Hungary prepares for Europe’s largest fireworks display on 20 August in Budapest – Here are the details
More spectacular than ever is the promise from officials regarding the fireworks display on 20 August in Budapest. Hungary will celebrate the founding of the state by St Stephen five days later, with many anticipating “Europe’s largest fireworks”. Despite potential costs exceeding last year’s record, the Orbán administration remains committed to providing affordable beer and festivities, even amid significant state budget deficits.
Spectacular fireworks on 20 August in Budapest
According to a statement from the event’s organisers shared by turizmus.com, the 20 August fireworks on the River Danube in Budapest will be more spectacular than ever and the grandest in Europe. The organisers are set to use a range of pyrotechnic elements, including fireworks mortars, grapeshot, Roman candles, Greek fire, spark fountains, and flame effects.
Concerning numbers, there will be 29,000 pyrotechnic products, approximately 500 launch points, nine river barges, and 65 pontoons. The Liberty, Elizabeth, and Margaret Bridges will all feature in the display. Over 45,000 individual pyrotechnic effects will be included, with the spectacle stretching 5 kilometres between the Petőfi Bridge and Margaret Island. Additionally, a drone show with light projections is planned.
The organisers promised that guests will enjoy a nearly identical visual experience regardless of where they stand in the 5-kilometre-long spectacle area.
Drone show, light show, old shepherd
The drone show will feature 1,300 unmanned aerial vehicles depicting significant symbols of Hungarian history. A well-known traditional Hungarian folk character, “the old shepherd”, will narrate the story, covering the Miracle Deer, Attila the Hun, Prince Csaba, the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin, and King St Stephen, founder of the Christian, medieval Hungarian Kingdom.
The show’s music will feature works by Hungary’s well-known composers like Ferenc Liszt and Zoltán Kodály.
High costs expected
Details on the costs have not been disclosed by the organisers. However, index.hu reported in July that expenses are expected to exceed those of 2023. This year’s total costs for the St Stephen’s Day festivities might surpass HUF 15 billion (EUR 38 million), which likely includes the cost of the affordable beer mentioned in THIS article.
In 2023, the fireworks alone cost HUF 1.4 billion, with an additional HUF 10 billion required for the overall festivities. In 2022, the total expenditure was around HUF 10.3 billion. Several Hungarian cities chose not to hold 20 August fireworks in 2023 to save costs.
Hungary’s state budget is grappling with numerous challenges. Industrial output is declining while consumption remains low, resulting in tax revenues falling short of projections. Additionally, Hungary has not received EUR 20 billion in EU funding due to rule-of-law concerns, which may explain the country’s recent borrowing from China.
Read also:
- Will fireworks be banned in the city centre of Budapest? – read about a January opposition initiative in THIS article
- PHOTOS, VIDEOS: The 20 August 2023 air show and fireworks in Budapest
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