Autumn festivals in Transcarpathia

As the folk saying goes, spring is lovely with flowers, and autumn - with pies. And indeed, the golden season gives us not only a wonderfully inspiring, enchanting palette of colours, painting the world all around, but is also considered the most beautiful and most delicious festival period in the Carpathians. Autumn festivals in Transcarpathia - are a unique blend of authentic Transcarpathian flavour, natural, cultural and architectural landmarks, distinctive traditions, musical art and unrivalled local colour.

Autumn festivals in Transcarpathia in September

In early September, in the village of Lazeshchyna, Rakhiv district, one of the most colourful and delicious celebrations in Transcarpathia takes place - the ethno-festival «Hutsul Ripa». Transcarpathians call the potato «ripa», which has long been considered the second bread of local people. During the festival, tourists are invited to sample a variety of potato dishes, Transcarpathian wine, and Carpathian eco-products. Folk craftspeople sell a range of souvenirs and handicrafts.

Another famous gastronomic event of the autumn - the festival-fair «Hutsul Brynza» in  Rakhiv. The programme features tasting and sale of vurda, brynza (a Carpathian cheese made from sheep’s milk), dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine, Transcarpathian wine. There are entertainment activities, folk games, contests, folklore concerts, works by folk craftsmen, Carpathian honey, souvenirs and much more.

In the village of Zabrid (Velykyi Bereznyi district), they celebrate the ethno-festival «Lemko Vatra», which brings together Lemkos from all over the world. During this event a huge bonfire - the vatra - is lit; people sing, dance and showcase folk traditions and local colour. On a special Lemko street there is a fair selling embroidered shirts, Lemko literature, souvenirs and so on. It is here, at the end of September, that a motocross competition and the festival «Patterns of the Uzh Valley» are held.

On the first Sunday of September, in Mukachevo, they hold a honey festival. During the festival you can sample and buy various kinds of natural and environmentally clean Carpathian honey, honey products and souvenirs.

At the end of September the people of Uzhhorod celebrate Uzhhorod Day, the city being already more than a thousand years old. Usually the city’s day stretches over several days, with a variety of entertainment, sporting, patriotic and creative events. During this period the «Golden Autumn» fairkicks off, running into October. There is the «Most Fest» festival, various mini-festivals, photo zones, delicious food zones, fair towns with products by local designers, craftsmen and cooks. It is not complete without concerts of classical and contemporary music, and dancing.

On the last Saturday and Sunday of September, in Berehove, there is the «BEREG FEST» festival, the aim of which is to revive the ancient traditions of the Berehove region. The programme features street fairs, parades, concerts, sporting tournaments, cycling tours, contests, exhibitions and lotteries.

During the Days of Tourism in Transcarpathia, Uzhhorod hosts the «Tour-Eurocentre» exhibition-fair, and Rakhiv hosts - the International Rock Music Festival «Centre of Europe». In the Hungarian villages of the region there are - the “Süreti” wine balls, and in Mukachevo - the open festival-competition of pop art “Evenings over the Latorytsia”. In Uzhhorod - organ music, and in Berehove - one of the oldest in the country, the festivals of friendship between Ukrainians and Hungarians «Friendship Without Borders». Uzhhorod also hosts the delicious gastronomic fest «Carpathian Ratatouille», at which the best cooks of Transcarpathia compete in such categories as bograch, meat dishes, desserts and ratatouille.

Autumn festivals in Transcarpathia in October

In early October, in Uzhhorod, the «Golden Autumn» faircontinues, dedicated to the City Day. At the fair you can buy a variety of Carpathian eco-products, vegetables, fruit, baked goods, preserves, wines, cheeses, honey, jam, dried herbs, mushrooms and herbal blends. Here you can sample dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine. In addition, you can even buy pets and livestock here - chickens, ducks, chicks, piglets, dogs, cats. There is a huge choice of works by folk craftsmen: various baskets, souvenirs, embroidery, wicker furniture, bedspreads and rugs.

A very delicious event of October - the festival-fair «Golden Goulash», which is held in the village of Muzhiievo, Berehove district, and gathers tourists from everywhere. It is a true celebration for gourmets, even the most demanding. The programme features fun contests and folk masterclasses, fairs, and tastings of such Transcarpathian dishesas bean goulash, betyar goulash, bograch, homemade piknytsi, hurky, halaszle (fish soup), holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), fanky (doughnuts) with lekvar (plum jam), and lecho. The range of Transcarpathian drinks will also please - wines, palinka, mead, slivovitz and various liqueurs.

The theatre festival for children «Interlyalka», initiated by the Transcarpathian Regional Puppet Theatre, is celebrated colourfully and vividly every year in Uzhhorod. During this event there are costumed parades and masterclasses, and the theatre stages performances not only by Ukrainian but also foreign theatres - from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary and others.

In addition, the city on the Uzh hosts such autumn festivals as the International Youth Organ Music Festival and the International Children’s and Youth Festival «Silver Bell».

Autumn festivals in Transcarpathia in November

In November, in Mukachevo, they vividly and colourfully celebrate St Martin’s Day - the patron of the ancient city on the Latorytsia. On this day, St Martin’s Cathedral holds a festive liturgy, in which all the clergy of the Mukachevo Eparchy take part. And in the very centre of the city folk festivities begin and street fairs open. At the fairs you can buy and sample Transcarpathian wine , dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine, and eco-products: honey, cheese, lekvar. The festival programme features a festive parade with lanterns, theatrical performances, knightly tournaments and horse rides. There are demonstration shots from medieval cannons, flash mobs, masterclasses, a fire show, performances by folk ensembles, and a striking procession of giants on stilts.

In the third week of November, in Uzhhorod, the grand young wine festival «Transcarpathian Beaujolais» is held in the old wine cellars. The region’s best private winemakers offer natural, quality vintage wines of the current year’s harvest. During the festival there are street fairs where you can sample a variety of treats, wine, and dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine. Here you can buy original souvenirs and enjoy performances by local ensembles and musicians.

In addition, every year, traditionally in Uzhhorod, there is the International Roma Jazz Music Festival «Pap-Jazz-Fest». The programme features jazz performances not only by Transcarpathian and Ukrainian musicians, but also by world-famous jazzmen from abroad.

Autumn festivals in Transcarpathia - we invite you to visit them as part of excursions and tours by Pro Karpaty!