Weekend: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

TRAVEL

A hike to the 'mini' Dolomites

On Sunday, the Trenčín Centre for Family will organise a hike to Súľov Castle near the town of Bytča, north-western Slovalia. The ruins of the castle are located in the picturesque Súľov Rocks (Súľovské skaly), almost a miniature version of the famous Dolomites. The meeting point is the parking space at 10:00 near the village of Súľov. For more information, click here.

TIP: A Slovak village's biggest treasure has also attracted New Zealanders.

Christmas around the corner

We are five weeks away from the holidays. With November coming to an end, towns around Slovakia are about to open Christmas markets, many actually this weekend, with others joining in the following weeks. In addition to holding a market in the historic city centre, individual Bratislava boroughs will hold their own markets. So if you miss the lighting of the Christmas tree in Hlavné Námestie square on Friday evening, you can visit the market in Námestie Republiky square in Petržalka to the witness lighting of the tree there. Ružinov already opened their market on Wednesday.

As for the rest of Slovakia, Christmas market will open this weekend in Trnava, Prešov, Žilina, Partizánske, and there will be a one-off event in Snina. For more information, click on individual towns. More towns such as Nitra, Trenčín, Banská Bystrica and Košice will join them at the beginning of December.

Christmas markets on the Main Square in Bratislava. (source: TASR)

Iconic bedtime story house opens

Is there anything more Christmassy than fairy-tale-like events at a replica of an iconic house from a Slovak bedtime story? That's right, starting this Friday and Saturday and going on on a weekly basis until December 22, this event will allow children to see what is inside the iconic house near the town of Detva, central Slovakia, enjoy holiday decorations, hot tea and honey cakes, as well as creative workshops. For more information, click here.

TIP: Tatra Ice Cathedral pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

MISCELLANEOUS FUN

A day with board games

The autumn boardgaming event in Košice is back for another edition. On Saturday, non-profit Hrad Hier (Castle of Games) will bring dozens of modern games to the Výmenník Važecká venue in Košice. Admission is free of charge and everybody is welcome, from child to senior. Really, if you have never played a modern board game before, forget your preconceived ideas you might have from playing Monopoly or Scrabble. If you have, then get ready for more new ones. For more information, click here.

(source: TASR)

Help those in need

Unfortunately, not every child will be able to get a toy as a Christmas present, especially those in socially disadvantaged families and in orphanages. That is why three civic associations are organising a charity collection of toys and books in the Centro shopping centre in Nitra. If you happen to have some toys and books in good condition, meaning in a condition you would be happy with if received as a present, you can donate them throughout Saturday in the shopping centre. More details available here.

Fly your kite high

Although towns and, more notably, shopping centres are beginning to adopt Christmas decorations, it is still autumn. Meaning, there is always time to fly your kite. On Saturday afternoon, the Podunajské Biskupice borough in Bratislava will host Šarkaniáda, an event dedicated to kite flying. In addition, you can expect a few contests. For more information, click here.

The history of Slovak pilots

Speaking of flying, the Imrich Winter Balneology Museum in Piešťany, western Slovakia, is holding a plastic model exhibition dedicated to Slovak World War II pilots, showcasing the planes they flew in various theatres of the war, albeit in a much smaller scale. In total, you will see 170 detailed and expertly painted models. In addition, the exhibition also features artefacts such as pictures, parts of frames, masks and more. For more information, click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 30 - On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovakia and Japan, a special concert of artists of both Slovak and Japanese origin with close ties to Nitra will be held in the town's synagogue at 18:00. Click here for more information.

December 1-2 - more towns open their traditional Christmas markets

December 2 - Winter Hobby Bratislava, an event for plastic models, Lego, miniature and model train collectors

BEFORE YOU GO

WHAT TO DO FOR FREE: Don't miss an a hike to an unmarked hill above Bratislava's Rača, or a jam session at Kafe Scherz.

WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BRATISLAVA: There is a Slovak Queer Film festival, a Christmas swing dance party and more going on in the next few days.

WHAT TO LEARN: How communists banned celebrated climber from the Tatras, but failed to erase him completely.

WHAT TO READ: The Ukrainian who became a fundraiser, debunker and TV personality in Slovakia.

That's it for this week. Take care, and have a nice weekend!