Krňačky/krne race in Heľpa (source: TASR)
WOODEN SLEIGH RACE: Krňačkové preteky; Turecká, Podlavice, Heľpa, Chopok, etc., Jan 6 ,13, 20, 27
WINTER RUN: Three Kings' Run, Košice, Jan 6
DOG SLEDDING/MUSHING: Jan 6-27, various ski resorts
OPERA/CONCERT: New Year's Gala-concert of Eva Urbanová, Košice, January 13
DANCE PARTY: Let it Snow, Jasná ski resort, January 19-20
CONCERT/CLASSICAL: Mozart´s Birthday, Košice, January 18
CONCERT/CLASSICAL: New Year's Concert, Žilina, Jan 18-19
FOLKLORE: The Best of SĽUK, Michalovce, Humenné, Košice, Bardejov, Poprad
GASTRONOMY/WINE: The Day of Svätý Jur Cellars, Jan 26, 27
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Biela Stopa Kremnica 2018, Skalka pri Kremnici, Jan 27, 28
WOODEN SLEIGH RACE: Krňačkové preteky. Starts: Jan 6 ,13, 20, 27; Turecká, Podlavice, Heľpa, Chopok, etc.
A special, traditional wooden sleigh once used to transport wood from high altitudes to valleys disappeared over time only to appear recently, though used rather for fun than for serious work. The races of these sleighs, locally called krne, krňačky, or krnohe, take place throughout the winter season, starting on Epiphany, then on January 13 (Podlavice), January 20 (Heľpa) and January 27 (Valaská). More details and updates (due to snow conditions) can be found at www.krne.sk (Slovak and German)
A calendar of races can be downloaded here as an MS Word document.
Admission: free for onlookers.
WINTER RUN: Trojkráľový Beh / Three Kings' Run, Immaculata sculptural group, Main Street, Košice, Jan 6, 14:00 (main run)
The traditional Epiphany or Three Kings' Run in the historical centre of Košice comprises two winter runs, with one track 1,100 metres long and the other 5,100 metres for men and women of several age categories.
Registration fee: €6-€14 (registration online, or before the start); free for onlookers.
More info, registration: www.3kb.sk.
DOG SLEDDING/MUSHING: Kokava nad Rimavicou, Zuberec, etc., Jan 6-27, various ski resorts
An event meant for lovers of winter sports and dogs, as well as for families with children presents dog sledding, or mushing. Starting on Epiphany in Kokava nad Rimavicou (or Látky), the mushing races then move to Zuberec (January 13-14, sprint/mid, weight pulling, WSA World Cup, Slovak Chmapionship), Ulič (January 20) and Králiky (January 27).
Admission: free for onlookers. More info here.
A mushing race in Zuberec (source: TASR)
OPERA/CONCERT: New Year's Gala Concert of Eva Urbanová, State Theatre Košice historical building, Hlavná 58, Košice, January 13, 19:00
The opera section of State Theatre Košice (SDKE) stages a traditional New Year's gala concert, this time with world-renowned soprano of Slovak origin Eva Urbanová and her guest, tenor Michal Lehotský. In the first part, they will sing famous works of Giuseppe Verdi, in the second pieces by Giacomo Puccini, Alfredo Catalani, Pietro Mascagni and Umberto Giordano.
Admission: €4-€20.
For more information call 055/2452-269 (daytime), 055/2452-260 (evenings) or visit www.sdke.sk.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Eva Urbanová (source: TASR)
DANCE PARTY: Let it Snow, Happy End Club, Jasná ski resort, January 19-20
The 7th edition of the annual festival of dance music in the mountains will kick it up in the Low Tatras. Ski during the day, party at night. Friday night is devoted to house and techno music, on Saturday the genre will switch to drum & bass.
Admission for both days: €15 if purchased before December 31.
Tickets available here.
More information on Facebook.
CONCERT/CLASSICAL: Mozart´s Birthday, House of Art, Moyzesova 66, Košice, January 18 at 19:00
One of the highlights of seasonal concerts is the event hailing the birthday of W.A. Mozart. This time, it features the State Slovak Philharmonics Košice (ŠfK) as conducted by renowned Czech conductor Jiří Rožeň (assistant of chief conductor for BBC Scottish Orchestra) and soloist Vilém Veverka (scholarship of Karajan Foundation) on oboe, playing the overture from Così Fan Tutte, Symphony No. 1 E flat major, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra in C major, KV 314 and Variations, and Fugue on a Mozart´s Theme.
Admission: €5-€10, loge – €13.
Tickets for sale online or at vstupenky@sfk.sk, 055/2453-123
More info here.
The Slovak State Philharmonic Košice (ŠfK) (source: TASR)
CONCERT/CLASSICAL: New Year's Concert, House of Arts Fatra, Dolný Val 49, Žilina, Jan 18-19, 19:00
The two seasonal concerts of Slovak Sinfonietta (ŠKO) offer insight into the works by members of the famous Strauss family, as well as their peers, rivals and other renowned operetta composers (Johann Strauss Sr and Jr, Richard and Josef Strauss, Franz Lehár and Emmerich Kálmán). Thus, visitors get a taste of the atmosphere in 19th century Vienna. The attractive programme will be conducted by Austrian Christian Pollack.
Admission: €14-€18 (on Jan 18, season tickets AB)
More .
Conductor Christian Pollack (source: Roderik Kučavík)
FOLKLORE: To Najlepšie zo SĽUK-u / The Best of SĽUK, Michalovce, Humenné, Košice, Bardejov, Poprad
The gala programme of the professional folklore troupe, SĽUK, offers the crème de la crème of their folk dances and music, as performed by the renowned dance ensemble, folk music band and female choir, from authentic to highly stylised pieces. From Michalovce, the programme tours cities and towns around Slovakia (Humenné, Košice, Bardejov, Poprad).
Admission: €8-€12
More info and tickets here.
SĽUK (source: TASR)
GASTRONOMY/WINE: Deň Svätojurských Pivníc 2018 / The Day of Svätý Jur Cellars, Svätý Jur , Jan 26 (14:00 – 22:00) – Jan 27 (12:00 – 20:00)
The 11th year of the event celebrating the “grape harvest and wine tasting” opens the wine cellars of the village close to the capital, famous for its wines, to visitors for two days. Apart from the current year, 2017, older years of especially red wines will be on offer.
More info: 0905/607-379, sjvs@terroir.sk; www.terroir.sk/sjvs; (www.jurskepivnice.sk).
Svätý Jur wine cellars open for gourmets. (source: TASR)
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Biela Stopa Kremnica / White Trail Kremnica 2018, Skalka pri Kremnici, Jan 27 (8:00) – 28 (15:00)
The oldest regularly organised skiing event in Slovakia, Biela Stopa Kremnica, is a member of the EUROLOPPET European Long Range Association. Running since 1973, originally it included a run for WWII Slovak National Uprising participants. The international cross-country skiing competition at the Skalka hill near Kremnica includes several races: the 50-km free-style, 25-km free-style 30-km classic, Biela stopa junior, Biela stopa mini, and Stopathlon.
Admission: free for onlookers
More info here.
The Biela Stopa 2017 race at Skalka near Kremnica (source: TASR)
