TRANSYLVANIA gets it in the neck through all that Dracula mythmaking but for a taste of its true folksy heritage look no further than a free festival taking over Albert Square next weekend (June 22-24) with a rich mix of live music and crafts, food and drink.
Góbéfest (pronounced Go-bee-fest) aims to celebrate the vibrant culture of the Székely Hungarians from a region that, translated literally as “the land beyond the forest”, also straddles Romania.
Visitors to the free three day event can choose from a menu including Székelykáposzta, an iconic Hungarian stew made with soured cabbage and tender meat, mititei, a skinless Romanian barbecued sausage, pityokás házikenyér (potato bread) and the region's famous chimney cake (Kürtőskalács) which is cooked on a spit and coated with cinnamon sugar.
Vegan options include Magyar lecsó - Hungary's take on ratatouille – padlizsán krém vinete, which can be most closely compared to the more widely knownbaba ganoush and a Hungarian take on the Sicilian classic caponata.
And for those who eat dairy products, lángos is a absolute must. This is a Hungarian deep fried flat bread, made with flour, water, salt, yeast and milk and topped with grated cheese, sour cream and garlic.
Whole flower herbal teas, intricately decorated gingerbread, organic honeys and preserves, natural herb and fruit cordials and charcuterie including black pudding, liver sausage and head cheese are just some of the take home treats from the farmers' market.
Beer comes courtesy of craft producer Csiki Sor, who were recently victorious in a David and Goliath trademark battle with Heineken. For a strong spirit look no further than Palinka , made only from fruit and distilled water. A range of options will be available to taste, including a 50 percent proof version.
Free music on the main stag comes from the Harghita National Szekler Folk Ensemble and the Titita Hungarian Folk Dance Group performing from midday until late in the evening. Even local orchestra Manchester Camerata is getting in on the action, performing a setlist of compositions from 20th Century Hungarian-Romanian composer Béla Bartók, accompanied by Székely musicians on Friday evening.
Góbéfest have also got family-friendly art workshops running through the weekend, covering everything from music, to dance, to writing in szekler runic script – the old Hungarian alphabet. The activities are run by artists from Transylvanian and Székely territories, as well as representatives from the Erasmus Plus project. All these activities are free, with a £3 suggested donation to cover costs.
Góbéfest, Fri June 22-Sun June 24, 12pm-12am, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA. Free.