ÚĽUV Craftsmen Days

Celebrating 80 Years of Living Craftsmanship

In 2025, the Centre for Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV) marks 80 years since its founding – eight decades of protecting, supporting and promoting traditional crafts in Slovakia. This important anniversary will be celebrated at the largest urban festival of crafts in Slovakia.

On 6–7 September 2025, the historic city centre of Bratislava will once again transform into a vibrant square of living traditions. Visitors can look forward to craft demonstrations, a master craft market, live performances, and the ever-popular children’s creative workshops organised by ÚĽUV’s School of Crafts, recently included in the UNESCO Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The event will also include an outdoor exhibition, a family-friendly relaxation and play zone, and gastronomy zones offering traditional Slovak food and delicacies.

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📍 Hviezdoslav Square

• Craft Fair | Sat & Sun | 10:00–18:00
  A colourful market of authentic traditional craft products from across Slovakia.

• Stage programme – “Craft in Notes”

  • Saturday | 10:30–17:15

  • Sunday | 11:30–17:00
    Folk ensembles, music and dance connected with live craft demonstrations.

• Award Ceremony – New Masters of Folk Art 2025 | Saturday | 16:00–17:15
  Official recognition of outstanding artisans, accompanied by folk music.

• Outdoor Exhibition: Celebrating Craft – 80 Years of ÚĽUV

• Food Zone: Traditional Slovak cuisine

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📍 Rybné Square

• Craft Demonstrations | Sat & Sun | 10:00–18:00
  Watch artisans at work: wool and angora processing, bell making, fujara (Slovak overtone flute), Čilejkár cap embroidery, decorated Easter eggs, oversized clay jug making, blueprint printing, blacksmithing, woodturning, reed weaving, basketry.

• Craft Clubs Presentation – Regional ÚĽUV Craft Centre Bratislava

• Food Zone

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📍 Panská Street (in front of BIBIANA)

• Children’s Craft Workshops (ÚĽUV School of Crafts) | Sat & Sun | 11:00–18:00
  Pottery wheel, cornhusk dolls, wirework, leather and textile craft, glass painting.

• Play & Relax Zone – creative activities for children and families

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Gastronomy Zones – Hviezdoslavovo & Rybné Squares

• Traditional Slovak food and regional specialties
  (e.g. bryndza dumplings, pulled noodles from Pukanec, steamed buns, chimney cakes, poppy seed pastries)
  | Sat–Sun | 10:00–18:00

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Highlights

• Over 35 years of tradition – the festival has taken place in Bratislava since 1990

• ÚĽUV’s School of Crafts is included in the UNESCO list of safeguarding practices

• More than 20 traditional crafts represented – blacksmithing, weaving, embroidery, woodcarving, basketry, lace-making, leatherwork, pottery, instrument-making and more

• Part of the Bratislava Cultural Summer

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Admission

Free of charge