Friday
noon-10pm: Mulled Wine FestivalatAllee Shopping Center
A three-day gastronomic gathering near the Allee Shopping Center in Buda brings warming mulled wine to bibulous crowds. In addition to the cinnamon-scented tipples, other alcoholic drinks include grog, punch, hot beer and pálinka specialties. Guests can also enjoy creamy hot chocolate, tea, coffee and sample select seasonal treats. The event runs through Sunday.
6:30pm- : Scent of a Woman at Bem Cinema
This 1992 American drama is about retired lieutenant colonel Frank Slade, a blind man who comes to New York to finally be able to plunge into hedonistic pleasures: great restaurants, beautiful women, limos and a luxury suite at Waldorf-Astoria. Slade is assisted by prep-school student Charlie Slimms, not suspecting that he is about to receive a life-changing lesson from his companion. The movie screens with original English audio and Hungarian subtitles.
7pm- : Péter Puklus – Life is Techno at Trafó
Born in Romania and a graduate from the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest, Péter Puklus is a young emerging artist, a pioneer of his generation who experiments with the intersection of photography, sculpture and art installation. For his upcoming exhibition at Trafó, Puklus highlights topics such as the challenges of starting a family and conflict between generations.
8pm-10pm: Felső Tízezer Acoustic, Pablo Chandez at Gólya
A pair of Hungarian ensembles shakes things up at Gólya, a ramshackle community hangout in District VIII. Power pop group Felső Tízezer take the stage for an unusual acoustic performance to present their songs from a different perspective. The same night, Pablo Chandez should get audiences moving by fusing funk, jazz, pop and grunge elements – improvisation acts during the show add unexpected turns to the jamboree.
10pm- : Neon Wave – Knight Rider at Dürer Kert
The spirit of the 1980s will be evoked at Dürer Kert, a multiple-hall music club near the City Park. A Knight Rider-themed bash creates a peculiar party atmosphere with synth-pop music of the era played amid old-school neon lights. Don your leather jackets and whatever that reminds you of David Hasselhoff to conquer the dance floor where Hungarian DJs masterfully mix vintage hits.
Saturday
10am-6pm: Winter Picnic in Etyek (about 30 kilometers from Budapest)
A wintry gathering lures people from Budapest and beyond to the nearby community of Etyek to feast on fine reds and whites and devour Hungarian hams and spicy sausages. The opening act of the 2018 seasonal picnic event is hosted alfresco and inside the cellars, where mulled wine, music and dance help to heat up the atmosphere.
10:30am-10pm: Unicorn Days at SUGAR! shop & confectionery
The colors of the rainbow shine bright over three days at Budapest’s funkiest confectionery, enticing sweet-toothed guests to enjoy sugar-coated treats newly invented for Unicorn Days. Special delicacies include multicolored shakes, vibrant hot chocolate, and jazzy cakes and lollipops, some even come in the shape of a Unicorn.
11am-3pm: Ákos Major – Order at TOBE Gallery
Graphic designer-cum-photographer Ákos Major launches his first solo exhibition at the TOBE Gallery, found in the depth of District VIII. The images span five years of the artist’s career, featuring scenes captured in nature and in urban environments. Harmony, elegant compositions and a specific color scheme define Major’s personal style.
11pm- : Josh Cheon at Larm
A prolific performer of esoteric dance music, US DJ Josh Cheon spins hits at some of the best clubs around the world from New York to London, and Ibiza to Beijing. Now you can catch his show here in Budapest, where this globally revered musician makes a one-night appearance at party haven Larm. Before Cheon starts mixing hits, Küss Mich provides the opening act, while the night culminates with shows by Crimson and Stanley Maneuver, exponents of Hungary’s hybrid house scene.
11pm- : Omoh 016- Roi Perez at Corvin Club
A resident DJ at the Panorama Bar at Berlin’s legendarily select Berghain, Israeli Roi Perez now hits Budapest to perform eclectic sets at the Corvin Club, where audiences can throw themselves on a dynamic musical journey through varied genres and styles. Get ready for a pumping party night.
Sunday
10am-6pm: Richárd Török exhibition at Kunsthalle
Discover the oeuvre of the late Richárd Török, a Magyar sculptor, who immortalized such historic Hungarians through his art as composer Béla Bartók, 19th-century statesman Lajos Kossuth and founding king of Hungary St. Stephen.
11am-4pm: Collectorism – Punk vs Metal Fair at ELLÁTÓház
Browse a huge amount of vinyl, CDs, cassettes and VHS tapes at this pop-up market taking place in the heart of Budapest’s Jewish District. Besides the audio-related merchandise, chunky boots, black leather pants, bandanas, and a pogo workshop make this fair ideal for those in need of a retro Sunday.
11am and at 7pm: Hungarian National Ballet: LOL at Palace of Arts (Müpa)
Taking place at Budapest’s riverside Palace of Arts, the Hungarian National Ballet presents popular pieces by Hans van Manen, a renowned Dutch choreographer, who fused classical ballet with modern dance. The elegant ensemble performs LOL at 11am and at 7pm on Sunday. The performance is not recommended for those under 16.
8pm : Cradle of Filth at A38
Gothic metal merchants Cradle of Filth wash up at the A38 boat venue as part of the European leg of a world tour to promote 2017 release Cryptoriana– The Seductiveness of Decay. Having already earned a significant local following thanks to an appearance at the Sziget Festival, CoF have a full house for this sell-out show. Last-minute tickets may be available through ticketswap. Support is provided by Moonspell from Portugal, whose latest work is a concept album (remember those?) themed around the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.
