Illustrative image of the amphitheatre in the village of Východná, which hosts Ovenálie, a sheep faming festival this weekend. (source: TASR)
TIP FOR THE WEEKEND
Time to visit parks and gardens
Parks and gardens are a treasured part of everyday life, offering a chance to enjoy nature, fragrances, and tranquillity. From June 6 to 8, Slovakia will once again participate in the popular international Weekend of Open Parks and Gardens festival. Over 100 locations across the country—including historic cemeteries, arboretums, town squares, farms, and normally inaccessible sites—will open their gates to the public. The 17th edition of the festival carries the theme Stone in the Garden, which will be reflected in various creative ways. Most venues will offer free admission. Full details are available here.
Here are some tips on what not to miss, picked by The Slovak Spectator's Jana Liptáková.
Budatín Castle in Žilina. (source: TASR)
TRAVEL
48 hours in Bratislava
Planning a summer trip to Bratislava but short on time and still keen to experience the city's highlights? This itinerary offers suggestions for budget accommodation, public transport, and how best to spend two days in the Slovak capital. Highlights include a visit to the point where three countries meet, a free walking tour, and tips on where to enjoy a beautiful sunset. Discover more here.
Illustrative image of Bratislava. (source: Marko Erd)
ART
A theatre festival
From June 6 to 11, the town of Nitra in western Slovakia will host the 34th edition of the Divadelná Nitra international theatre festival. Continuing its tradition of engaging with socio-political themes, this year's edition is titled Right(s) Here, Right(s) Now!. The programme will feature performances reflecting a society grappling with various crises—both within Slovakia and globally—and explore the protection of fundamental rights. Alongside theatre, expect concerts, workshops, exhibitions, and more. Find full programme details and ticket information here.
A boutique festival in Liptov
If you're eager to dive into the festival season early, the town of Liptovský Mikuláš in northern Slovakia might be the place to be. This Saturday, it hosts the 8th edition of the SoundGarden boutique festival, featuring Slovak music scene favourites such as Billy Barman, Chiki Liki Tu-a, Bad Karma Boy, and FVLCRVM. You can also enjoy a silent disco, circus performance, and delicious food. Basic admission is €29, with discounted rates available for children, students, and disadvantaged groups. Learn more here.
A children folklore enslemble festival
This weekend, Bratislava will welcome the 27th International Festival of Children's Folklore Ensembles, showcasing performances from groups based in the capital, across Slovakia, and abroad. The event is intended for all age groups, including tourists, and will take place across various venues in the city. Admission is free. More information is available here.
MISCELLANEOUS FUN
Discovering history
Janko Kráľ City Park in Bratislava will once again host the popular Stredovek v Sade medieval festival, featuring historical fencing, dancing, archery, traditional food, period fashion, battle re-enactments, and more. Many of the activities will be open to the public to try for themselves on Saturday, June 7. Learn more here.
Devín Castle, one of the country's most significant historic landmarks located just outside Bratislava, will host Rytieri na Devíne (Knights at Devín Castle) this Saturday. Visitors can enjoy battle re-enactments, fairy-tale performances, knightly tournaments, period dancing, and singing. Basic admission starts at €12, with concessions available at €6. Find out more here.
And if that’s not enough, the picturesque Smolenice Castle will come alive with Renaissance flair on both Saturday and Sunday, as craftsmen and artisans demonstrate their skills and invite visitors to try traditional crafts. There will also be re-enactments depicting daily life in times past. Admission is €7. Details can be found here.
A medieval warrior during last year's edition of the Stredovek v Sade festival. (source: TASR)
A festival of understanding
It's no secret that society—both in Slovakia and beyond—faces growing divisions. This Saturday, the Festival Porozumenia (Festival of Understanding) will take place at the Kasárne/Kulturpark venue in Košice, aiming to foster mutual understanding and bridge divides. The event will feature discussions on "us and them", the role of NGOs, as well as theatre, concerts from popular bands like Puding pani Elvisovej and Chiki Liki Tu-a, creative workshops, and more. Admission is free. Learn more here.
A sheep farming festival
The village of Východná near Liptovský Mikuláš, northern Slovakia, is known for preserving traditional Slovak culture and for hosting the country’s largest folklore festival each July. This weekend, however, it will be home to the 16th edition of Ovenálie, a celebration of sheep farming. Visitors can enjoy demonstrations of cheese-making, wool processing, sheep shearing, and traditional dishes made from sheep meat. Learn more here.
Shepherds in the sky
Roaring engines are usually part and parcel of aviation, but the Slovak aerobatic group Očovskí Bačovia (Očová Shepherds) turns that idea on its head. Flying gliders—with only the sound of the wind or the haunting notes of Enya's Only Time—they perform breath-taking aerial manoeuvres. You can witness their silent elegance this weekend at Očová Aviation Day, held at the airfield near the village of Očová in central Slovakia. More aircraft and aerobatic performances are also scheduled for Saturday. Admission is voluntary. Find out more here.
Očovskí Bačovia. (source: TASR)
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
A butterfly garden
The butterfly garden in the village of Vlčkovce near Trnava, western Slovakia, has once again opened its summer season and can be visited daily. The garden features butteflies from around the world, allowing visitors to see them in various stages of their life cycle. Find out more here.
The leopard lacewing (Cethosia cyane). (source: TASR)
MORE AND UPCOMING EVENTS
June 6: The Rooftop Music party in Košice
June 6-7: The Bratislava Collector Days
June 11-28: The UEFA Under 21 Championship in Slovakia (tickets here)
June 13-15: The Trnavská Brána folklore festival in Trnava
June 14: Rendez 2025 historic train exhibition in Bratislava
June 14: A bike ride across Trnava Region
June 14-15: Aviation Festival in Piešťany
June 20-27: The IFF Art Film festival in Košice
June 21: The Roleplaying Games day in Ihrysko board game store in Bratislava
June 21: The Morning Disco party in Košice
June 21-30: Radničné Hry open-air theatre event in Trnava
June 24-29: The Fest Anča 2025 international animation festival in Žilina
Until June 29: The exhibition of living butterflies from the tropics in Košice
BEFORE YOU GO :
WHAT TO DO FOR NOTHING: Learn about science or visit Frida Bollani Magoni concert.
WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BRATISLAVA: Delight in music, master the bow, and make the world around you a better place.
WHAT TO LEARN: Karen Chorba has enjoyed exploring her Slovak and Rusyn ancestry lines throughout her life. Married to a wonderful husband who also has significant Slovak heritage, Karen has found great satisfaction in keeping the holiday traditions and foods, and in passing those things down to her three children.
WHAT TO THINK ABOUT: Prejudice and fear often stem from misunderstanding or fear of the unknown. Volunteering has the power to break down these barriers.
WHAT TO READ: When he first arrived in Slovakia, the sense of freedom was overwhelming. "I've always been a bit of a rebel. In our culture, it doesn't matter how old you are—if you're not married, you must live with your parents and obey them," says Jordanian Tawfiq Kayaali who runs a restaurant in Bratislava and has lived in the country for 28 years.
That's it for this week. Take care, and have a great long weekend.
