St. Paddy’s Day might be Ireland's national holiday, but Budapest is claiming its fair share – and we're here for it! That means a Sunday packed with lively music, traditional Irish dancing, great food and drinks, and even dogs.
On 16 March, Budapest’s Szabadság tér comes alive with festival-goers celebrating Irish culture and Irish-Hungarian heritage – most of them surely rocking green hats and accessories. The St. Patrick’s Festival & Parade kicks off at 12 pm, bringing six hours of lively vibes, music, and festivities until 6 pm.
St. Patrick’s Festival & Parade programme
Get ready for a fantastic lineup of live performances, blending traditional and contemporary music and dance. Watch Budapest Gaels GAA in action as they showcase Gaelic football and hurling on Szabadság tér, while dog lovers can meet a pack of pedigree Red Setters and Irish Wolfhounds. Alongside classic Irish food and drinks, both young and old can enjoy balloon bending and face painting.
The Parade kicks off at 2 pm, led by the great man himself – St. Patrick – and winds through the 5th district, passing Budapest’s most iconic landmarks, including the Parliament and St Stephen's Basilica, before circling back to Szabadság tér for even more festivities.
Irish – Hungarian Heritage: Honouring Henry Spelter
This year’s festival pays tribute to Henry Spelter – one of 540 Hungarian refugees welcomed to Ireland after the 1956 revolution. A renowned confectioner from one of Hungary’s great baking families, Spelter made his mark at Dublin’s iconic Bewley’s café. In 2022, the ‘Mary Cake’ he introduced there returned to the Bewley’s menu, with funds raised from its sales donated to the Red Cross to support Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. Honouring Spelter's memory, the Ambassador will lead the parade alongside members of the Spelter family and Hazel Carmichael, the Bewley's baker who rediscovered the ‘Mary Cake' – which the Embassy will proudly serve at its St. Patrick's Day reception.
Charity Gala
Charity Gala is at the heart of Irish identity and a key feature of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worldwide. On 22 March, the IHBC hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Gala at the Marriott Hotel in Budapest – an evening of Irish culture, supported by local Irish businesses. This year’s gala will raise funds for two deserving Hungarian charities: Nők a Nőkért Együtt az Erőszak Ellen (NANE), providing refuge for women and children affected by domestic abuse in Budapest, and Tarnabod és mi (TAMI), supporting orphans and vulnerable youth in the village of Tarnabod.
Ireland’s Ambassador to Hungary said:
Distant as we are geographically, Ireland and Hungary share a remarkable history and, through the 10,000 Hungarians who’ve made Ireland home, and the thousand or so Irish here in Hungary, deep cultural ties. The remarkable story of Henry Spelter exemplifies this. Our Embassy is proud to celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year in his honour – and to bring Bewley’s celebrated Mary Cake back to Budapest!
Find more details here.
(Cover photo: PellePhoto - stpatricksdaybudapest.com)
