The Szeged Sun

08/05/2025

The grand prizes of the 43rd Hungarian Press Photo Contest have been awarded, and along with them, the Year in Pictures 2024 album has been published, featuring a photo by our photographer, which is also part of the press photo exhibition!
https://www.szegedsun.hu/culture/2025/05/08/the-winners-of-the-43rd-hungarian-press-photo-contest-have-been-announced/

08/01/2025

Are rising bank fees eating into your wallet? Discover expert tips to save money on banking costs.

The government increased transaction fees, banks passed them on to us, and we end up paying the financial transaction taxes. This means that the 3,000–4,000 HUF monthly bank costs we’ve been paying will continue to rise. Can anything be done about this? If so, how? We discussed this and more wit...

07/01/2025

A person died.

A person died after being found in a burning outbuilding by firefighters late Monday night in Szeged, the deputy spokesperson of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management (OKF) informed MTI. Imre Dóka reported that the 15-square-meter outbuilding, located in the yard of a residential...

03/09/2024

The 9th Rotary Charity Rubber Duck Race is Coming

On September 7th, 5,000 yellow rubber ducks will flood the Tisza River in Szeged. The annual race of thousands of ducks on the water is a spectacular sight, and those who hold duck tickets can eagerly follow the event, hoping to win prizes. At the same time, the event serves a good cause: raising funds for life-saving heart surgeries for children with heart disease.

The Rotary Club Szeged Dóm has been committed to saving the lives of children with heart disease for many years. While pediatric cardiology care is highly developed in Hungary, this is not always the case in neighboring countries (Serbia, Romania, and Ukraine). There is a great need for assistance among Hungarian children living abroad. The financing of these surgeries is largely covered by the annual duck race.

The duck race is centered around charity, but in addition to doing a good deed, those who purchase duck tickets also have a chance to win prizes. If their duck, with a number matching their ticket, finishes among the top 150, they can win valuable prizes offered by the club's supporters. The grand prize is an Xbox, donated by HRP Europe Ltd., but there are also prizes such as accommodation vouchers, restaurant vouchers, confectionery vouchers, and many other valuable items.

"During the race, we build a progressively narrowing course for the ducks, with only one rubber duck able to pass through at the very end. This determines the order, which will be published on our website by Monday, September 9th, at the latest. Ticket holders can check here to see where their duck finished and if they won anything. The website will also provide details on when and where to collect the prizes," explained Mária Ződi-Sipos, the communications officer of Rotary Club Szeged Dóm, discussing the technical aspects of the race.

Those who wish to participate in the charity and compete for valuable prizes can purchase duck tickets at ÁRKÁD Szeged until September 6th (weekends from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM, weekdays from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM) or on the day of the event (September 7th) at the Újszeged Partfürdő. The duck race starts at 2:00 PM, and the organizers warmly welcome everyone to come and enjoy the race together!

(szegedinap.hu/Announcement from Rotary Club Szeged Dóm)

Photo: Frank Yvette

03/09/2024

New Episodes of FBI International Being Filmed in Szeged

After 2021, the popular American CBS series, FBI International, has returned to Szeged, according to szegedma.hu. The film crew transformed the shops on Kárász Street overnight, with each store receiving Spanish signage.

The shop signs give the impression that we are in Spain, as the red-yellow-red Spanish flag has been placed in numerous locations.

As reported by szegedma.hu, certain scenes of FBI International are being filmed at the A Capella confectionery in Szeged. The crew previously visited Szeged in 2021, decorating the downtown area with Spanish flags and props, including setting up two guard booths in front of the Rector's Office on Dugonics Square. This time, Szeged's downtown has been "disguised" as Madrid.

The storyline of FBI International revolves around special agents who rush to the aid of American citizens in trouble abroad.

According to a video released on YouTube, the fourth season of the series is set to debut in the United States on October 15, 2024. In 2021, the crew employed over a hundred local extras.

(szegedinap.hu/szegedma.hu)

Photo: Frank Yvette

06/08/2024

The video shows the progress of BYD construction in Szeged

The first shipment of construction materials for BYD's electric car manufacturing plant in Szeged arrived from China at the Szeged-Kiskundorozsma PSP terminal in June. Shortly thereafter, construction began. Now, we show you the progress of the work in a video.

The construction of BYD in Szeged in just over three minutes:

EN : https://hungarytoday.hu/production-at-the-byd-plant-in-szeged-could-start-in-the-second-half-of-2025/https://www.electrive.com/2024/02/06/byd-plans-to-o...

