5+1 groovy programmes on the Night of Museums

This year marks the 22nd edition of the Night of Museums, with hundreds of venues across Hungary participating in the festivities. On 22 June, more than 400 institutions will open their doors to visitors, offering over 2,500 events.

The 22nd Night of Museums on the 22nd of June

Anyone who has seen *Night at the Museum* will recall the scenes where the night guard, played by Ben Stiller, discovers on his first day that when the sun sets, the exhibits come to life. Dinosaur skeletons roam the halls, miniature figures engage in battles, and cavemen learn to use fire extinguishers. While you probably won’t see anything quite like that at this year’s Night of Museums, there’s still plenty to get excited about, with a variety of activities to entertain both young and old.

As reported by DNH, the Night of Museums will take place on 22 June. This year’s highlighted city is Székesfehérvár, where museums and public collections are preparing a host of exciting events. Here, we’ve gathered some of the programmes taking place in Budapest to get our readers in the mood for an evening of fun.

Photo: facebook.com/muzeumokejszakaja

1. From Bonfires to Online Witchcraft – Exhibition at the Budapest Gallery

The Budapest Gallery offers a unique insight into the history of witches and witchcraft in a temporary exhibition. Visitors can learn about everything from historical witch hunts to modern occultism on social media, reinterpreting the witch as a symbol of non-canonical knowledge, non-institutionalised healing practices, and as a pioneering figure of feminism who often defied social norms and supported other women.

2. Bookbinding Workshop at Eötvös Loránd University

The University Library and Archives of Eötvös Loránd University invite those with a creative flair to join a bookbinding workshop, where participants can make their own hand-covered booklets. From 3 p.m. until midnight, both children and adults are welcome to participate in this special guided event at the library.

3. Bollywood dances at the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asiatic Arts

If you are fascinated by the rich and colourful culture of India, don’t miss the events organised by the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Asiatic Arts. We recommend two short sessions that promise to be memorable experiences for all.

From 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., professional dancer Aniruddha Das will perform a classical Indian dance known as Odissi. And from 8:00 to 8:15, Sapna Srivastava will showcase dances from Bollywood movies.

4. Guided Tour of the National Széchényi Library

For those interested in the history of the National Széchényi Library, the English-language guided tour will be a great pick during the Night of Museums. The one-hour-long walks starting at six different timeslots (from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.) will allow visitors to learn about the past of the library and discover sections of the building that still remind us of its past life as a royal palace.

National Széchenyi Library
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / V.Mariann

5. Munkácsy exhibition at the Hungarian National Gallery

The National Gallery presents a re-arranged and expanded view of its permanent exhibition focusing on the art of Mihály Munkácsy. Entitled *Variations on Realism – From Munkácsy to Mednyánszky*, the works on display illustrate the rise and fall of Realism and Naturalism, capturing how artists depicted everyday reality in the 19th and 20th centuries.

+1: Wine tasting at the Museum of the Lutheran Church in Budapest

For those looking to conclude the Night of Museums with a delightful experience, the Winery of Rádapuszta offers a wine-tasting session in the Museum of the Lutheran Church’s basement from 11 p.m. to midnight.

However, this is just a sneak peek of the events happening on the Night of Museums. To explore the full range of programmes, click HERE or visit the Night of Museums website at www.muzej.hu/en.

Entry wristbands for events in Budapest can be purchased at participating museums and venues, or on jegymester.hu. An adult wristband costs HUF 3,000 (EUR 7.52) and a child’s wristband (for ages 6-18) costs HUF 1,500 (EUR 3.76). Admission for children under 6 years of age is free.

For admission information for institutions outside the capital, please contact the institutions directly.

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