Browse the best festive programmes in Budapest for 20 August!

On St Stephen’s Day this year, the celebration of the founding of the state, there will be fantastic and special events all over the country. Travelo has put together the best events, concerts, shows and gastronomic fairs in the capital over four days.

We have written an article in which we list five of the best places to celebrate 20 August around Lake Balaton. We have also reported on a series of programmes to participate in over the weekend. In this article, you can find the best festive programmes that will take place in the Hungarian capital. Take your picks and have a wonderful weekend!

The beginning of the festivities

The festivities will begin with a close combat demonstration by the special forces, military police and artillery, and a concert by the military orchestra on Kapisztrán Square. There will be a festive parade from the beginning of Andrássy Avenue to Heroes’ Square, and a St Stephen’s Day Parade, Flag Raising and Officer Inauguration on Kossuth Square.

On the Antall József quay, you can admire the unique Pannonia Ship, built in 1927, which evokes the peaceful times of Danube navigation.

Bread offering and the Cake of the Country

The Hungarian Street of Tastes will be one of the most visited gastronomic events of the year at the Várkert Bazaar, where the Cake of the Country will be presented alongside the St Stephen’s Day Bread. And for street food lovers, there will be the Food Truck Show. The cake of the country in 2022 is the “Huncut Szilva Herceg” (Naughty Plum Prince), the sugar-free cake of the country is called “Nagyi Kedvence” (Grandma’s Favourite).

Festival of Crafts (Mesterségek Ünnepe)

The country’s largest folk art festival is held in Buda Castle with the participation of around a thousand local and foreign craftsmen and -women. This year’s guest of honour will be South Korea, and the festival will focus on crafts related to woodcraft, Travelo reports.

During the Festival of Crafts, the youngest visitors can enjoy children’s activities, folk children’s games and old-time folk games, while adults can enjoy a fashion show, dance hall and folk pub in the civic area of Buda Castle, along the Tóth Árpád promenade, Táncsics Mihály and Tárnok streets and through Szentháromság Square to Dísz Square.

Retro Tabán Festival

The Retro Tabán opens on 18 August and runs until 21 August. It builds on the highly successful and well-attended Tabán Festival.

There will be an exciting musical treat at Tabán, a venue with a decades-long pop-rock tradition. The bands that play here have enjoyed unbroken popularity since the beginning of their careers.