Jánošíkove Dni in Terchová, traditional Terchová music with festive carriage parade. (source: TASR)
Western Slovakia
Šamorín
YOGA FESTIVAL: Shantiloka 2017 – Huge festival of yoga organised by Fredy Ayisi in a new venue, the x-bionic sphere complex in Šamorín, offers traditional and less traditional yoga classes, lectures (Bhakti yoga - Guru Maharaj Kadamba Kanana Swami, Bhagavadgita - Gopali Devi Dasi), tai-chi, chi-gong, concerts, a party, and many accompanying programmes. Starts: Aug 4-6; x-bionic sphere, Dubová 33. Admission: €15(Friday or Sunday, one day), €25(Saturday), €45(whole event). More info: 0905/164-336; shantilokask@gmail.com; www.shantiloka.sk.
Trnava
JAZZ FESTIVAL: Trnavský Jazzyk – The first weekend in August will host international jazz stars in the city amphitheatre. Top performers from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Tunisia and the USA (Carpet Cabinet-SK, CZ); Michal Bugala Group (SK); Dhafer Youssef, Aron Parks, Matt Brewer, Ferenc Nemeth (TUN, USA, HUN); Nat Osborn Band (USA, PL); Radovan Tariška Radio Band & Peter Lipa (SK); Jon Cowherd Quartet feat Steve Cardenas, Chris Tomas, Jeff Boudreaux (US) will play various genres, from classical mainstream through fusion, funk, soul, world music to contemporary jazz at open-air concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Starts: Aug 4-5, 19:00; City Amphitheatre. Admission: €7.50 (for pensioners, handicapped, etc.- on the site)-€15 (one day)-€10-€20 (both days). More info: www.regiontirnavia.sk/podujatia.
Nitra
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Summer at the Nitra Castle – The cycle of summer open-air events brings the Komorný Orchester Zoe chamber orchestra of young musicians playing famous tunes of Bach and Vivaldi. Starts: Aug 4, 19:00; Gothic Moat, Nitra Castle. Admission: €5. More info: www.nitrianskyhrad.sk/leto-na-nitrianskom-hrade-2017.
Chtelnica
HISTORICAL FESTIVAL: Tereziánske slávnosti – The Theresian Festivities one-day event includes crafts workshops, attractions for children, theatre performance, musical programme and the highlight – arrival of Empress Maria Theresa in a carriage, with a ceremonial entourage including the Erdődy family. Starts: Aug 5, 11:00; Chtelnica manor house, Družstevná 694. More info: www.chtelnica.sk/2017/08/program-terezianske-slavnosti.
Plavecký Mikuláš/Záhorie
MILITARY RE-ENACTMENT: Slovenské Piesky / Slovak Sands – Re-enactment of the battle of Stalingrad takes place on its 75th anniversary. Starts: Aug 5, 8:00-16:00; VVP Záhorie, C sector – Pieskovňa, Plavecký Mikuláš. More info: www.slovenskepiesky.sk.
Slovenské piesky / Slovak Sands 2013 (source: TASR)
Trnava
PARTY: Summit Open Air 2017 – Music party on two stages in Zelený Kríček Trnava, offers Slovak, Czech and foreign DJs, producers and musicians: dnb stage – Telekinesis, Czech Philip TBC; Evro; Acid; Bobo, Hydroes and Nuclear X; the second (dub, reggae, dnb, jungle, psytrance, tekk and hardcore) stage with DJs – Lebka, Hraxxo, Stroho, Stytel and DejWeed. Starts: Aug 11, 20:00 – 5:00; Zelený Kríček. Admission: €7. Age limit: 16+. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk.
Trnava
EXHIBITION: Erna Masarovičová / Katarína Kissoczy: Aká Matka, Taká Katka (Like mother, like daughter) – The touring summary exhibition of two visual artists, mother – sculptor and jeweller Erna Masarovičová and outdoor non-ferrous-metals sculptor Katarína Kissoczy – offers an overview of their works, completed with large black and white photos of Bratislava-based photographer, Anton Sládek, taken in their studios. Curated by Ela Porubänová. Open: Tue, Wed, Fri – 9:00 – 17:00, Thur: 10:00 – 18:00, Sat-Sun – 13:00 – 18:00, until Aug 27; Ján Koniarek Gallery, Kopplova vila, Zelený Kríček 3. More info: www.gjk.sk.
Nitra
EXHIBITION: Tomáš Klepoch – The Cabinet of Banalities – the young Slovak visual artist in his newest project presents his “collection of trivialities” – common waste, civilisation trash or DIY still-life and landscapes presented in surprising combinations and forms, in artefacts and woodcut prints, curated by Omar Mirza. Open: Tue – Fri 10:00 - 18:00, Sat – Sun 13:00 - 18:00 until Aug 13; Salon of the Nitra Gallery / Nitrianska galéria, Župné Square 3. Admission: €3. More info: www.nitrianskagaleria.sk.
