Goose & Duck Feast in Slovenský Grob 2024-2025, Slovakia

Autumn in Slovakia marks the start of goose and duck season, as the entire country comes together to celebrate traditional cooking customs. The small village of Slovenský Grob, near Bratislava, is renowned for its talented goose breeders dedicated to this craft. Each year, the village hosts the annual Goose & Duck Feast, inviting everyone to partake in the festivities. From September to November, southwestern Slovakia features these feasts, which are reminiscent of Thanksgiving in the USA, as families gather to celebrate the end of the harvest season.

Traditional Food

Slovaks eagerly anticipate the Goose Feast season each year, delighting in golden-roasted goose, goose liver, and delicious homemade ‘lokše.’ The meal typically begins with foie gras, served alongside home-baked bread. Its mild sweetness pairs well with a fresh sweet wine that has high sugar content and balanced acidity. Traditionally, the roasted goose is accompanied by potato pancakes known as Grobské lokše.

Festivities

At the feast, visitors can enjoy roasted goose, new homemade wine, live folk music, and traditional dances. The event showcases Slovak folklore, featuring traditional costumes, performances, and locally made souvenirs. Family-run businesses in villages like Slovenský Grob, Svätý Jur, and Limbach also participate. Additionally, many Bratislava restaurants host special events with goose and duck feasts available for order, making this culinary tradition accessible to more people.

Schedule

The feast normally begins on the last weekend of August and continues well into December. September–November is the most popular time. Along with tourists, the festivities gather local gourmets. They come both on weekends and weekdays—in the evening after work.

History of the Goose Feast

Traditionally, people ate goose on St. Martin’s Day, celebrated on November 11, in honor of St. Martin. Legend has it that geese disturbed Martin during a sermon, leading to them being roasted as punishment. Another story claims that young Martin hid among geese to avoid being forced back to a military camp by his father, but their honking always gave him away, leading villagers to feast on the "naughty" birds. Since the early 20th century, Slovenský Grob has hosted popular goose feasts. In the past, guests visited family homes, where hosts served roast goose in the front room. This tradition brought extra income before Christmas, and over time, many of these home-hosted feasts evolved into small restaurants, preserving the custom.