August 20th is considered the feast day for King Saint Stephen (“István” in Hungarian), the Magyar leader born to a family of pagan tribal chiefs, who became a devout Christian and established Hungary as a European nation in the year 1000; he is still widely revered today with statues depicting him across the country, along with many streets, squares, and Budapest’s Basilica all named in his honor.
In 2015, the August 20th celebrations begin with the raising of the Hungarian flag in Kossuth Square, continuing with an open day at the Parliament House, and many other programs. There will be a cake-cutting ceremony, as it has now become a tradition to select an official cake for Hungary on August 20th – visitors to the “Street of Hungarian Flavors” on the Danube embankment below the Royal Palace can enjoy a slice. Celebrations continue with many other programs – here is our detailed list:8.30am - 8.50am: raising of the Hungarian flag at Kossuth Square Each year, the festival starts with this solemn ceremony held before the Parliament House, surrounded by high-ranking Hungarian politicians and military officers in a premier display of national pride.
10am - 6pm: open day at the Parliament Visitors can tour Hungary’s magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament House without preliminary registration and free of charge. Last entry: 5pm.
10am - 8pm: Street of Hungarian Flavors at Várkert BazaarHave a taste of traditional Hungarian drinks and food! You can taste Hungary’s new bread (this year it is an all-natural spelt bread), cakes and pastries made with plum and apricot, milk loaves, scones, and other local delicacies (jams, preserves, honey, cheese).
Hungary’s Cake (caramel cake with Pannonhalmi apricot distillate) – along with the sugar-free cake and the cake of the military – will also be introduced there on August 20th for everyone to taste.
10am - 9pm: Festival of Folk Arts at Buda’s Castle District This year, the best Hungarian craftspeople will move in to the Buda Castle for the 29th time. At the Festival of Folk Arts during August 20th and 23rd, the focus will be on the life of shepherds. The main goal of the festival has remained the same for nearly three decades: to present very rare but still active Hungarian crafts that exist thanks to creative minds and hardworking people from the past.
2pm - 10pm: Lick The Click! Fireworks Edition at A38 Ship Held on the open-air deck of Budapest’s biggest party boat, every Lick The Click! is like chili-flavored ice-cream: hot and cool at the same time, with punk-funk, dubby disco, acid and other rarities. This time, it'll be even more special as you can both party, sip on cocktails, and enjoy the sparkling show at the sky.
2.30pm:
Blessing of the Bread and Harvest Procession at Buda’s Castle District The blessing of the new bread and a harvest procession starts at Szent György Square in the Buda Castle, and ends at the statue of St. Stephen at Fishermen’s Bastion with the blessing of the new bread.
5pm - 11pm: Jazz 0820 at Palace Of Arts (MüPa) On every August 20th since it opened, MüPa has toasted both the foundation of the Hungarian state and the start of the new season with jazz music. Its indoor and outdoor spaces traditionally resound with the styles of jazz that remain popular with every age group, and there will be no exception this year. This year’s list of performers include the István Gyárfás Trio, the Pecek Lakatos Trio, Attila Suba’s SoulFool Band, the SoulFool Choir, and Police Big Band.
5pm: Procession of St. Stephen’s Holy Right Hand at St. Stephen’s Basilica Miraculous powers were attributed to the holy right hand of King Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian state, so it was detached from his body to become the nation’s most precious religious relic – and every year, it’s carried around the capital.
The procession will start from the Basilica (where the relic is kept) and will end at Szent István Square.
6pm - 10pm: Ricsárdgír, Bohemian Betyars at KobuciThe best Hungarian art-punk squad, Ricsárdgír, will unleash waves of musical madness on this very special night. Their partners in crime will be the Hungarian Gogol Bordello, aka the kings of Gypsy punk: Bohemian Betyars. Happiness and joy!
9pm: Fireworks over the Danube River Soon after sunset, the skies above Budapest light up with the country’s biggest annual pyrotechnics extravaganza, as booming music is played all along the riverfront. Fireworks are launched from multiple points along the downtown waterway, so it is possible to enjoy the show from varied vantage points, from the Danube Promenade to the grounds of Parliament to Gellért Hill.
