Although dancing will be at the centre of the festival, there will also be an exhibition of folk costumes, a meeting of bagpipe players and a sampling of regional cuisine.
In 2002, the festival became a member of the International Association of Folklore Festivals. Just four other festivals in the country belong to the association.
The origins of the event go back to the Festival of Folk Dance Ensembles from Northern Hungary, an initiative of the Vidróczki Folk Dance Ensemble founded in Gyöngyös in 1962. The festival was expanded in 1994 to include foreign guests. Over the past 14 years, 97 ensembles from 36 countries have performed in Gyöngyös.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
