Czech Republic’s Harvest Revelries: Discover Exciting Vintage Celebrations

Dožínky: the traditional harvest festival

Harvest festivals used to be a major event in our country, rooted in pre-Christian traditions. This event marks the celebration of the end of the harvest and is filled with joyful celebrations. Farmers take this occasion to express their gratitude to the workers who cared for the fields throughout the year. Even today, harvest celebrations continue, usually featuring a harvest parade, displays of historical agricultural equipment, and costumed participants. One of the largest events occurs annually in Kroměříž, known as the famous Regional Harvest Festival, happening this year on August 23.

However, there are many other events you can explore throughout August. For instance, on Saturday, August 16, you can visit a post-harvest celebration at the open-air museum in Kourim, where you can try various crafts, learn about hemp, bake bread, and create decorations for the harvest wreath. A separate Harvest Festival will also take place a day later, on August 17, in the courtyard of the Baroque Loreto City Museum in Chlumec nad Cidlinou. Another noteworthy event is the regional harvest festival organized by the Liberec Region, set to occur in Brniště on August 17.

As is customary, the first weekend of September, from September 5 to September 7, will see the harvest festival in Chrudim, showcasing folklore groups offering a delightful presentation of Czech, Moravian, and Slovak folklore. A day filled with fun will also commemorate the old Slavic festival during the Harvest Festival in Holešovice on September 6. In the Hradec Králové Region, the Hradec Králové Region Harvest Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 12-13.

Vintage: wine tradition not only in Moravia

Looking at the wine calendar in South Moravia can be a bit overwhelming for fans of this sparkling drink. For example, the weekend of September 12-14 will be particularly busy. The famous Pálava Vintage Festival will take place in Mikulov, while in Uherské Hradiště, the popular Wine and Open Monuments Festival is happening. Additionally, the popular Historic Vintage will occur in Znojmo! Whether you decide to attend just one of these festivals or try to enjoy all of them, you’re sure to have the opportunity to sample bourbons, wines, and traditional Moravian dishes.

Dočesná: spectacular celebration in Žatec and beer festivals

For those who prefer beer over wine, there’s an exciting invitation to the annual grand celebration of hops and beer in Žatec. This year, the Žatec Dočesná (which is in its 68th year) is set for the weekend of September 5 and 6. This event is the highlight of the royal town that was established in 1004 and was originally meant to celebrate the conclusion of the last hop harvest. Visitors can look forward to traditional games like dancing with a corbel balanced on the head and hand-combing hops. The event will also feature an extensive cultural program, entertaining shows, and, of course, tastings of delicious beers! Attractions such as the Temple of Hops and Beer, the Hop Lighthouse, and the Hop Museum will welcome visitors.

In Prague, on September 13, you can enjoy the Festival of Small Breweries at Kulačák. In Pilsen, a well-known beer festival titled The Sun in Glass will take place from September 18-20, offering unusual beer specials from both local and international brewers. About thirty different breweries will showcase their best beers in the cozy courtyard of the Purkmistr brewery in Pilsen – Černice, where smaller glasses of 0.1 l will be available for tasting. If you feel thirsty, you can, of course, order a larger glass as well. On September 20, the Nusel Beer Festival is scheduled for Prague’s Fidlovačka Park, where smaller breweries will present their beverages along with lovely music. There will also be performances from the Theatre Na Fidlovačce. Finally, on September 27 and 28, the St. Wenceslas Beer Festival will be held in Ostrava, featuring about twenty-five small breweries.

Oskorušobraní: the festival of Oscars in Slovácko

Slovácko has a unique autumn specialty known as oskorušobraní. If you’re unfamiliar with what a rowan is or what it tastes like, be sure to mark September 20 on your calendar and head to Tvarožná Lhota. Following the weekend in Strážnice, you’ll learn that this unique fruit can be transformed into pálinka or marmalade! The oskoruše tree is one of the oldest and most fruitful trees, often producing over a ton of fruit even when it’s 300 years old. It’s known for having the largest fruits among its species. The biggest oskoruše grow in Strážnice. In the natural area of Salaš Travičná, not far from the RO Lučina nad Tvarožnou Lhotou, approximately 4 km from Strážnice, the festival will focus on oskoruše and other rare fruits like mulberries, or, mishpule, buckthorns, and guts. You’ll get to taste various products made from them in many forms. The festival will also include informative sessions, tree sales, and unique competitions involving these special fruits.

Sanctification: St. Wenceslas or Gotthard

The autumn months have traditionally been associated with feast days. These occasions span a broad range, occurring from August until December. What are these feasts about? They are celebrations that come from the dedication of a temple. Municipalities often celebrate their local church’s patron saint, with feasts organized around their feast days. For instance, Wenceslas Feast at the end of September and Martin’s Feast in November are notable examples. Some areas also commemorate the third Sunday of October, which was a standardized date introduced by Joseph II in the 18th century. Regardless of the specific date, feasts are always accompanied by hearty meals featuring rich foods like slaughtered animals, geese, and cakes.

At the end of August, you can attend the Milevské festivities celebrating Bartholomew’s Feast, which takes place this year from August 21 to 24, or The Nymburk Candlemas on September 6. From September 19 to 21, the Gothard Shining festival will occur in Český Brod. This year, there will be a Friday competition for the best pot goulash, followed by a medieval-themed town, craft stands, a contest for the best cake, music, and theatrical performances suitable for both children and adults. The traditional St. Wenceslas Day celebration will be hosted on September 27 at Dlask’s farm. Attendees can watch folklore groups perform, take guided tours of the exhibition, explore a craft fair, and enjoy delicious refreshments. Until October 19, visitors can experience folk customs and traditional after-holiday dishes during the St. Michael’s Feast in Kourim. Here, you’ll see the tradition of beheading a rooster, and museum staff will welcome you with a seated meal, plus demonstrations on baking beetroot and methods of making Kouřim mints or fermenting and pickling cabbage.