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Where to Find the Best Festivals and Events in Budapest
In Budapest, there are celebrations all year. But when winter is over, the major celebrations start up! The fun commences with the Mangalica Festival at the beginning of February and continues until the Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival in October. And don’t forget Christmas events in the winter. Drop your bags off at a nearby luggage storage spot first so that you can enjoy the festival experience without having to carry heavy bags.
February
Mangalica Festival
The first weekend in February, the city feasts on Mangalica (pig) at the Mangalica festival and invites everyone to indulge. Enjoy sausage and other cuts of meat as well as pálinka, which is a Hungarian drink made from fruit. They also have beer and wine, but the Mangalica meat is the main star.
The Busójárás Festival
The Busójárás Festival is a celebration to scare winter away. It lasts six days, starting at the end of February as men dress up in fur coats and cowbells, wearing scary masks. It is a pretty rowdy celebration with a lot of alcohol, food, and music. The only thing the festival lacks is rules. There are none, as it is similar to Mardi Gras.
March
Szentendre Spring Festival
At the beginning of March, the Szentendre Spring Festival starts with concerts, theater productions, and outdoor films. It is located along the banks of the Danube River in the small town of Szentendre, but it is spread all over in different venues and museums.
The Pancake Festival
The Pancake Festival is found next to the Allee Shopping Mall. The fun is a few days of eating, with over 100 kinds of pancakes. You’ll find stuffed, sour, sweet, deep-fried, and many more styles of pancakes to enjoy during this sweet celebration.
Chocolate Festival
In the middle of March, you can continue the sweet celebration with the Chocolate Festival in the Buda Castle. They boast children’s programs, a chocolate eating contest, music, and, of course, a castle with a lake.
April
Budapest Spring Festival
Starting with a children’s film festival at the National Dance Theater, the Budapest Spring Festival lasts from the beginning of April until the end of April. It is a must-see, featuring different art forms such as theater, film, and dance.
Easter Festival
Easter weekend is special in Hollókő, Hungary with their Easter Festival. This is the oldest folk festival held in Hungary and includes dancing, theater, singing, and lots of food. It is child-friendly and they have a lot of games for all, including egg decorating and other crafts.
Budapest Dance Festival
At the end of April, this dance festival inspires fun for all with street dancing, folk, and ballet. They host different dance organizations all over the globe to different venues all around the city. Enjoy free entertainment as well as ticketed performances.
May
Paprika Festival
Do you like paprika? Hungarians love it so much they celebrate a Paprika Festival the last weekend of May. With dancing, cooking competitions, wine tastings, and live music, this awesome party in Kalocsa is worth the trip. You don’t even have to like paprika to have a blast.
June
Budapest Summer Festival
Possibly the largest celebration in the city, the Budapest Summer Festival lasts all summer. Beginning in June and ending in August, one can head to Margaret Island for music, performances, and tons of food and drinks.
Szeged Summer Festival
Enjoy another summer fest that goes from June through August. This one is in Szeged and features rock, opera, theater, and ballet. Other exciting events during the festival include live music performances, games, food, and drinking.
Danube Carnival
On Margaret Island’s open-air stage around the beginning of June, the Hungarians spend a week celebrating folk dance. Vibrantly colored dancers and other artists will entertain you with their antics and festivities. The Danube Carnival parade starts a week of fun.
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Buda Beer Festival
If you like beer, head to the Buda Castle Beer Festival in the middle of June. They boast over 200 different beers from the well-known to the startups. Every year a new brew company is featured. The four-day festival is full of fun and entertainment.
July
Bull’s Blood Festival
The second weekend of July is all about the Bull’s Blood Festival. In case you didn’t know, bull’s blood is a high-quality Hungarian wine. Enjoy food made by the best chefs, and live music as well as DJs. Dancing and having a good time are mandatory. They even have a car show and a petting zoo for the kids.
Balaton Sound Lake Festival
In mid-July, you can enjoy a lakeside electronic music festival by Balaton Sound on Lake Balaton. It is the largest lake party in the country and features nine stages of music as well as drinks, carnival rides, dancing, swimming, and much more.
Outdoor Festival at the Pécs Art Theater
Enjoy the Outdoor Festival at the Pécs Art Theater from the end of June until August. Performances by the Mecsek Folk Dance Ensemble, as well as other artists, will be running all summer. From dancing to theater performances, they will entertain you no matter what you enjoy.
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August
Sziget Festival
The Sziget Festival is the largest music and cultural festival in Europe and is held the first week of August every year on Old Buda Island. They boast over a thousand performances every year, with a venue similar to Woodstock. The music is typically rock, punk, pop, and metal.
Festival of Folk Arts
The Festival of Folk Arts at the end of August at Buda Castle is a huge celebration. For three days you can peruse craft booths and learn how to make your own crafts. Take part in weaving, carving, and painting classes as well as dancing, dining, and drinking.
September
Budapest Wine Festival
If you like wine, head to the Buda Castle the first weekend in September for the Budapest Wine Festival. Just buy one glass and you can get refills all weekend long for free. Enjoy Hungarian snack foods, a parade, dancing, and music as well.
October
Palinka and Sausage Festival
The Hungarian brandy, palinka, pairs well with sausage, and Castle Hill locals enjoy it so much they celebrate for three days at the beginning of October. Join friendly foodies for food, fun, and frolicking at Buda Castle with warm meat and cold drinks at the Palinka and Sausage Festival.
Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival
From the beginning of October until the middle of October, the Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival features jazz, poetry, and other fine arts. The festival will have venues all over the city to enjoy from the Palace of Arts to the Ballina Whale.
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November and December
Christmas Fair
The entire city of Budapest celebrates Christmas with a Christmas Fair from November until early January. The tradition starts at St. Stephen’s Basilica in late November where you’ll find market booths with awesome toys, crafts, and food. And plenty to drink. They even have an ice-skating rink. You can find more festivals and events all over and around Budapest year-round. Unfortunately, we cannot list them all here. But we have listed our favourites as well as the most popular ones on the internet. Enjoy!
Sourceshttps://www.triptobudapest.hu/blog/festival-recommendations-march-2019/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/budapests-best-festivals/index.htmlhttps://btf.hu/videos/trailerhttps://www.ricksteves.com/europe/hungary/festivalshttps://www.budapestbylocals.com/event/budapest-summer-festival/https://traveltriangle.com/blog/festivals-in-hungary/