As a kick off event, visit the Festival of Folk Arts in Budapest’s Castle District between 17th and 20th August, you can find out more about Hungary’s and other nations’ rich folklore and crafts. China, Mongolia will be this year’s guest nations, and traditional weaving and spinning will be the main focus, you can see the most renowned local artists and craftsmen from different regions of the country introducing their skills handed down from many generations. There will be also several workshops to sample, try and learn the authentic folk crafts!

The Street of Hungarian Flavours will open as early as on 18 August, Saturday, and will await visitors on all three days of the long weekend. Spices will be the main theme of this year’s fair.  The event is also in Buda, on the Upper Bank of the Danube between Várkert Bazaar and Szilágyi Dezső Square. This festival is one of the biggest gastronomy event in Budapest and also we recommend you to pay a visit as this is also a perfect place to sample local food and drinks, from stews and goulash to traditional confectioneries. The festival is also the venue where you can first taste Hungary’s Official Cake. Each year the guild of Hungarian Confectioners announces a contest to make a special cake from traditional local ingredients, in 2018, the winner flavour is  hazelnut mousse torte on hazelnut meringue base. Also there will be a sugar-free cake as well, prepare to sample a raspberry mousse between layers of poppy seed sponge cake which is made from almond flour.There will be concerts on all three days as well. In addition to others, Tankcsapda will be among the performing artists; their concert is going to be held at the Gellért Statue.

According to long-standing traditions, on 20 August programmes will start in Kossuth Lajos tér in front of the Parliament Building where the national flag will be raised as part of a military parade. This will be followed by the swearing in of officer candidates where President of the Republic János Áder will deliver a speech. Additionally, also this year there will be a traditional Holy Mass and a procession, while the celebration of crafts will be held in the Castle of Buda. As customary, the programmes of 20 August will be closed with the evening fireworks.

This is the most popular national holiday in Hungary, every year central events are attended by hundreds of thousands of people, and some half a million people watch the celebratory fireworks on site, in 2018 more than 21,000 effects will be set off. The recommended viewing points are – both for best spectacle and for safety – from the section of the Danube Banks between the Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge as well as on Margaret Bridge. The organisers and the agencies responsible for safety will be able to communicate with one another on an ongoing basis via a secure communication system, and should the need arise, the fireworks could be stopped with the pressing of a single button.

As the 20th August is a national holiday across the country –  in memory of the foundation of the state and King St. Stephen, founder of the state –  beware, shops, banks and offices won’t be open!

Source: MTI, photo:123rf.com