Words: Lori Lefterova
Forget about the wellies and pack your swimsuits like some 172,000 music lovers did for this year’s edition of Balaton Sound Festival - Europe’s coolest waterfront music extravaganza, in Lake Balaton in western Hungary.
The five-day gathering attracted the who’s who in house and EDM, with the likes of Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Marshmello, Camelphat, Don Diablo, Nicky Romero, BRIT Award nominee Jess Glynne, Rudimental and The Chainsmokers taking place behind the decks as festival goers danced each night away under the Hungarian sky. Some of the most exciting names in urban music such as Future, Denzel Curry, G-Eazy and Desiigner, also joined the festival line-up, catering for rap and hip-hop fans alike.
With a location like Zamardi, the shore of Balaton – the largest lake in Central Europe – the event comes with endless doses of sunshine as well as picturesque views of the lake and neighbouring towns. So, when it comes to accommodation, the choice of camping, glamping on the festival grounds, renting a villa or staying in a hotel nearby is up to you, depending on how close you want to be to Mother Nature.
What to expect...
Hungary’s hot climate makes each day of Balaton Sound a 24h happening. During the day you can take it easy with a dip in the lake, get active through the numerous watersports activities or – if you can’t wait to let your hair down – sign up for one of the daily boat parties, and water-based venues with multiple small stages across the lake piers. When the sun comes down all six stages host star headliners that cater for a variety of music tastes, from EDM, house and trance, through to urban and rap. The 2019 edition of the festival also saw Elrow once again bring its world-class colourful audio-visual cinematic production and giant puppets, creating a Berlin-techno vibe, featuring Paul Kalkbrenner and the iconic figure of the Belgian underground scene, Claptone.
In addition to the beach festival experience, VIP ticket holders this year had access to four special areas, including: a Hollywood-inspired vintage circus with a platform overlooking the main stage, accompanied by a photo wall, makeup stand and a massage area; a tropical jungle with exotic interiors decorated with trees, vines, and plants; a French riviera at the lake’s shore with canopy sun beds; an area built directly over the water with a cocktail bar and beach parties every day until dawn; and a special VIP spot in the Dreher Arena offering an undisturbed view of the stage.
Sustainability and living in harmony with the environment are clear goals for Balaton Sound. As part of the eco-conscious program, the festival started a tree-planting program and gave 10 trees to Zamárdi planted by the performing artists.
The need-to-know
Where: Zamárdi, Lake Balaton, Hungary When: 8-12th July 2020 Website: www.balatonsound.com
The 5-Day Balaton Ticket Pass gives the full crazy beach party experience at Lake Balaton, whilst fans can opt for a 3 or 4-day ticket pass and include Budapest city break in their adventure.
This year’s Balaton Sound has barely ended, but everyone can mark their calendars for next year’s festival held between 8-12th July 2020 in Zamárdi!