Serbia, Order of Vörös Oroszlán, Braves of Gőlbasi, Free Hindu North, Losonczy István HSE Association, Our Past and Our Future Association, Magyar Turán Délvidék of Serbia, Nicolaus Zrinyi Association, Kapuvar Haiduks, St. Longinus Order, Hunyadiak Örökében, Börzsöny Heavy Armoured Pedestrians, Order of the Golden Griffon, Sonivius Vappae Ancient Music Ensemble, Pavane
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Presentation „Life in the Marsh” with Tibor Somlai
Presented by the Order of Vörös Oroszlán
Presented by the Order of Saint Longinus of Zenta, Hunyadiak Örökében of Szentes, Börzsönyi Nehézgyalogság of Szob and the Order of Arany Griff of Odorheiu Secuiesc
Paul the Chinese and the Christian army, attacking the Osman camp of the Malkocs-oglu Bey.
Presented by the Order of Saint Longinus of Zenta, Hunyadiak Örökében of Szentes, Börzsönyi Nehézgyalogság of Szob and the Order of Arany Griff of Székelyudvarhely
A memorable presentation of the siege of Timișoara in 1552, when Losonczy István and the defenders of the fortress heroically resisted the assaults of the Ottoman army from 25 June to 27 July, repelling several attacks and sacrificing their lives during the exit from the fortress, in the name of their faith and homeland.
Presented by the Seymen of Tata Fortress, Tradition Keepers Egri Félhold, Elayetul of Timișoara, Egri Vitézlő Oskola, Nádasdy Bandérium, Sólyom Association of Becej Serbia, Order of Vörös Oroszlán, Braves of Gőlbasi, Free Hindu North, Losonczy István HSE Association, Our Past and Our Future Association, Magyar Turán Délvidék of Serbia, Nicolaus Zrinyi Association, Kapuvar Haiduks, St. Longinus Order, Hunyadiak Örökében, Börzsöny Heavy Armoured Pedestrians, Order of the Golden Griffon, Sonivius Vappae Ancient Music Ensemble, Pavane
