Get Ready for Hluk’s Dolňácké Festival: The Spectacular Ride of the Kings is Here!
The Dolňácké festival of songs and dances in Hluk takes place every three years and has been celebrated for over seventy years. This festival coincides with the annual Slovak Wind Music Festival. The event is deeply connected to the Ride of the Kings, as well as traditional costumes. During the festival, Hluk comes alive with a multi-day program that appeals to everyone who loves singing, dancing, brass bands, delicious food, and refreshments. It’s a wonderful celebration of Slovak culture and folklore. Even though Hluk is a relatively newer Slovak town, its history is rich, tracing back at least to the 13th century.
The Dolňácké festivities will kick off with a Thursday evening focused on Dolňák dances. On Friday, in the afternoon, there will be a family program featuring grandparents, parents, and children from Hluk. In the evening, the Military Art Ensemble will present Ondráš. On Saturday, there will be a festival of brass bands featuring groups like Šarovec, Túfaranka, and Drietomanka. The afternoon will include performances from local folklore groups, and in the evening, there will be a special Royal Mass and the main program showcasing kings from the four towns that uphold the Ride of the Kings tradition in southeast Moravia. Finally, the Sunday program will highlight the traditional Ride of the Kings, starting in the morning from the fortress in Hluk. This year, 18 riders will accompany the young king on horseback. Sons and grandsons of past riders will also be riding, and the tradition of creating decorative hearts for the horses has remained in some families for generations. By the afternoon, Hluk’s streets will be filled with a festive costume parade. Visitors can look forward to performances from folklore groups and a parade of recruiters, showcasing dancers of the male folk dance known as verbuňek.
When and how did the Ride of the Kings in Slovácko begin?
The Ride of the Kings is a truly unique event, known for its colorful and ornate parade featuring a masked young boy in a woman’s costume who represents the The Silent King. This engaging spectacle reflects a historical moment when a real king had to disguise himself to escape danger, but which king it was is up for debate. Some suggest it could be linked to the mysterious disappearance of Svatopluk II. after a battle in 907, or the King Wenceslas’ quiet return from captivity in 1283, but a likely candidate is the escape of King Matthias Corvinus after a lost battle in 1469. Experts have differing views on this topic.
The first ride takes place in vlčnová toward the end of May, followed by the hlucká ride during the Dolňácké festivities, with the kunovská ride postponed until August due to road repairs. The Ride of the Kings has inspired paintings, such as those from Josie’s Escapes. You can find a collection of his works at the Jesuit College located on the central Masaryk Square in Uherské Hradiště.
The Ride of the Kings is regarded as one of the most renowned folklore customs in the Czech Republic, mainly celebrated in five villages or towns in the Uherské Hradiště and Hodonín areas. Although written records for the custom date back to 1808, it seems to be even older. The king figure in the ride is typically a boy aged between ten and twelve. He wears women’s clothing, holds a typical rose in his mouth (so he cannot speak), and sports ribbons that cover his face. He is protected and accompanied by a group of young men known as “Legrons“, who look out for the king and also collect tribute.
