The Budapest Spring Festival and the Budapest Autumn Festival are two major international music, theatre, film and art festivals. Grand opera and ballet are staged at both the Opera House and the Erkel Theatre, whereas the Operetta Theatre is the place to see and hear the operettas and musicals of Lehár, Kálmán and Ábrahám. Vibrant folk music and dancing shows are regularly held at the Buda Vigadó and Duna Palota Theatres. Festival Week of Books — first weekend in June. The Week of Books, the celebration of the new Hungarian literature was organized in almost every year since 1927 — every decent publishing house erects a stall, in the citycenter. During the event from Monday till Thursday the authors dedicate their new books, there are interviews and performances on a stage. For a foreigner it is worth to visit, as foreign publishing houses are always present. The Week of Books are going on in other parts of the city: at Vörösmarty Square, at Liszt Ferenc Square, in Ráday Street and elsewhere, as well.
Bridge Festival — It was organized first time on the 150th anniversary of the Chain Bridge in 1999. The bridge was occupied by the pedestrians all day, showpeople, orchestras, street-vendors entertained the people of Budapest at both feet of the bridge.
Summer on the Chain Bridge — The series of events are held for seven weekends on the closed Chain Bridge with cultural, entertainment programs and fun-fairs.
‘Connection’ Concert — last Sunday in June. A traditional, free of charge major pop concert sponsored by the largest Hungarian telecom company at the Ceremonial Square by the City Park. The main guest is always a first class world star.
„ Budapesti Búcsú Festival” — last weekend in June. The Hungarian name of this festival has two meanings, it cannot be translated. On the one hand, it means the carnivals held around churches on the name day of catholic saints, while it also means ‘farewell’ on the other hand, as the very first of this kind of festivals was organized for joy by the Capital that even the last occupying Russian soldier had left Hungary in 1991. There are concerts, picture shows at several points of the city.
Sziget Festival —first or second week in August. The largest annually held open-air festival of the word with several hundreds of programs on the Óbuda Island in North Budapest. A part of the several ten thousand visitor live in tents on the island. Many supporting programmes: literature, theatre, gays and lesbians, human rights, green movements etc. Budapest completely transforms during this week, the number of young tourist with back-pack is multiplied.
Festival of the Constitution — August 19-20. Many century old tradition to celebrate the end of the Summer (originally it was the celebration of ‘new bread’). Parade on the Danube, concerts on water, different monumental events, the peak of which is the firework launched from top of the Gellért Hill and from the Danube in the evening of August 20.
The ‘Celebration of Crafts’ program is also held during this weekend in the Royal Palace District, where craftsmen arrive from all over the country, and present their skills on site. (From tallow-chandler to blacksmith.)
Budapest Parade — end of August. It is one station of the great European carnival tour. Procession of trucks from the City Centre to the City Park. The special Budapest flavour is the bewilderment of the elders.
International Wine and Champaign Festival — second weekend in September. Traditional festival held in the Royal Palace District, is not only the celebration of more than 150 wines and champagnes, but a celebration of gastronomy, too. Everything can be tasted on site. Eating, music, dance, carnival. Good programme for children, too.
Jewish Festival — at the time of the Jewish New Year. Classic and word music events, book programmes near to the Great Synagogue, only partially open-air.
Budapest Marathon — first Sunday in October. The most recognized one among the many city runs. The city is filled up with healthy, athletic men and women, who travel to Budapest especially for this. The inhabitants are divided into three groups this time: to fans, to fuming ones in traffic jams, and to those who escape from here.
New Year’s Eve— December 31/January 1. One upon a time the people watched only one TV channel and on the following workday they exchanged their opinions, how lousy cabaret it was. Nowadays we have plenty of channels — and the people are rather leaving their homes. They often come together with their friends on the following day, and according to the good Hungarian tradition they eat lentil soup. Of course they hardly drink this time, as they are kept busy to remember what sort of pledge they took early in the morning.
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August 9th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Looks amazing!
Looks amazing!