Although the work is hard, the grape harvest is already a lively and merry event itself, as the community is working together in a well-defined area for a common goal. When the work is done, the workers leave the hill in a procession, and the owner of the vineyard prepares a feast, often complete with dance and music, for the “guests” who worked from early morning until late into the evening, sometimes days on end, to harvest all the ripe grapes.
Modern grape harvest festivals retain these elements: the procession, the food, and the music. Of course, you can join even if you did not participate in the harvest itself. Many regions have festivals of their own around harvest time, when tourists can try the local wines and other local foods, get familiar with local traditions, and buy local products. This is an excellent opportunity to go on a trip within Hungary and learn more about its people and history. Just do a quick search for “szüreti mulatság” (where “szüret” is the specific Hungarian word for the grape harvest, and “mulatság” stands for festival), and find an event in a region you are interested in.