Bogrács Festival 2024

The now-traditional Bogrács Festival was once again met with great enthusiasm and preparation this year: during the October club day, five cauldrons of delicious food were simmering in the heart of Auckland, and the aromatic cloud could be smelled from afar. While our chefs were busy in the yard, the indoor program began: first up was the latest performance by the Auckland Hungarian Folk Dancers, which was met with great success among the audience. We also commemorated the events, heroes, and memory of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight with a few minutes of reflection and the communal singing of the Hungarian national anthem.

We were delighted to welcome Dr. Zsolt Hetesy, Hungary’s Ambassador to Wellington, who honored us with his visit. In his festive speech, he highlighted the importance of 1956 in today’s context and praised the enthusiasm he has observed among Auckland’s Hungarian community, particularly regarding its strength and cohesion.

An important part of the club day was the children’s stands, where the young participants once again prepared beautiful desserts for the Bogrács Festival. Thirsty guests could refresh themselves with tasty lemonade at one of the stands, while the bar offered a variety of Hungarian and local beverages.

After the official program, there was only one thing left to do: taste the delicious cauldron dishes — venison stew with steamed dumplings, mixed stew, mushroom stew, paprikás potatoes, and smoked ham bean soup. The quality and quantity of the offerings ensured that no one went hungry by the end of the day! At the craft corner, KCSP scholars Petra Póda and Enid Gusztos guided children in creating playful decorations and pumpkin lanterns — once again, amazing works of art were made! Our favorite vendors’ products were, as always, very popular: alongside delicious sausages, cheeses, and blood and liver sausages, items like Túró Rudi and cheese rolls were a big hit.

We thank everyone who attended the festival and hope you truly enjoyed yourselves in this little Hungarian corner of the big city! Next, we look forward to seeing you at the December Christmas Picnic, a joint event of the Auckland Hungarian Club and AUskola / Auckland Hungarian School. In the meantime, enjoy browsing through the photos — the smiles and cauldrons speak for themselves!