30.04.2026
On Friday 1 May, the traditional May Day celebration - an event open to the general public - will take place at the Bata Villa grounds. This year, the organizers are once again focusing on sports zones and will welcome representatives from selected Zlín clubs.
“Just like last year, the program will be diverse. FC Zlín, boxers from Sad Gym, handball players from Handball Club Zlín, and runners from the Běhy Zlín club will be coming to the garden of the Baťa Villa, and the Barum Czech Rally Zlín will also be there,” revealed Jakub Malovaný, project manager at the Thomas Bata Foundation.
And it is precisely the tent of this prestigious car race that promises an extraordinary motorsports experience. Fans of fast cars will get to try out a realistic rally simulator, enjoy a themed photo booth, walk through the Barum Czech Rally Zlín history trail, and above all, look forward to an autograph session with the current top crew of Adam Březík and Zdeněk Bělák Jr.
“This year, it’s not just Tomas Bata celebrating; the Barum Czech Rally Zlín is also celebrating its 55th anniversary. Furthermore, on 1 May, we will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first-ever motorsport race in Zlín,” adds Malovaný.
The history of motorsports in Zlín began during the time of Tomas Bata. For the founder of the shoe empire, the automobile was not a luxury, but a symbol of modernity and efficiency. Bata, who was elected chairman of the Czechoslovak Automobile Club for Moravia and Silesia (ČAMS) in 1923, saw motorsports as a tool to open the city to the world.
“As early as the 1920s, Zlín became a showcase of modern lifestyle with concrete roads and systematic driver training. The first official competition then took place on 1 May 1926. It was not a speed race as we know it today, but a skills tournament. From these modest beginnings under the banner of ‘Odbočka Baťa,’ (Bata detour) a tradition grew that has endured for decades,” recalls Gabriela Končitíková, director of the Thomas Bata Foundation.
However, the May Day celebrations will certainly not overlook the 150th anniversary of Tomas Bata birth. Visitors will be able to view two exhibitions created for this exceptional occasion. The first is “The Desire to Create”- mapping the life and work of the famous entrepreneur; the second is titled “The Footsteps of Tomas Bata,” created by Jaromír 99, which uses a comic-book style to explore selected situations illustrating Bata’s thinking and reasoning.
Interesting contests will be prepared for children, while their parents can enjoy a relaxation zone and a rich food court. Bartoš’s ensemble and the band Golden Delicious will perform on stage, and visitors will also be able to view the City Module “Bata’s World.”
The May Day celebration at the Bata Villa begins at 9 a.m., with the official opening ceremony, attended by Rosemarie Blyth-Bata, scheduled for an hour later.
