- May 18, 2025
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Attila Toth beckons attendees to the archery show.
Photo by Ian SwabySamuel Jamboc, 2, and his parents Eniko and Eduard Jamboc walk through the festival near the kids' activities.
Photo by Ian SwabySiblings Otto Guraly, 14, Nikki Guraly, 16 and Angela Guraly, 14, stand as the Hungarian and American national anthems are performed.
Photo by Ian SwabyChristina Simonyi sprinkles powdered sugar on a lángos.
Photo by Ian SwabyBeata 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 SwabyFarky Füszfás, Robert Szalay and Gabor Török stand as the Hungarian and American national anthems are performed.
Photo by Ian SwabySzentpéteri Levente hosted the falconry show.
Photo by Ian SwabyAniko Gulyas of Kürtős Chimney Cakes on Main Street wraps one of the cakes.
Photo by Ian SwabyMarisa Gourley and Andrew Sampson meet Szentpéteri Levente.
Photo by Ian SwabyHungarian musician Tamás Kontor offers a performance.
Photo by Ian SwabyA display in the Potter Building features a series of images of Hungary.
Photo by Ian SwabyIstvan Lakatos and his daughter Reka Lakatos, 1, of Clearwater, sit inside the family's yurt, a type of portable tent home.
Photo by Ian SwabyHungarian flags adorn the main festival tent.
Photo by Ian SwabyMarta 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 SwabyJeff Hernandez and his girlfriend Antonia Saras, who is from Hungary, attended the festival. "It feels like back home," Saras said.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe archry show concludes, with Attila Toth at the center of the group.
Photo by Ian SwabyRobert Szalay shoots an arrow.
Photo by Ian SwabyIstván 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.”