Central Slovakia
Terchová
FOLKLORE FEST: Jánošíkove Dni – The traditional festival of folk music, dance, traditional crafts and meals will feature six phenomena from the UNESCO heritage list: local traditional music (including the final wagon parade) Terchovská muzika, the fujara instrument and bagpipes, also South-Moravian dance, Verbunk and two Macedonian ones – the kopačkata dance and the vocal tradition of the Tetovo region. The festival also hails the 70thbirthday of folklorist František Mucha and offers insight into the key slogan of this year’s – the 55th – edition, „exchange”, meaning creative confrontation, inspiration and convergence. More than 1,300 performers from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Macedonia, and Poland are expected. Starts: Aug 3-6; various sites in Terchová. More info: www.terchova.sk/podujatia/janosikove-dni/2017/.
Kremnica
SUMMER SNOWBOARD/FREESTYLE SKIING: Summer Big Air in the City – The popular project Big Air v meste / Big Air in the City, bringing freestyle skiing and snowboarding to the historical centre of the town of Kremnica celebrates its 10th anniversary with a summer edition, presenting similar disciplines as those seen in winter (races and a show by freeskiers and snowboarders in Big Air – a jump from a huge jump into a pool), as well as concerts (Para, Vec & Škrupo, Joe Trendy, Strapo, Saténové ruky, Haf & Beyuz, N3O Akustika, Malalata, and others), an exhibition of wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding (so-called SUP), skimboarding, slackline and more. Starts: Aug 4-6, Kremnica lido, Dolná 95/58. Tickets: www.predpredaj.sk. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk.
Bog Air Kremnica, winter edition (source: Sme - Ján Krošlák)
Oravský hrad
CASTLE/FEST: A Day in the Middle Ages – Deň v Stredoveku – A day at the mediaeval Orava Castle with a re-enactment of period theatre, music, dance, knights’ tournaments, fakir show, falconry and more (Nitra Tournament Society, Fakir Show of Aratron Aspis, Theatre Troupe OM, period music Strigôň, Orientlaico dancers, falconers). Starts: Aug 6, 12:00-17:00; Orava Castle. Admission: free. More info: www.oravskemuzeum.sk.
Banská Bystrica
SUMMER SCHOOL: Holiday School for Slovak Expats – Textile and pottery-making workshop for Slovaks living abroad, promoting traditional techniques and crafts. Starts: Aug 7-11; courtyard of the Central-Slovak Education Centre (Stredoslovenské osvetové stredisko), Dolná 35. Tel: 048/4153591; www.sosbb.sk.
Banská Bystrica
NEW CIRCUS/WORKSHOP: Ompagnie des Pieds Perchés – Vajce Vajcu (Like Two Eggs) – Performance and workshop of two Swiss artists, Morgane Widmer and Stéphanie N‘Duhirahe presents New Circus performance, complete with a brief acrobatic workshop for children. Starts: Aug 8, 18:00; Záhrada CNK, Záhrada - Centre of Independent Culture (CNK) in SNP Square 16 (Beniczkého Passage). Admission: €3-€5. More info: www.zahradacnk.sk.
Banská Štiavnica
FILM SEMINAR: 4 Živly / 4 Elements – This edition of the summer film seminar is focused on the motif of Faith – not just the feature films screened (Slovak, but also Polis –Mother Johana of the Angels by Jerzy Kawalerowics, German - Aguirre, the Wrath of God by Werner Herzog, Czech – World according to Daliborek by Vít Klusák, Manifesto, and more) but also presents archive Czechoslovak movies, animated cartoons, experimental films, documentaries, animation workshop, lectures, discussions and other accompanying programmes. Starts: Aug 9-13; various sites in Banská Štiavnica, including open-air amphitheatre. More info: www.4zivly.sk.
Žilina/Strečno
CASTLE/NIGHT TOURS: Night tours of the Strečno Castle will instroduce three women from the past – the noblewoman Benigna, Juliet Capulet and Zsófia Bosznyak – the first and last of whom lived at this castle. The special lighting and movement design will be used for the first time, to make the castle tours special. A fire show will constitute the culmination of the tour – which is meant for adults and children older than eight. Starts: €4-50 - €6.50. Tickets: www.predpredaj.sk. More info: www.pmza.sk.
Eastern Slovakia
Košice
CONCERT: LVP: Banda, Ľudové Mladistvá, Rusnack’s – The concert within the Leto v Parku / Summer in the Park cycle brings the Prešov-based band Rusnack’s, playing funky-pop stemming from traditional Ruthenian music (18:30), new project Ľudové Mladistvá of young composer, pianist Martin Majlo Štefánik, which combines folklore, jazz, classical and modern music (19:45) and the already internationally established ethno/world music band Banda (21:00). Starts: Aug 4, 18:30; Kasárne Kulturpark, Kukučínova 2. Admission: €8 (in advance)-€10. More info: www.k13.sk/leto-v-parku-prinesie-pohodu-zabavu-a-vela-muziky.
