The Mangalica Festival in Budapest is one of the most interesting food events in the Hungarian capital. It takes place in the second weekend of February at Szabadság tér – the Liberty Square – one of the iconic meeting points of Budapest.
In 2017, the Mangalica Festival celebrates its 29th edition. The event celebrates the Hungarian Mangalica pig, which was developed by local farmers in the mid-19th century by crossing the Hungarian Szalonta and Bakony breeds with European wild boar and Serbian Šumadija pigs. The main characteristic of the Mangalica breed is the curly fur of the pigs that is similar with the wooly coat of a sheep. However, breeders agree that Mangalica meats are more flavorful and healthier than regular pork.
The 10th Budapest edition of the Mangalica Festival is a celebration of the Hungarian heritage breed and an occasion for city visitors to taste authentic products like cured meats, sausages, black pudding, whole roast pig, and a variety of street food prepared with Mangalica meat. There will also be stalls selling local cheese, oils, spices, homemade jams and preserves, as well as artisanal Hungarian wines and palinka. Participants will also find Hungarian arts and crafts for sale in the “Handcrafted Goods Street” of the festival.
The festival offers entertainment for all ages, including live, free concerts and dance. A cooking competition is open for everyone interested in participating. Information in Hungarian is available on the official website of the festival (linked above) or via email at info@mangalicafesztival.hu. Participation in the competition is free of charge.
This year’s lineup of exhibitors at the festival includes the National Association of Mangalica, farms like Kocsis Tanya and Kövér Tanya, associations like Istvándi és Társai Kft. and Szalámi Shop Kft., and several others.
Daily news and other updates are available on the official Facebook fan page of the festival. Featured image courtesy Mangalica Fesztivál on Facebook.