Flag-raising ceremony
At 8:30am, celebrating crowds gather at Budapest’s Kossuth Square in front of Parliament to watch the nation’s tricolor symbol hoisted skywards. This solemn ritual is surrounded by high-ranking politicians delivering speeches and spectacular military processions walking through the downtown plaza to dynamic drumbeats.
Kossuth Square, 8:30am-9:30am More details
Air and water parade
The August 20th celebrations continue with a high-flying event – a soaring air and water parade is happening at the downtown section of the Danube right in front of the Parliament, featuring agile airplanes executing spectacular stunts between the Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge.
Danube area in front of Parliament, 10am-11am More details
Guided Parliament tours to the Holy Crown of Hungary
Anyone who wants to admire Hungary’s stately government palace from the inside can embark on a free guided tour that takes groups to the Parliament’s Grand Stairway, the building’s majestic Dome Hall, and all the way to the treasured Holy Crown of Hungary secured inside the neo-Gothic edifice.
Parliament House, 10am-4pm
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Holy Right Hand Procession at St. Stephen’s Basilica
Following the holy mass at St. Stephen’s Basilica, the nation’s most cherished religious relic, the embalmed holy right hand of King St. Stephen, is carried around central Budapest to commemorate the country’s founding monarch. The procession starts at the Basilica (where the relic is usually kept) and ends at Szent István Square.
St. Stephen’s Basilica, 5pm
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Street of Hungarian Flavors
As an accompanying program around the August 20th celebrations, many of the country’s traditional treats are available for sampling on Saturday and Sunday at the Street of Hungarian Flavors, a gastronomy gathering that runs along Buda’s Danube bank between Várkert Bazaar and Szilágyi Dezső Square. Local specialties proffered here include paprika-infused stuffed cabbage, ginger-flavored sausages, meals made with local fish, freshly baked bread, and even rooster-testicle stew, while the drink selection boasts such Magyar-made potables as Hungarian wines, pálinka specialties, and local beers. Visitors at this alfresco fair can also have slices of Hungary’s 2017 birthday cake or the sugar-free national cake, both debuting here on Saturday. In addition to the Magyar meals, foodies can devour a selection of Polish, Czech, and Slovakian delicacies.
Várkert Bazaar, August 19-20th beginning at 10am
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Festival of Folk Arts
Spanning August 17-20th, Buda Castle turns into a grand bazaar for handcrafted products during the Festival of Folk Arts, where hundreds of Hungarian artisans proffer finely crafted merchandise, like colorful ceramics, professionally carved wooden toys, elaborately embroidered garments, and unique accessories. Besides the Magyar masters, artists from around the world present rarities at the festival, with participating countries including Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, and Algeria. During the four-day outdoor fiesta, we can watch artisans create old-fashioned objects right in front of us, while traditionally garbed dancers whirl and twirl onstage to live folk music. The highlight of the festival is the customary bread-blessing ceremony happening in front of Matthias Church by St. Stephen’s bronze statue on August 20th at 3pm.
Buda Castle, August 17-20th, 10am-11pm
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Free museum visits
Many of Budapest’s major museums offer free entry to visitors on national holidays, including on August 20th, when permanent and temporary exhibitions are on view for no charge. Cultural establishments with complimentary entry on St. Stephen’s Day include the Hungarian National Museum, where a highlight is the country’s coronation mantle, and the Hungarian National Gallery in Buda Castle that displays plenty of pictures from the Magyars’ revered Mihály Munkácsy to Picasso. Those who want to see relics of Hungarian folk art are pointed to the Museum of Ethnography opposite from Parliament, while contemporary art lovers can discover a collection of temporary exhibitions at the Ludwig Museum free of charge on Sunday.
Free jazz concerts at the Palace of Arts
Every August 20th, this contemporary venue towering above the riverfront honors St. Stephen and the foundation of the Magyar state with free jazz concerts happening during the celebrations in front of the Palace of Arts and inside the building. Live piano music, rhythmic guitar tunes, and harmonious saxophone sounds make bebop aficionados happy before the fireworks show, while the concert continues late into the night after the illuminating extravaganza is over.
Palace of Arts, 5pm-11pm
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Rooftop dinner parties
On St. Stephen’s Day, epicureans ascend to Budapest’s scenic rooftops as they become exclusive fireworks-watching spots during the national fiesta. Guests at Intermezzo Roof Terrace enjoy a delightful smorgasbord and unlimited consumption of Hungarian wines, while pleasant live music plays in the background (from 6:30pm; 27,900 HUF per person). Hungarian goulash soup is one of the hot stars of the night at downtown’s Araz eatery before the multicolored sparkles fall on the city (from 8pm; 9,900 HUF per person). As the freshest addition to Budapest’s soaring hangouts, the St. Andrea Wine & Skybar hosts a musical dinner party under the stars with a four-course degustation menu served with matching wines (from 6pm; 25,000 HUF per person). Meanwhile, 360 Bar throws a Secret Garden party with multiple DJs spinning discs all day long – with its all-encompassing views, the fireworks look even more vibrant when we are pleasantly inebriated after a few glasses of champagne, but guests are also offered burgers and a selection of fruits during the joyful jamboree (from 12pm; 4,500 HUF per person).
Grand fireworks show over the Danube
When the sun goes down in Budapest on August 20th and stars start twinkling in the dark, high-spirited music resonates across the river as the Hungarian capital presents the country’s biggest national blast with multicolored fireworks painting the sky over the city. Pyrotechnics are launched from multiple locations along the downtown waterway between the Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge, and some of the best vantage points include riverfront sections on both sides of the Danube, but the Fishermen’s Bastion, Buda Castle’s panoramic terrace, the top of the Castle Hill funicular, and Margaret Bridge are equally well-positioned locations to enjoy the parade. As the sparking sensation blasts across the sky, matching music makes the illumination seem like a dancing attraction.
Danube Promenade, 9pm-9:30pm
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