Poprad
GASTRONOMY/MARKET: Made in Slovakia – The festival hailing local and national, Slovak products will host about 120 exhibitors – miners, bee-keepers, woodcarvers – including Adam Bakoš, creator of the Tatra Ice Cathedral – but also musicians (Babjakovci, Majk Spirit, Heľenine oči, Beáta Dubasová, Martin Harich or Le Payaco) and cooks. This edition focuses on mining – as it is not widely known that a mine was opened in the Poprad borough of Kvetnica. On August 4, the painting, the Madonna of Poprad, will be shown in front of St Aegid’s Church, a replica of the original from 1484 that was found in that church neglected and damaged. The original is in the Slovak National Gallery. The description will be offered also in German and English. Starts: Aug 2-5; various sites in Poprad. More info: www.premesto.sk/projekty/made-in-slovakia.
Košice
CONCERT: Longital – Divoko Tour 2017 – The Bratislava-based duo, Longital, play their dreamy, intellectual rock, mostly from the latest album, around Slovakia, making a stop also in Košice. Starts: Aug 4, 19:00; HalmiSpace, Hlavná 21. More info: www.facebook.com/pg/HalmiSpace/events.
Tatras/ Veľká Lomnica
SPORT TOURNAMENT: Charity Golf Cup – The 10th year of this charity event aims at raising money for treatment and surgeries of children from socially poorer backgrounds. The charity event includes a tournament, gold academia for accompanying persons, competition in mini-putting, tasting of Slovak beers, wines and mixed drinks, concluding gala party, fund-raising for Miroslav Šatan’s Foundation, Hodina deťom and Foundation for Children of Slovakia, and more. Starts: Aug 5, 9:00 (registration); Veľká Lomnica – Poprad, Black Stork golf resort, Tatranská 754. Registration fee: €250 for adult individuals. More info: www.kamdomesta.sk.
Košice
CONCERT: LVP: N30 Akustika, Medial Banana, Le Payaco – Another concert within the Leto v Parku / Summer in the Park cycle presents Slovak reggae bands N30 Akustika a Medial Banana and a pop-rock Le Payaco. Starts: Aug 5, 18:30; Kasárne-KulturPark barracks, Kukučínova 2. Admission: €10 (in advance)-€12. More info: www.k13.sk/leto-v-parku-prinesie-pohodu-zabavu-a-vela-muziky.
Prešov
CLASSICAL MUSIC: Paganiniana – The Artis festival of chamber music brings a host of various interesting musical personalities to Prešov. This time round, the star of a young generation of performers – violinist Daniel Rumler (SK/CZ), a graduate from the Hochschule für Musik Luzern college. The violin recital offers technically demanding pieces by Bach, Ysaÿe, Paganini and Milstein and comments by Rumler. Starts: Aug 7, 19:00; Orthodox Synagogue, Okružná 32. Admission: €3-€8. Tickets: www.ticket-art.sk. More info: www.artis-oz.sk.
Tatras/Starý Smokovec
MARKET/ EVENT: Smokovecké Trhy Umenia a Zábavy / Smokovec Markets of Art and Entertainment – This event aims at supporting local craftsmen, producers and artists, offering their services and products in a condensed way to tourists, visitors and locals. Markets include demonstrations of crafts and evening literary, music and film meetings in U Vlka (At the Wolf) café and teahouse. Starts: Aug 7-13; various sites in Starý Smokovec (e.g. terrace near former OC Mladosť, Cesta slobody 4/D, U Vlka (At the Wolf) café and teahouse. Admission: free / €2-€3 in the café and teahouse. More info: www.vysoketatry.sk/kultura-a-sport/smokovecke-trhy-umenia-a-zabavy.html, uvlka@kaviarenacajovnauvlka.sk.
High Tatras
COMMEMORATIVE EVENT/NIGHT RIDE: 75 Secrets of the Aerial Lift – The aerial lift leading from Skalnaté Pleso to the highest-altitude station, at Lomnický Štít Peak (2,634 metres above sea level), celebrates its 75th birthday with a series of night rides (revenues go to an architectural competition for the new use of the building housing the old aerial lift in Tatranská Lomnica). On several dates, there will be night rides offered (with the possibility of including dinner). The original aerial lift – being the first or unique in several parameters at that time – launched operation on December 20, 1941. The start of the ride is at Skalnaté Pleso (where the aerial lift from Tratranská Lomnica ends). The night ride will entice visitors with the beautiful starry sky and views of the lights of Poprad. Also on offer is an exhibition of documentary photographs from the time when the lift was constructed and the works of architect Dušan Jurkovič, a visit to the old engine house with a guide, and a screening of a brief documentary about the lift. Starts: Aug 12, 19, 19:00; aerial lift station in Tatranská Lomnica. Tickets: Information Centre Tatranská Lomnica (0903 112 200, info@vt.sk), or at www.gopass.sk. More info: www.vt.sk/zazitky/eventy/75-tajomstiev-lanovky-leto/.
The lift form Skalnaté Pleso to Lomnický štít (source: TASR)
