This Sunday, jolly joggers take over Budapest's famous shopping street Váci utca as they dash along wearing Santa costumes. You can cheer them on or even join the run.
This is the 8th time the Santa Run is bringing joy to the streets of Budapest, with cheerful joggers taking over the inner city on Sunday (December 3rd). We can assure you that it will be a spectacle to watch: more than 2,000 participants from all over the country don their Santa costumes to complete three optional routes – 5k, 2300 metres, or 980 metres – the latter 2 including the shopping street Váci utca. We are rooting for some moderate snow to make the event complete, but even if Mother Nature fails us, (artificial) snowfall is predicted at the start and finish lines.
You can cheer Santas on from as early as 11 am – when the family race is setting off – but also catch the festive run at midday and 2 pm, just head to Fővám tér (next to Budapest Corvinus University). What's more, you can even join in by registering on the spot, which means the competition centre at Lónyay Utcai Református Gimnázium. The entry fee is HUF 7,000 and comes with a Santa costume, which is yours to keep (we know, right?). Whether you jog or just watch, you are welcome to leave donations for children: look out for a huge sack to pop any gifts (toys, school supplies) into. They will be distributed among children and families in need.
More details on the Hungarian site here or drop an email at nevezes@futanet.hu.
(Cover photo: Budapest Sportiroda)
