A metalhead during a previous edition of the festival. (source: TASR)
FESTIVALS
One for metalheads
From Friday to Sunday, the Pink Whale venue on the Danube will host the 3rd edition of the “Bordel na Dunaji” (literally, Mess on the Danube) festival. The event features metal bands from Slovakia and beyond – including performers from as far afield as Japan and the United States. As this will be the last time the Pink Whale hosts the festival, give it a proper headbang. Tickets cost €35 per day or €70 for a full festival pass.
Two for folklore enthusiasts
The northern Slovak town of Terchová, birthplace of national hero and highwayman Jánošík, is once again hosting the popular folk festival Jánošíkove Dni, running from July 30 to August 3. Now in its 63rd edition, this international event celebrates Slovak folk traditions, including music inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This year’s theme is Svadba (Marriage). Visitors can look forward to a rich programme featuring bonfires, craft displays, dance workshops, multimedia presentations, film screenings, and a traditional horse-led parade. Tickets are available for individual days or as a full festival pass.
Meanwhile, from August 1 to 3, the Orava region in northern Slovakia will host the 49th edition of the international Podroháčske Folklórne Slávnosti festival, which focuses on showcasing the region’s rich traditions. This year’s theme commemorates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Zuberec open-air folk museum, one of the festival’s main venues. Other events will take place in the nearby villages of Zuberec and Oravský Biely Potok, with opening festivities starting at 19:00 on Friday in both. Over 1,000 performers from Slovakia, Czechia, Serbia, Poland, and Hungary are expected. For more information on tickets and the programme, click here.
The Jánošíkove Dni folklore festival. (source: TASR)
TRAVEL
What a view!
The peak of Chopok, located in the Low Tatras mountain range, now features a new hiking attraction: a panoramic path at 2,004 metres above sea level. Open during the summer season, the trail includes eight themed stops, offering not only breathtaking views, but also educational insights into topics such as mountain weather, the workings of cable cars, and local nature conservation efforts.
TIP: They found waterfalls in the wilderness by chance during a mushroom hunt – and then built a path for all.
A tip for a bike ride
There’s a lot to experience in the natural environment around Slovakia’s capital – for those willing to explore by bike. How would you like to take a trip that reveals great views, stops by interesting places, includes a pit-stop at a renowned langoš joint, and allows you to cool off on a hot sunny day with a lake swim (or two)? All of this is within easy reach for recreational bikers, including families with children.
The Korzo Zálesie locality will be one of your stops. (source: Matúš Beňo)
TIP: Formed 15 years ago, a unique island on the Hron River in southern Slovakia has become a haven for active leisure, attracting runners, cyclists, children and families.
MISCELLANEOUS FUN
How weddings used to look like
As part of the Jánošíkove Dni celebrations, an exhibition entitled Otvárajte Dvere, Naširoko Vráta (Open the Doors, Wide Open the Gates) is currently on display, offering insight into the wedding traditions of the historical Horné Považie region – encompassing the towns of Bytča, Považská Bystrica, and Žilina in north-western Slovakia. In the past, weddings were not merely unions between individuals, but between entire families. Visitors can view traditional folk costumes, wreaths, bouquets, bridal accessories, and hear stories about these cultural customs. The exhibition runs weekdays at Makovický House in Žilina until August 22. Admission is €3 for adults, €2 for children.
Historic pharmacy reopened
The town of Skalica in western Slovakia can boast a historic pharmacy reminiscent of the Salvatore Pharmacy in Bratislava. While the latter was restored some years ago, Skalica has only recently followed suit. The Pharmacy of the Brothers Hospitallers ranks among the town’s most important historical landmarks. After being closed for over 20 years, it has now reopened, with its original furniture and equipment fully restored, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into the history of pharmacy. Admission is free, and the pharmacy is open on weekends from 11:00 to 17:00, until the end of the summer season on September 20. Find out more here.
Knights are back
Devín Castle, one of Slovakia’s most iconic historical sites, located just outside Bratislava, will host Rytieri na Devíne (Knights at Devín Castle) this Saturday. Visitors can enjoy medieval battle re-enactments, fairy-tale performances, knightly tournaments, period dancing and singing, and learn how courts functioned in medieval times. Basic admission is €12, with concessions at €6. Find out more here.
Wine and stars
This weekend, the popular Wine Under the Stars event returns to the vineyards of Pezinok, in the Bratislava Region. Guests can enjoy wine tasting under the night sky, accompanied by live performances from well-known Slovak bands and artists including Chiki Liki Tu-A, Para, Malalata, Richard Müller, and others. Tickets are available as either one-day or two-day passes. Purchase tickets here.
They are alive!
This weekend, statues will come to life in Spišská Nová Ves, eastern Slovakia, during the 9th edition of the Živé Sochy (Living Statues) festival. Thanks to the BIG NAMES artistic group, the town will be transformed into an open-air gallery of living art. The programme also includes drumming performances, concerts, clown shows, comedians, theatrical acts, and much more. Admission is free. Click here to learn more.
The Živé Sochy festival in Spišská Nová Ves. (source: TASR)
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
Almost like the famous Milka cow
Cows on the pasture in the village of Pokryváč in northern Slovakia, with the Choč peak in the background. (source: TASR)
MORE AND UPCOMING EVENTS
August 1-2: Hudba na Konci Sveta festival in Vyšný Medzev
August 2: Nezabudnuté Remeslá craft fair in Banská Štiavnica
August 2: PumpTrack skate race in Bratislava
August 2-3: Traditional weaving, honey making, herbalism in Vlkolínec
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Trnava Organ Days festival
August 8-9: Grape music festival in Trenčín
August 8-9: Craft beer festival in Banská Bystrica
August 9: Štítnické Hradné hry medieval fair in Štítnik
August 15: Večer na Hradbách music event in Bratislava
August 15-17: Lovestream music festival in Bratislava
August 15-17: Kinematograf film screenings in Trnava
August 16: Learn how to play the fujara flute workshop in Banská Bystrica
August 16: Letná Vlna Fantázie creative boat competition in Bratislava
August 16-17: Dragon Days fairy-tale festival at Budatín Castle
August 28-31: Kremnické Gagy humour and satire festival in Kremnica
August 28-31: The Bardejov fair
August 29-30: Uprising music festival in Bratislava
August 30: Dragon Days fairy-tale festival at Ľupča Castle
August 30: Grand Finale at the Fountain: DJ sets in Bratislava
August 31: Grand Finale at the Fountain: Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava
BEFORE YOU GO :
WHAT TO DO FOR NOTHING: Courtyard DJ vibes or summer cinema under the stars – your choice.
WHAT TO LEARN: Opekačka is a quintessential Slovak summer experience, despite burns, mosquitos, and smoke. Have you been invited to one? Here is some useful vocabulary.
WHAT TO READ: After eight years and 150 games, Craig Ramsay departs as a national hero with an Olympic bronze and a lasting legacy. He taught Slovak ice hockey players to not be afraid of big teams.
WHAT TO WITNESS: Since its founding in 2019, THEATRA Bratislava has carved out a unique space in the capital’s cultural landscape. Led by French theatre professionals, the group uses theatre as a tool for personal development, education, and building social connections – often in unconventional ways.
WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BRATISLAVA: Enjoy Italian folk, saxophone and gong music – or simply hop on your bicycle for a ride.
That’s it for this week. Take care, and have a great weekend.
