Volt Fesztivál

All this week we have been having the Volt Festival--billed as the largest youth concert in Eastern Europe. It is located in the forest about 4 long blocks from our house. Downtown by the church this booth has been selling advanced tickets at a discount since April.

Last year over 70,000 young people came from throughout Europe, most camping out in the woods since all the panzios and hotels have been booked up for months. Most of the events start at about 4 and go on simultaneously until 2 or 3 in the morning on two large stages and five smaller stages spread through the woods and surrounded by acres of campsites. Almost 200 bands from throughout Europe perform various types of music from classical to folk to pop to rock. In some of the smaller venues, various famous European DJs take their turns entertaining the troops for an hour or so for a change of pace.

When we came home from our zone conference in Györ on Wednesday, they had 6 extra cars on the train packed with kids. We walked the mile home rather than try to fit on our bus. They have extra busses every 10 minutes or so packed with riders from the incoming trains. Still, hundreds walked with us up the hill. It was like swimming upstream with the salmon during spawning season.

The grassy sides of the streets everywhere in town but especially on the streets near our house are filled with picnickers and people enjoying the sun until the events start at 4. It costs $50 (10,000 forint) for a day ticket, $135 (25,000 forint) for the full four days if you buy at the gate. Most everyone we see has the wristband for the four day ticket.

Our normally empty neighborhood convenience store has been packed with customers getting picnic supplies.

Of course, the first thing the bakeries run out of is the delicious Hungarian version of the hotdog.

The trails that we hike on through the woods are filled with cars and tents. If you look closely you can see the masses of young people heading down the trail to the festival.

Here they are at the official entrance.

Since the festival is over the hill and deep in the forest, we don't hear a thing other than the sound of lots of people singing and talking as they walk up or down the hill in front of our place all day and night. Being from Florida, it all reminds us of spring break--lots of energy and fun--but at that price, we'll stay home. We'll see if we get any extra comers at church on Sunday.