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A Hungarian honour guard marches down a street in Miskolc, which hosted the second International Honour Guard and Military Band Festival at the weekend. The three-day event featured 400 festivals from eight countries. Photo: János Vajda (MTI)

Dubbed "Regimentfest", the festival involved some 400 soldiers from eight countries marching in honor guards and playing in four military bands. Participants came from the United States, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia and, of course, Hungary.

 

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An honour guard from Greece marches at Regimentfest - the second International Honour Guard and Military Band Festival in Miskolc. Photo: János Vajda (MTI)

Miskolc decided to introduce the public to the precision and tradition of honor guards from around the world at the first Regimentfest last year. This year, the festival's programme was expanded to include military bands from the Hungarian cities of Hódmezővásárhely, Székesfehérvár, Szolnok and Budapest. With the addition, the local council of Miskolc together with the Hungarian Defense Ministry aim to help the public get to know international military culture, popularise the army and raise the profile of soldiers.

 
In addition to Miskolc, military parades took place in several other municipalities in Borsod County during the three-day festival. Accompanying events included a vintage car and motorcycle parade, a folklore exhibition and a wine fair.
 
The next Regimentfest will not take place until 2009.
 
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)