Our regular roundup for the upcoming weekend offers plenty of suggestions for where to go, what to do, and who should not be missed during the next three days. There are always so many happenings to choose from in Budapest – exhibitions, parties, live music, festivals and more – but here is our pick of the bunch:
Friday
10am - 6pm: Spring Orchid Exhibition at Vajdahunyad Castle
Orchids are gorgeous plants, but are a bit delicate and unpredictable. To find your own and learn how to make it flourish, head to the Museum of Agriculture at Vajdahunyad Castle this weekend, where hundreds of blooming and fragrant orchids will be on display. The prominent role will be given to the different species and hybrids of Dendrobium genus, while on the ground floor a wide selection of orchids and other plants from domestic and foreign horticulture await.
11am - 7pm: Golden Boundaries Exhibition at the Capa Center
This weekend is the last chance to see this intriguing exhibition as it closes on Sunday. Golden Boundaries explores the awkward time in people’s lives of puberty, looking at different manifestations of self-expression and the search for personal autonomy and cultural diversity on the verge of growing into adulthood. More details
6pm - 8pm: Nighttime Zoo Tour at the Budakeszi Wildlife Park
On a few special days this spring, the Budakeszi Wildlife Park opens its gates after dark, inviting everyone to discover the exciting world of nocturnal animals. This event is mostly Hungarian-friendly, but can be enjoyed by all animal lovers. If you’d like to participate, send an e-mail to budakeszi.vadaspark@bkvp.hu with the subject of Éjszakai túra. Bring a flashlight, warm clothes and your braver side.
11pm - 5am: YONCÉ - Ultimate Beyoncé & R'N'B Night at Volt Lokál
Songs by the uncrowned queen of pop turn up the heat at this Bootylicious party on Friday night. VOLT Lokál brings the best of Queen B to Budapest so you can shake it to songs such as “Drunk in Love”, “Love on Top” and “Partition”.
Saturday
St.Patrick's Day in Budapest
Budapest goes green and dresses up in emerald for St.Patrick's Day. Head to an Irish-themed pub such as Longford, Beckett’s or Publin and enjoy some Guinness or a potato-packed dinner. For a more sophisticated event, check out the Irish-Hungarian Business Circle's elegant gala dinner at the Marriott Hotel.
10am - 7pm: Save Game at the Lurdy Conference Center
Gamers unite! Board games, video games, a cosplay show, pinball machines, arcade games, legendary gaming platforms and the most cutting-edge VR systems all await visitors at Lurdy on Saturday. And you can try out everything! Entry is 1,500 HUF.
6pm - 6pm: Colour Concerts at the Palace of Arts
If you crave classical music on Saturday, head to the Palace of Arts. The Colour Concert series gives students of the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy and other music schools an opportunity to showcase their best talent, therefore visitors can enjoy free concerts here. This musical program stretches from Hungarian chansons to late-Romantic Italian arias, aiming to present the character development of a woman from happiness to madness in two languages.
8:30pm - 11pm: Fight Club at the Bem Cinema “Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Third rule of Fight Club: if someone yells “stop!”, goes limp or taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule: only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: the fights are bare knuckle. No shirt, no shoes, no weapons. Seventh rule: fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.” Watch this darkly comic classic again on Saturday with original English audio and Hungarian subtitles at the Bem Cinema.
Sunday
9am-2pm: Szimpla Farmers’ Breakfast at Szimpla
One of the most popular ruin pubs in Budapest – Szimpla on Kazinczy Street – fills every Sunday with a friendly artisanal farmers’ market, where you can buy high-quality locally made goods and fresh products. The market has always been very popular, so Szimpla has decided to select the best ingredients from the market and make a delicious brunch of them. Meet friendly local farmers, try a brunch made from their products and you surely won't leave empty-handed...
1:30pm - 11:00pm: St.Patrick's Day Parade at Szabadság Square
From 1:30pm on Sunday, face-painted fellas, leprechauns and people in green gather at central Szabadság Square. From 3pm they embark on a street parade, turning Budapest into a jolly festival. Bagpipe bands will lead the group all the way to Instant, where exciting events and delicious food and drinks await from 4pm.
7:30pm - 11pm: Listener at Dürer Kert
Listener is a spoken-word rock band from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Initially an underground hip hop project by Dan Smith, who used the moniker "Listener", the project evolved into a full-fledged rock band. On Sunday they take the stage at Budapest's rocking Dürer Kert.
