This Saturday, hundreds of Halloween pumpkins will be brightening up Budapest’s showcase Heroes’ Square. Beginning at 7pm, anyone can place their artfully carved jack-o’-lanterns around the semi-circular colonnade of historic Hungarian heroes. Participants are also encouraged to bring a few cartons, cans or boxes of non-perishable food – these edible donations will be delivered by festival organisers to children in need.

The annual jack-o’-lantern festival in Budapest is more than just a light-spirited Halloween celebration. Open for anyone to join, this illuminated attraction on Heroes’ Square connects ancient Celtic tradition with benevolence.

Between 7pm and 9pm, people will be arriving with their hollowed-out pumpkins or turnips cut to represent facial features or eerie cartoon-like scenes. Each pumpkin, illuminated by a candle from within, is then placed around the square, alongside any non-perishable food items.

At the end of the two-hour event, everyone should take their lanterns with them, leaving the foodstuffs behind that are then offered to the Hungarian Children’s Food Foundation.

Admission is free of charge. For more information, check out the website or Facebook page.