For the eighth year, one cannot travel to Szombathely at the last weekend in August without running into men, women and children dressed in togas. Even in the city's confectionaries, pubs and banks, one is served by "Romans".
This year's Savaria Carnival - the name comes from Szomathely's name in Roman times - drew a record 160,000 visitors. Alone for the torch parade on Saturday evening, a crowd of 70,000 watched.
The Savaria Carnival was first held in 1961 and was quite popular in the 60s, but later it was discontinued. Thirty years later, in 2000, it started up again, this time to focus on a different theme - a personality or event important to the city - each year. The themes are most apparent in productions at the Carnival Theatre. In 2002, Saint Martin, the city's patron saint, was highlighted; and in 2003, Claudius Caesar was celebrated in a work by Kornél Hamvai. Plautus's comedy Aulularia was performed in 2005; and Hans Sachs' Carneval Comedies premiered at the Carnival Theatre in 2006. This year, Plautus's Miles Gloriosus was performed.
In addition to the theater performances, the carnival offered interesting programmes at 13 venues. The biggest events were at the Forum Stage in the city's Main Square. Here the opening ceremonies were held. Surrounding the stage was the Old City Market, where several hundred artisans showed their crafts. The History Theme Park in the city's Franciscan Park hosted the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Preservers of Ancient Soldiering Traditions. The Legion of Savaria Association was joined at the event by Celtic warriors, Hun horsemen, hordes of Germans, Roman foot soldiers and gladiators.
A slave auction was held in the Roman Garden, and visitors enjoyed wine in the Street of Wine and world music in the Eastern Courtyard. In the Street of Artists, graphic, ceramic and jewelry artists showed their work, and the festival's younger visitors played at Adventure Castle in Gayer Park.
