Kabóciádé Family Festival
Every summer, Kabóca Puppet Theatre hosts its Kabóciádé Family Festival, a multi-day outdoor event that, as its name suggests, offers artistic programmes for every member of the family. First held in 1994, the festival's programme has evolved each year, adapting to current needs and moving to various iconic locations throughout the city of Veszprém. In these parks or public spaces, the organisers have always made a point of incorporating the natural surroundings into the festival's thematic elements. As a result, the festival holds special memories not only tied to the iconic trees of the Cloisters and Gardens event space but also to other locations like the Theatre Gardens park and Old Town Square, where site-specific Kabóciádé stories have taken place. Currently, the festival has found what is hoped to be its permanent home at the theatre’s new building at 13 Deák Ferenc Street and in the nearby Love Island park.
The festival’s constant characters, King Habakuk and Queen Boróka, bring a magical royal atmosphere to everyday life, enriching the diverse programme lineup with royal ceremonies, much to the delight of children. The popularity of the royal couple is reflected by the growing number of girls named Boróka born in Veszprém over the past nearly 30 years. Audiences can enjoy not only performances by the Kabóca Theatre company but also exciting productions by private theatres, independent puppet theatre creators and guest companies from established theatres. Spectacular outdoor performances are complemented by concerts, craft workshops and improvisational stilt-walking acts. One of the festival’s most popular events is the Night Adventure Tour, which presents a unique story each year. The actors actively involve children in resolving the story’s central conflict.
In recent years, the festival has been enriched with different subtitles, organising events around new and relevant themes. Kabóciádé’s reputation as a kingdom is also signified by the fact that in 2009, it was officially registered as a certified festival.