18/07/2024

The 34th International Truck and Motorcycle Gathering in Szeged starts tomorrow

The 34th International Truck and Motorcycle Gathering will kick off in Szeged tomorrow. The two-day event will take place from July 19 to 21, 2024. Besides the traditional truck and motorcycle parade in Szeged, the event at Sziksósfürdő will feature exhibitors, skill competitions, various contests, concerts, and musical entertainment.

Program:

July 19, 2024

- 8:00 AM: Gates Open
- 12:00 PM: Opening Ceremony
- 2:00 PM: Fun Competitions
- 6:00 PM: Truck and Motorcycle Parade
- 9:30 PM: Jump Rock Band Concert
- 11:00 PM: Fire Juggling Show
- 11:15 PM: Disco

July 20, 2024

- 8:00 AM: Musical Wake-Up
- 10:00 AM: Truck Off-Road Skill Competition
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Singing Competition
- 1:00 PM: Beer Drinking Competition
- 2:00 PM: Spectacular Truck and Motorcycle Washing
- 2:30 PM: Truck Pulling Competition
- 3:00 PM: Tire Rolling Competition
- 3:30 PM: Tug of War
- 4:00 PM: Arm Wrestling Competition
- 5:00 PM: Engine Block Throwing Competition
- 5:20 PM: Devil’s Cart Competition
- 5:40 PM: Motorcycle Sound Competition
- 6:00 PM: Raffle
- 7:00 PM: Awards Ceremony
- 8:00 PM: Velorex GT Concert
- 11:00 PM: Disco

(Official page of the Nemzetközi Kamionos és Motoros Találkozó Szeged)

Photo: Yvette Frank

18/07/2024

Mórahalom receives spa town certification again

Mórahalom has once again been awarded the spa town certification, announced the mayor of the small town in Csongrád-Csanád County on Thursday.

At a press conference, Zoltán Nógrádi (Fidesz-KDNP) stated that the town first received the spa town certification in 2016, and this year, it renewed the status with nearly maximum points from the Budapest Capital Government Office, which oversees the official duties. He added that with this recognition, the small town is now one of the 32 Hungarian areas providing exceptionally high-quality care and services.

During the detailed and comprehensive certification process, not only were the services of the sixty-year-old Szent Erzsébet Mórahalmi Gyógyfürdő (Saint Elizabeth Mórahalom Spa) evaluated, but also the town's other medical services, the infrastructure available for relaxation, and the green spaces in the small town, according to the mayor.

He described the certification as an inventory of the town's condition and the available tourism services.

Nógrádi emphasized that tourism plays a crucial role in the economy of the town with a population of six thousand. After business tax, tourism tax represents the largest revenue for the municipality. Tourism, through the spa, hotels, private accommodations, and hospitality venues, provides livelihood for about five hundred employees.

In 2022, visitors spent 134,000 guest nights in Mórahalom, and last year, 132,000 guest nights. These figures exceed those from the pre-pandemic year of 2019, the mayor reported.

Zoltán Nógrádi announced that the municipality is providing HUF 600 million in support for the energy modernization of the spa. The developments will involve pumps, air mixers, the heating system, and UV treatment units.

The resources freed up by the modernization can be used to improve guests' comfort, he added.

(MTI)

Photo: Yvette Frank

18/07/2024

International Trombone Festival to be held in Szeged

In addition to concerts, the international trombone festival organized by the Szeged Trombone Ensemble will feature masterclasses, chamber music sessions, and an instrument exhibition, with the participation of renowned foreign guest artists. The festival begins on Thursday in Szeged, as announced by the organizers to MTI.

The Szeged Trombone Ensemble (SETREN) was formed in 2006 from the most talented trombonists of the University of Szeged’s (SZTE) Faculty of Music, under the leadership of then-trombone professor and international soloist, György Gyivicsán. The ensemble quickly outgrew the walls of their alma mater, with members securing positions in leading orchestras in Hungary, Europe, and around the world after graduation. Despite their global success, their love for chamber music continues to unite the eight musicians.

This unique formation is a constant presence in the Hungarian music scene and regularly performs at prestigious international festivals. They have released six albums, and their extensive repertoire is available on digital platforms.

In the summer of 2022, the ensemble organized its first international trombone festival, SETRENfest, aiming to bring together the most talented young trombonists from various nations. Participants could further develop their instrumental skills in a professionally intensive yet friendly atmosphere. Students attend masterclasses, chamber music sessions, professional discussions, and lectures, and they have the opportunity to try out professional trombones at instrument exhibitions.

