Balaton’s oldest open-air stage can be found in Jókai Park in Siófok. Named after Imre Kálmán, the stage’s long history is full of operetta worthy twists and turns: construction on the stage, then called Siófok Open-air Stage, began in 1949. The grandiose stage, which has a capacity of 1,500, was built with modest funds – the eventual namesake of the venue was invited to conduct his world-famous operetta The Csárdás Princess at the inaugural event, but the Cold War intervened.
The stage has been revamped many times since its construction, with the colourful plastic chairs installed in the 70s being the most characteristic additions. It wasn’t until 2010 that a much-needed full-scale renovation was carried out, but the wait was very much worth it: the fully accessible establishment is equipped to host film screenings, puppet shows, concerts and more.
