The archry show concludes, with Attila Toth at the center of the group.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota
Neighbors
Share
István Csicsek eagerly embraces his Hungarian heritage.
Although he was born in Sarasota, he was married in Hungary, his wife is Hungarian, and his kids speak fluent Hungarian.
As part of the archery team at Sarasota's 18th annual Hungarian Festival, he noted the thorough attention to authenticity in the materials.
“Everything we own is from Hungary,” Csicsek said. “All our bows are from Hungary, all our clothes are from Hungary. Our boots are from Hungary, everything. And we try to just keep that tradition.”
Held May 3 and 4 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, the event features offerings including archery and falconry shows, live music and dance, Hungarian food, various vendors, and activities for kids including rock climbing and camel rides.
Held by the Global Friendship Foundation in partnership with the local Kossuth and Petőfi clubs, the event is intended to celebrate Hungarian culture for people of all nationalities and ages, said organizer Erika Klatyik.
She said attendees will discover that Hungary's history is "very long" and "full of victories and defeats," noting its occupation by the Ottoman Empire and later the Soviet Union.
“When you're Hungarian, you're always Hungarian, even if you choose a different country, and we love America,” she said. “We love being here… and even though we are Hungarians, we are respecting the American culture, and we want to support them, and we want to make sure that they know something about us.”
Attila Toth beckons attendees to the archery show.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Samuel Jamboc, 2, and his parents Eniko and Eduard Jamboc walk through the festival near the kids' activities.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Siblings Otto Guraly, 14, Nikki Guraly, 16 and Angela Guraly, 14, stand as the Hungarian and American national anthems are performed.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Christina Simonyi sprinkles powdered sugar on a lángos.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Beata Galacz drove from Sunny Isles Beach in Miami-Dade County to meet József Mónus, a world record holder in long-distance archery. She left with a pack of arrows made by Mónus.
“It was beautiful. It was amazing," she said of the event. "I just came to see him because he’s a legend."
In remarks translated by staff member Laszlo Barcza, Mónus said he came to learn America's culture and to show Hungarian culture to others, "to show you that we are the same, and we would like to be friends with you.”
Photo by Ian Swaby
Farky Füszfás, Robert Szalay and Gabor Török stand as the Hungarian and American national anthems are performed.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Szentpéteri Levente hosted the falconry show.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Aniko Gulyas of Kürtős Chimney Cakes on Main Street wraps one of the cakes.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Marisa Gourley and Andrew Sampson meet Szentpéteri Levente.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Hungarian musician Tamás Kontor offers a performance.
Photo by Ian Swaby
A display in the Potter Building features a series of images of Hungary.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Istvan Lakatos and his daughter Reka Lakatos, 1, of Clearwater, sit inside the family's yurt, a type of portable tent home.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Hungarian flags adorn the main festival tent.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Marta Sumegi, her daughter Reka Lakatos, 1, and her husband Istvan Lakatos of Clearwater stand in front of their yurt, a portable tent used by those with a nomadic lifestyle.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Jeff Hernandez and his girlfriend Antonia Saras, who is from Hungary, attended the festival. "It feels like back home," Saras said.
Photo by Ian Swaby
The archry show concludes, with Attila Toth at the center of the group.
Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.