This year’s festival will feature courses by composer Christian Sprenger, professor at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Weimar; Jürgen Oswald, bass trombonist of the Berlin Staatskapelle and professor at the Hans Eisler University in Berlin; György Gyivicsán, professor at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music; and members of the Szeged Trombone Ensemble.

The public can meet the festival participants at evening concerts held at the Bartók Béla Faculty of Arts at SZTE. The opening concert on Thursday will feature the Szeged Trombone Ensemble quartet, performing orchestral arrangements, works written for trombone quartet, and a unique piece with electronic accompaniment. On Friday, the festival’s guest professors and the Szeged Trombone Ensemble members will present a musically diverse concert. Saturday evening will see a special trombone flash mob at Dugonics Square, and on Sunday, the host ensemble and guest artists will perform a joint concert, offering the audience a musical journey across various genres.

(MTI)

17/07/2024

The Puppet Theater Festival will be organised in Szeged

This weekend in Szeged, visitors can enjoy a wide range of puppet shows, concerts, and interactive games as Kövér Béla Puppet Theater hosts the SZINkópé Festival once again.

During a press conference on Monday, Director Ágnes Kiss announced that the festival will kick off on Friday evening with a mood-setting giant puppet street parade starting from Roosevelt Square. The parade will feature the puppet theater's popular giant puppets, including the carp, the mayfly, the seagull, and the Szeged bass boat, as well as monochrome puppets themed around the Tisza River.

The family- and child-friendly, environmentally-conscious festival will be held in the shady Újszeged grove. Many Szeged institutions and civil groups will be introduced along the grove’s promenade, such as the Motiváció workshop, the Alsóváros Heritage House, the Somogyi Library, and the Szeged Zoo. The puppet theater's paper canoe installation, showcasing the history of the institution through photographs, will also be on display.

The promenade will feature attractions for various age groups, including Kádár Ferkó's Photo Theater, the Kabóca Puppet Theater's "Lift it Up!" crane game, and the Szeged Puppet Theater's own developed play area, the Port Ciggedin commercial port, which commemorates the period when salt and grain transport barges played a significant role in the city’s economic life on the Tisza River.

On Saturday and Sunday, performances will run continuously from 10 AM on two stages set up opposite each other. In addition to guest productions, the program includes the theater's puppet concert featuring songs from past and current repertoire pieces. On the promenade, visitors can see performances by the SkálaKópé band, the Dodók procession, and the Langaléta Garabonciások, as well as the unique bike organ, where the audience can choose from a selection of musical poems.

Each day’s program will conclude with an early evening concert: on Saturday, the Rutkai Bori Band will perform, and on Sunday, the Kiskalász band will take the stage.

(MTI)

Photo: Yvette Frank

16/07/2024

BYD's water pipeline construction work begins on Budapesti Road in Szeged

As of yesterday, water pipeline construction work related to building a main pipeline to supply the BYD electric car manufacturing plant has commenced on Budapesti Road in Szeged. It is expected to last for approximately two weeks.

During the construction, expect partial road closures and traffic diversions. Traffic heading from Szeged towards Budapest will proceed in a single lane with speed restrictions, while the lane heading into Szeged will be closed.

Vehicles traveling from Budapest towards Szeged will be diverted from the roundabout closer to the M43 motorway via Back Bernát Street and Wimmer Fülöp Street.

Public transportation will also be affected by the diversion, with a bus stop temporarily relocated from Budapesti Road to Back Bernát Street.

No planned water shortages are expected in connection with the pipeline construction. The work is being carried out by Szegedi Vízmű Zrt. and is scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2024, after which the usual traffic conditions will be restored on the affected road section.

Signage placed for the duration of the construction will assist with traffic management.

(Szegedi Vízmű Zrt., Szegedi Nap)

Photo: Frank Yvette

15/07/2024

Unique bicycles and flowers decorate Bihari Street in Szeged

Unique bicycles and flowers decorate Bihari Street in Szeged. A couple living in one of the apartment buildings is beautifying their surroundings with unique and eye-catching solutions.

The couple lived in a house with a garden for many years. Still, ever since moving to the apartment on Bihari Street, they have carefully ensured their environment is as friendly as possible.

They planted flowers, restored and painted old bicycles, buckets, watering cans, chairs, and a bench, and decorated them with more and more plants.

Passersby undoubtedly smile when they see the meeting of past and present.

Photo: Yvette Frank