The weather forecasts predict heat for the first June weekend. We recommend a wine festival in Balatonfüred, a yacht party near Tihany, cycling in and about Siófok, and enjoying culture in Kaposvár. Take a look at our (mostly) outdoor programme and festival picks.

THURSDAY

Füred is famous for its wine festivals. This year, they hold the first one apropos of the book week, pairing culture with gastronomy again. We can only recommend Blaha Lujza Street and its environs, which will be transformed into Wine Street.  Grab a fröccs there, stroll along Tagore Promenade, then listen to the evening jazz concerts. During the day - all 4 days -, you can enjoy literature talks, book premiers, and kids' programmes. Quality recreation guaranteed!

The Day of Keszthely (4-8 June)

If you've never seen Zoli Back, frontman of the band 30Y as an assistant university professor, then go to Keszthely: he holds a speech at the opening of the Day of Keszthely. Friday will bring classical and light music concerts, while the weekend will see programmes outdoors in Fő Square and the pedestrian street.

FRIDAY

Balaton Day – Badacsony (5 June)

Never seen the Hungarian Sea? Here's your chance! The water temperature has reached 20 °C, hence the beach season officially opens on Friday – in the frame of Balatoni KÖR's Balaton Day. The opening performance is already worth the trip: Miss Balaton 2014 wil push the lifeguards into the water in Badacsony.

This event might just become the shared Balaton celebration of all Balatonshore towns in the future - which is exactly the goal. After the opening, you can enjoy a lengthy beach picnic, the wine ice creams by Bergmann confectionery, beach food specialities and Badacsony's superb spots, like Kishableány and the Kisfaludy House.

3 viewpoints exhibition - Füle (5-7 June)

The exhibition in Füle's Petőfi Sándor Culture Centre is perfect for leaving the trodden paths behind to find a new Balaton viewpoint. Three artists, friends, Béla Nagy, Endre Szabó and Iván Szamos came to Füle to renovated dilapidated adobe houses into pleasant summer homes where they can immerse themselves into the creative process. Their current exhibition includes drawings, paintings and photos inspired by the local scenery as well.

SATURDAY

Tour de Pelso 2015 – Siófok (6-7 June)

Tour de Pelso is not only a sightseeing by bike, but it accommodates both hobby cyclists and professionals. In addition to the 200-km Balaton loop, there are friendlier distances to choose from: 76, 40 and 25 km, so there can be no more excuses, just jump into the saddle and ride!

Yacht Balaton – Tihany (6 June)

A pirate ship, a dance floor disguised as a floating island - the party venue returns to Lake Balaton again after its successful test run last year. One of the very first Nagyon Balaton events is promoted to a series this year, with at least one Yacht party each month, beginning this Saturday. And if you're already there, it's a great photo opportunity for our weekly Instagram contest, in which you can win a Balaton Sound VIP ticket for two. Just don't forget the necessary hashtags: #nagyonbalaton and #eszakvsdel!

Big season opening weekend at the Tihany PIAC Marketplace - Tihany (6-7 June)

Another programme not to miss is  the summer opening weekend of the PIAC Placc marketplace in Tihany. For instance, you can try doing yoga in a marketplace, which is - let's admit - a one-of-a-kind opportunity. You can expect authentic market buzz, live music, picnic, the above-mentioned yoga (from 11 to 12), and a wide selection of cheeses, meat products, and Balaton wines. In the evening, you can attend the screening of Balaton Method, the first one by the Lake.