Balaton Sound
If it works, don't change it! The Zamárdi-based Balaton Sound is currently the diamond in the shining crown of all the Balaton festivals - and its glitter is also seen from abroad. The location and the dates are unchanged, David Guetta will yet again pay a visit, along with the one responsible for the hit of summer 2011, Hello Martin Solveig, Whiz Kalifa, Azealia Banks, Rudimental, and good old party-makers, like Sven Väth or Ricardo Villalobos.
When: 10-13 June 2014
Nagyon Balaton
The party train of Nagyon Balaton (one of the little brothers of Sziget) will run around the Lake this year as well, bringing you Strand Festival which evolved into a "Hungarianmusic" festival in Zamárdi, and B. my Lake with deeper electronics than Balaton sound – the best new festival of 2013 - in Balatonaliga. You can check out John Newman, Parov Stelar and Papa Roach, along with the Quimby-Punnany Massif-Irie Maffia-Tankcsapda quartet in Zamárdi; while Magda, Karanyi, Palotai, Wondawulf, Jan Blomqvist and many more will pump up the volume in the park of the former Socialist Party summer resort in Aliga. The rest of Nagyon Balaton will also be uncovered soom.
When: Strand Festival: 20-23 August 2014. B. my Lake: 18-22 August 2014.
Valley of Arts
The pessimists often declared the arts festival of Kapolcs and its surroundings dead in recent years, and rumours said that only students from the faculty of humanity visited to listen to Villon-adaptations and stand awestruck by the farm animals of locals. The 'Valley' now is in resurrection, but it will preserve its likeable side. Taliándörögd, Vigántpetend and Kapolcs will see the likes of Ivan and the Parazol, Veronika Harcsa, and Pegazusok Nem Léteznek perform between them. The Design Terminal will deliver popular start-ups. And, naturally, the footstones of the Valley, Hobo, Kaláka, and Bea Palya Bea will also be there: .
When: 25 July - 3 August 2014
International Guitar Festival
This is not your classical dancing-barefoot festival: the banquet hall of the Anna Grand Hotel in Balatonfüred is not the best place for raving. We'd rather recommend it to fans of guitar music and other musical delicacies, because the cream of the art of guitar will come to play in Balatonfüred in June. In addition to playing, they will also hold master courses for those who wish to handle their instrument better than your usual scout next to the camp fire. In the evenings, the masters (and their best students) will play live.
When: 21-28 June 2014.
3rd Paloznak Jazz and wine Picnic
The owner of the Homola Winery, Szabolcs Homola used to play the cello and he has preserved his love of music even now that wine and business are on his mind. Hence the Jazz and Wine Picnic, which will be held for the 3rd time in Paloznak, in the court of the Country House. The picnic, in this case, does not simply mean a pleasant afternoon spent lying in the grass, and jazz will not exclusively be comprised of endless double bass solos. The line-up of the two-day event includes DePhazz, Manoya, Bin-Jip, Ágnes Herczku and the Smárton Trio also. Special appearance by the 100% wine series.
When: 8-9 August 2014.
Pannónia festival
The "budget festival" that once started out from Várpalota will now bring you a rocking line up. The event is held again in the scenic Szántódpuszta, so the walls of the protected buildings will resound with tunes of Offspring, Biffy Clyro, Dub Pistols and one of the most popular figures of the drum'n'bass scene, DJ Fresh. Hungarian performers include Punnany Massif, Quimby, Brains, and 30Y. If you choose camping, you can sleep and wake on the hill of the St Kristóf Chapel, with a panorama of Lake Balaton - sunsets and sundowns come as free bonus.
When: 5-8 June 2014.
Beach Fest
You can also party day and night at the Surf Beach of Balatonfűzfő, well-known to surfers, in the frame of the Beach Fest. The water-sporty bodies-sunshine trio will have competition in the form of bands, like Brains, Hősök, and Irie Maffia. The house and breakbeat fans can cheer for the British James Zabiela and Chris Lake. There is no panorama camping here, but - unlike at the other Balatonside festivals - you can go for night dippings legally. Check out the programme here.
When: 18-22 June 2014.
Fun Fest - CANCELLED
A newcomer along festivals is the Fun Fest on the last weekend of June. Location: Balatonföldvár; exact location: the western dbo beach, under the shade of its huge trees. This event targets a wide range of age groups, therefore it offers several daytime programmes as well, with sports and healthy living in the focus. Two guided training per day with experienced coaches, boulder, watersports, and competitions the Balaton has never seen before. The evening schedule also seems to be fun with performers like Compact Disco, Belga, Akkezdet Phiai, Mary Popkids, and Cloud 9+. After its appearancce aboard the We Love Balaton disco boat the Bermuda will also visit Balatonföldvár again.
When: 26-29 June 2014.
RockBeach Festival
Is renamed to RockPart Festival this year. The end-of-July event in Balatonszemes is aimed at rock, metal and punk fans. Last year, the festival started out under the name RockBeach, which it could not preserve, as opposed to the fun and the best Hungarian and international performers, who will be there yet again. This year's import bands are the Polish Behemoth, the American Biohazard, and the Finnish Ensiferum, while the Hungarian scene is represented by Sex Action, Road, Subscribe, Depresszió and Blind Myself. When you are not headbanging at one of the shows, grab a glass of fröccs (prepared from any Balaton wine) and take a stroll around the local villas. You'll like it.
When: 24-27 July 2014.
