Vizovice to Host Trnkobraní Plum Brandy Festival with a Dumpling-Eating Record on the Line

From Friday, August 21, to Sunday, August 23, the Czech town of Vizovice will host the 57th Trnkobraní festival — a three-day celebration of music, plums and local traditions dedicated to the sloe (blackthorn) harvest. As always, the festivities will take place on the grounds of the Rudolf Jelínek distillery.

The festival brings together stars of the Czech and Slovak music scene across two stages, complemented by a theatre stage and a children's corner — the organizers describe the event as family-friendly entertainment. Guests can book paid camping with security, lighting, a round-the-clock reception, hot showers and phone-charging facilities.

A Star Lineup and Wallachian Flavour

This year's headliners include Olympic, Tři sestry, No Name, René Danek, Xindl X, Support Lesbiens, Premiér, Vlasta Redl, as well as the local band Fleret with Zuzana Šulaková. The music will be paired with a program steeped in Wallachian tradition: a "Carry the Sloe to the Clouds" contest, tasting of frgál pastries (a local speciality), a beer-pouring school, tours of the distillery and orchards, plum-brandy tastings, and even a virtual-reality attraction letting guests experience life "in the skin" of a sloe berry. Kids will have games and film screenings, while the festival grounds will also showcase rescue-service vehicles and equipment.

Beyond the main gates, visitors can enjoy rides on the "Trnkovláček" mini-train and "Trnkobus" shuttle, browse a craft fair, visit a petting mini-farm, join folk-tradition workshops where they can shape their own Vizovice biscuits or dried-plum figures, and take a themed tour exploring local moonshine-making traditions. Vizovice Castle will host its own "Castle Night," restaurants will serve plum-based dishes, and the Glass Atelier Morava glassblowing studio along with the company Koma Modular will open their doors to visitors — including the famous exhibition pavilion from Milan's EXPO. On Saturday and Sunday, an extra night bus will run between Vizovice and Zlín.

The Battle for the Dumpling-Eating Record

One of the festival's biggest draws is the open plum-dumpling eating contest, taking place this year on Sunday at 1:30 pm on the main stage. The Vizovice tradition dates back to 1972 and reliably draws media attention. Both spectators and festival performers take part in the competition.

For a long time, the Czech record belonged to Kamil Hamerský from Vír, who ate 191 dumplings in 2003. In 2018 he was overtaken by Radim Dvořáček from Ostrava, who managed 202 dumplings, and in 2024 Dvořáček broke his own record yet again, downing an astonishing 228 plum dumplings in an hour. The absolute world record, however, is held by American Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 233 dumplings in 2008. Radim Dvořáček, already a six-time champion of the contest, will step up to the plate once more this year in an attempt to outdo himself.

On the grounds of the Rudolf Jelínek distillery, visitors can also tour the distillery itself and the plum-brandy museum, with additional excursions, a craft fair and folk-craft workshops on offer.

Tickets and Prices

Tickets for Trnkobraní are sold on site: a full pass for all three days costs 1,300 CZK, Friday-only entry is 800 CZK, Saturday entry is 900 CZK, and Sunday admission is free. Discounts are available for children of various ages, pensioners and people with disabilities.

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Source: kudyznudy.cz