WALLINGFORD — The Hungarian Community Club is beginning to hold events again after a year of cancellations.

In memory of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence, 1848-49, the club is holding an event on Sunday at the club, 147 Ward St. The program will include a special performer from Budapest, Hungarian folk songs and other cultural displays. Peter Nagy, an official with the Consulate General of Hungary in New York, is also expected to attend.

The program will be the first major event since the pandemic started.

“We’ve had nothing really,” said Csilla Somogyi, a club board member. “We had a food drive around Christmas and instead of our annual festival, there were four different meals that could be picked up. Everything had to be modified but it went well.”

Following the Sunday event, the club will be selling traditional Hungarian meals to be picked up. The meals include fresh sausage and stuffed cabbage. Orders are accepted until March 22 and pick up is on March 27 between 12 and 3 p.m.

Club members are excited to resume events.

“This is really our home away from home,” said Barbara Kapi, another board member. “We are intensely proud, with many reasons to be. The major focuses of the club has always been family, faith, food and especially education.”

Kapi’s father was one of the founders of the Hungarian Club. People that spoke the same language and shared the same history could gather at the club and celebrate together.

“Before the pandemic, we had dances, luncheons for the members, picnics that eventually became festivals and folk dancers performing,” Kapi said.

Although they have not been able to use the club, they still have to pay bills. The pandemic also stopped the income the club received from renting the hall.

“COVID put an end to our events,” said board member Balazs Somogyi. “With things opening back up, we can hope for some normalcy. Our members can hardly wait.”

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