The “Danube Day” was celebrated in multiple locations along Hungary, thanks to the DANUrB+ project partner KÉK - Contemporary Architecture Centre (KÉK). Here are the events and activities revealing the rich diversity in the Danube Region:

• Dunaújváros

On July 2nd KÉK kicked off the summer with a great street festival in Dunaújváros! 

“Sugárúti Fesztivál” – Avenue Festival was a great cultural and community event held by KÉK and the Valyo - City and River Association, in close cooperation with local institutions and civil organizations.

KÉK and Valyo arranged several workshops for the local cultural institutes, associations, and NGOs, with the goal of a sustainable and impactful festival in the city.

In the spring, the organizers turned to the public with an open call, where anyone could apply with an individual program idea, proposal, or sign up as one of the volunteers running the festival.

During the festival, the main avenue of Dunaújváros, “Vasmű út” was closed for car traffic. In this new pedestrian street the visitors could get to know the local farmers market, the work of the library, take part in city walks, and delve into the city's exciting historical heritage that roots back to the socialist era.

The one-day festival was a huge success - from the morning opening to the evening concerts, roughly 2 000 people celebrated Vasmű Road!

Of course, the professional programs were not left out, either. Throughout the week leading up to Sugárúti Fesztivál, the Department of Urban Planning from BME and KÉK joined the Architects’ Festival organized by the online journal “Építészfórum” and the architecture college community “Építész Szakkollégium”, where students of the urban department built a beach library for József Attila Library Dunaújváros in a creative workshop, within the framework of DANUrB+. The library's furniture plans were prepared as part of a semester course at the Department of Urban Planning.

The hope is that the residents and visitors will be able to enjoy this exciting, multifunctional furniture for a long time!

• Esztergom

In the historical city of Esztergom KÉK together with KulturAktív joined a local kids’ festival, called “Tótágas”. The festival was hosted by a local NGO, Kapcsolatok Háza (House of Connections) and it is a yearly tradition in the city, where the local kids can participate in different educational and cultural programs.

This year the DANUrB+ team decided to introduce a shortened version of the new DANUrBanity kids’ game.

A great storyteller from KulturAktív introduced a local Danube legend to the kids about the fairies living in the river. After the story the kids could participate in an urban walk along the bank of the Danube and then a craft workshop, where they made “Danube fairies” from the legend.

• Szigetzugi Duna Napok - Danube Days Szigetzug

From 24th of June to 10th of July Danube Day and local heritage were celebrated in the area of Szigetzug. The KÉK team had a really busy festival week, with the biggest Hungarian Danube Days Festival. We had events in four different towns - Ráckeve, Szigetzug, Szigetújfalu, and Szigetbecse.

Between the four towns there were cultural events, in the name of cultural heritage, where locals could show their products and exchange knowledge during several workshops and presentations, city walks, exhibitions of local painters works and folk song performance, etc. During these days some important places such as the Water Mill in Ráckeve, the former center of Hungarian Defence Confederation and Village Halls became full of life.

In Szigetújfalu the 3rd National Meeting of Archaeological Communities. This meeting is one of the most important traditions of the Danube Days Festival in Szigetzug because it connects the local history, community, researchers, and history enthusiasts all around the area. Archeologists met and exchanged experiences whilst organizing playful educational programs for children and families.

The KÉK team is very proud of this festival, because during the DANUrB and DANUrB+ periods it became self-sustaining thanks to the local community and especially to Attila Tóth, an archaeologist working at the Árpád Museum, Ráckeve.

All participants and visitors expressed their gratitude towards the whole organization and their anticipation for more upcoming initiatives along the Danube.

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Project co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF and IPA).