Half of Budapest’s downtown will be closed for another week, fireworks will be held on Saturday

As OMSZ suggested, the fireworks on 20 August were cancelled. However, it will be held a week later, this Saturday, 27 August at 9 p.m. Therefore, the traffic restrictions will remain in effect for another week and a half in Budapest. 

OMSZ suggested postponing the fireworks

On 20 August, the main spectacle of Hungary’s national holiday had to be postponed. Due to the bad weather, OMSZ suggested to the government that the fireworks should be cancelled. At noon, the operative board discussed the matter at their sitting and decided to call off the main event. However, the weather forecast did not come true and the government fired the meteorological service leaders. The original forecast of the OMSZ was a 75-80 percent probability for a rainstorm by 9 pm on 20 August. But they said there was a 20-25 percent chance for no rain. Based on the data, the operative board postponed the fireworks for this Saturday in Budapest. However, there was no rain. The chairwoman, Dr Kornélia Radics, and the professional vice-chair, Gyula Horváth, of the Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) had to resign with immediate effect.

Read alsoWhy is 20 August Hungary’s national holiday? Here is what we celebrate

Fireworks will be held on 27 August

As the net cost of the fireworks is HUF 1.3 billion (EUR 3,175,937.46), the government did not want to cancel the spectacular show altogether. Now the fireworks will be held on 27 August at 9 p.m.- writes hvg.hu. According to Telex, there was no procession either. Instead, they held a musical prayer hour. Moreover, the mass scheduled for 5 p.m. in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica was held in the church, but they broadcasted it on projectors.