70th annual Hungarian Festival

Start: Sunday, September 6, 2026 10:00AM
End: Sunday, September 6, 2026 8:00PM

Thousands will gather for the 70th annual Hungarian Festival this year to help celebrate 75 years of Hungarian scouting in greater Cleveland. All are welcome to Ohio’s largest Hungarian festival on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, September 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the German Central Park, 7863 York Rd., in Parma, Ohio. Presented by the American Hungarian Friends of Scouting, the event features delicious ethnic food, live musical entertainment, folk dancers, folk dance lessons, kids’ activities and much more!

A flag raising ceremony at 10:30 a.m. will open the festival followed by catholic and protestant church services in Hungarian at 11 a.m. The kitchens open at noon serving popular Hungarian delicacies like chicken paprikas with dumplings, stuffed cabbage rolls, grilled pork steak, Hungarian sausages, "lángos" (fried dough), chimney cakes, and jam filled crepes. The Café Budapest will feature scrumptious tortes, pastries, strudel, and espresso coffee. Beer and wine will be poured. All foods are available for take-out.

Musical entertainment will be provided live throughout the day with the return of the Fészer Band from New Jersey and by local talent Walt Mahovlich and Harmonia. The Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble and the scout troops will perform in their colorful authentic folk costumes from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Members of the groups will provide Hungarian folk-dance lessons for all ages! An open dance party to Hungarian folk music will fill the evening from 6 p.m. to close. Programs such as a live wild animal show at 2:30 p.m., kids’ activities, a book fair, folk art and crafts, souvenirs and novelty items for sale will round out the day’s festivities.

All proceeds will benefit and support the activities of the nearly 200 Hungarian boy and girl scouts in Northeast Ohio. The first Hungarian scout troop in North America was established in Cleveland in 1951. Admission is $12.00, free for children under ten. Parking is free, with handicapped spaces near the entrance gate and accessibility throughout the park. No coolers and no pets please. Cuyahoga Arts and Culture is a generous supporter of this event.