Since 1991, the Festival of European Folk Craft has brought the historic town of Kežmarok to life with traditional crafts, music, folklore, and medieval atmosphere. Inspired by the craft and guild traditions of this former royal town, the festival transforms Kežmarok into a lively open-air marketplace for three days each year.
Visitors can watch more than 100 craftsmen and folk artists from Slovakia and abroad demonstrate dozens of traditional techniques, from heritage crafts to decorative folk arts. The festival opens with a historical parade and ceremonial program, followed by performances that evoke the town’s past, including fencing groups, theater ensembles, martial arts displays, and stories of Kežmarok’s historic guilds.
The castle courtyard, town walls, main square, and burgher houses create a distinctive setting for craft stalls, folklore performances, family activities, and cultural programs. With music, dance, children’s attractions, and artists from across Europe, the festival offers an immersive celebration of folk traditions, local history, and European cultural heritage.
