photo: Courtesy of Guitarfest
Bratislava will welcome guitar players and lovers of guitar music during the Guitarfest between June 9 and 10. Enjoy masters of various genres, such as Polish guitarist Adam Fulara, Hungarian player István Alapi and Czech players Michal Pavlíček and Pavel Marcel. Slovak guitarists Flaco de Nerja and Morenito de Triana, Jimi Cimbala, Palo Chodelka & Liquid Boogie Roll, René Lacko, Peter Luha & Astro Songs Orchestra and Vadim Bušovský will also play along. Included are workshops and presentations by local guitar producers. Tickets for the whole festival cost Sk550. Visit Park Kultúry a Oddychu (Culture and Leisure Park - PKO) at Nábrežie L Svobodu 3 or call 02/5935-6650 or visit www.guitarfest.sk (also in English) for more information.
Western SLOVAKIA
Bratislava
FOLKLORE: Play and Wedding - Renowned music and dance folk ensemble Lúčnica demonstrates the rich folk traditions of Slovak shepherds and peasants and a wedding ceremony.
Starts: June 7, starting at 18:00. Admission: Sk300. National Tennis Centre, Príkopova 6. Tel: 02/4920-9890.
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: Junifest - The biggest beer festival in Slovakia embraces the third year of the festival of national minorities.
Runs: June 9-18. Admission: Sk50. Incheba, Viedenská cesta. Tel: 02/5249-3975. www.junifest.sk.
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: The International Day of Water Sprites - The ninth year of this festival includes a parade of water sprites and nymphs, a competition for the best masks and a Danube fish soup cooking contest.
Starts: Jun 10 at 11:00. Admission: free. The Danube river bank close to Propeler, Old Town, Rybné námestie, Hviezdoslavovo námestie. Tel: 02/5920-1605.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Ostmoderne /Eastern Modern - Photos by Austrian photographer Hertha Hurnaus offer an untraditional view of late modernist Slovak architecture.
Open: Tue-Sat 11-17:00, Sunday 15:00-19:00 until June 11. Admission: free. Galéria architektúry Spolku architektov Slovenska (Society of Slovak Architects), Panská 15. Tel: 02/5443-5177.
Piešťany
FESTIVAL: Truck Country - Colourfully decorated big-rig trucks, heavily muscled truck-pullers, country dancers and musicians meet at an open-air event with a Wild West flavour organized for truck lovers.
Runs: Jun 9-11 at 14:00. Admission: Sk200 (one day). Piešťany airport. Tel: 033/7720-891(3).
Nitra
EXHBITION: Trado ... - Italian artists from the Spazio Môj (My Space) group present a short film, paintings, photos and installation, in two galleries.
Open: Mon-Sun 10:00-19:30 until June 21. Malá galéria Akcent, Kúpeľná 4. Tel: (037) 6517-604
Open: Tue 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00, Wed, Thu 9:00, 10:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00, Sat, Sun 15:00, 16:00, 17:00. Synagogue, Pri Synagóge. Tel: 037/161-86.
Central SLOVAKIA
Žarnovica
FESTIVAL: Blues Island - Ten bands, including Víťazný traktor, Bluesweiser, ZVA 12-28, Silvia Josifoska, René Lacko, Canned Heat Revival, Octopus and Jakub Kořínek, play a 10-hour blues marathon.
Starts: Jun 10, starting at 14:00. Admission: Sk149. The island Revište close to Žarnovica. Tel: 0905/347-415. www.reviste.sk.
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Rožňava
FESTIVAL: Renaissance Days - Slovak and Hungarian musical ensembles perform Renaissance music and medieval fencing.
Runs: Jun 9-11. Admission: Sk180 (one day), Sk250 (the whole festival). Below the Castle Krásna Hôrka. Tel: 058/7328-101.
Stará Ľubovňa
FESTIVAL: Ľubovňa Castle Likes Fairy Tales - The castle and open-air museum underneath host the eighth year of this successful event, which includes the Commedia ensemble from Poprad, marionette shows by Iva Liptáková, doll making presentations, painting on glass and various handicrafts.
Runs: June 6-8, 9:00-18:00. Admission: Sk110, Sk70. Ľubovnianske múzeum, (Museum of Ľubovňa), Zámocká 22. Tel: 052/4322-030.
Prešov
FESTIVAL: Prešov Days - The week-long celebration features a traditional market, shows by historical fencing groups and concerts by Peter Lipa and Katka Koščová, as well as other music and dance performances.
Runs: Jun 5-11. Admission: free. Prešov city centre. Tel: 051/161-86.
photo: Jana Liptáková
Pezinok will become the centre of pottery and ceramics between June 9 and 11. During the third year of the popular Pottery Market, dozens of potters from Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will gather at Radničné námestie to offer their products for sale, as well as demonstrate how pottery and ceramics are created. Pottery-makers can enroll in a contest for the most beautiful fruit bowl and children can attend pottery workshops. Handicraftsmen will also once again attempt to get into the Slovak Book of Records by creating a giant ceramic pot. On Sunday, the Castle Festivities will join the fun and cook up local recipes of kapustnica (cabbage soup) and fazuľovica (bean soup). Also expect hot air balloon flights. For more information, call 033/6413-347.
