51st Hungarian Festival
- Rev Zsolt Ötvös
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
On Saturday, June 6, our congregation once again had the joy of participating in the 51st Hungarian Festival in New Brunswick. For many visitors, the Festival is a one-day celebration of Hungarian culture, food, music, and fellowship. For our church family, however, it represents months of planning, weeks of preparation, and countless hours of volunteer service offered with dedication and love.
As we reflect on this year's Festival, our hearts are filled with gratitude. From the earliest planning meetings to the final cleanup at the end of the day, volunteers of all ages worked together to make our participation possible. Children, youth, adults, and senior members each contributed in their own way. Some prepared food, others organized supplies, welcomed guests, worked at booths, served meals, or helped behind the scenes. Every task mattered, and every helping hand was appreciated.
One of the greatest blessings of the Festival is that it brings our church family together. Long hours spent preparing stuffed cabbage, making kolbász, baking pastries, and organizing the event become opportunities for fellowship. Around kitchen tables and workstations, friendships are strengthened, stories are shared, laughter fills the room, and new relationships are formed. The work itself becomes a ministry as we learn once again the joy of serving alongside one another.
Visitors to our church area enjoyed many traditional Hungarian foods prepared by our volunteers. Throughout the day we served stuffed cabbage, kolbász and pecsenye sandwiches, lángos, palacsinta, gulyás soup, kalács, kifli, and a variety of other homemade pastries and baked goods. These beloved Hungarian dishes have long been a hallmark of our church's participation in the Festival and continue to attract both returning guests and first-time visitors.
The weather was certainly warm, but it was also a beautiful day. The sunshine, the crowds, and the festive atmosphere created a wonderful setting for celebrating our Hungarian heritage and sharing it with the wider community.
Our church has proudly participated in the Hungarian Festival since its beginning, and we are thankful to continue this tradition. Over the decades, the Festival has provided an opportunity not only to support the ministry of our congregation but also to preserve and share the rich cultural heritage of the Hungarian-American community in New Brunswick.
In addition to the food and fellowship, visitors enjoyed outstanding cultural programs throughout the day. We were honored to host a Hungarian folk music concert by the Szikra Banda supported by the Middlesex County Arts Grant Program. We also welcomed Hungarian folk dance groups whose colorful performances brought beauty, and tradition to our church grounds. Their music and dancing reminded us of the rich cultural legacy that has been passed down through generations.
As we celebrate another successful Festival, we give thanks to God for every volunteer, visitor, performer, and supporter who helped make the day possible. We are grateful for the friendships that were strengthened, the memories that were created, and the opportunity to serve together as a church family.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and talents. We look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition for many years to come.
To God be the glory.
