Bohemian Forest Rallye Chodsko Folk Festival Chodsko Folk Festival Liberation Festival Pilsen A lively region Historic weekend Pilsen Pilsen The Chodsko folk festival and St. Lawrence’s funfair is one of the most renowned festivals in the Czech Republic and the greatest ethnographic folklore event. Every step you take you’ll encounter local people in festive folk costumes, the famous Chodsko kolache and other delicacies smell good all over the place, bagpipers play from morning to evening, dancing ensembles dance the Chodsko circle, dexterous craftsmen demonstrate their skills in the streets, and crowds of people enjoy the beautiful, unrepeatable atmosphere. Blacksmiths from all around the republic meet in the Plzeň region every year on a regular basis – namely in Dobřív in the Rokycany region. The “Hammer Works Day” takes place at Dobřív’s water-powered forge, which is a unique technical monument. Plzeň’s ITEP, one of the Czech greatest tourism trade fairs, attracts lovers of travelling. Beer flows at beer festivals, the biggest of which is a beer celebration called Pilsner Fest at the Pilsner Urquell brewery. Beer barrels are rolled out every year at the Chodovar family brewery in Chodová Planá in the Tachov region. This is in fact the European championship in this unorthodox event. Representatives of craft breweries from all around the republic get together at the “Sun in Glass” festival in Černice. You can ride on a period train pulled by a steam locomotive during one of the events of “Bezdružice’s steam summer”. The Liberation Festival Plzeň is a spectacular celebration of the liberation by the US Army. The presence of American and Belgian war veterans is a great honour for the local people. Hundreds of military vehicles drive through the city, while thousands of people wave to the Convoy of Liberty. Funfairs, rural festivals, carnivals and craft fairs happen all around the region. A number of events take place in museums, at castles and châteaux and other sights. Our tip: Chodsko folk festival and St. Lawrence’s funfair Come to Domažlice in August for the greatest folklore festival. The Chodsko folk festival and St. Lawrence’s funfair has already been taking place for decades. It not only hosts the most eminent folklore ensembles and bagpipers from Chodsko, but from all around the Czech Republic and from abroad. For the whole weekend the town also comes alive with a huge craft fair where you can buy delicious Chodsko kolache, the well-known Chodsko ceramics, and other craft products. More at www.chodskeslavnosti.cz. i map menu www Pilgrimage journey of Virgin Mary, Klatovy