The Hungarian government is preparing a three-day programme of events for the 20 August national holiday, with this year’s fireworks display set to be shorter than usual, government spokesperson Éva Magyar said at a press event in Budapest on Wednesday. The programme will cost 4 billion forints.
Some events will begin on 19 August, while programmes will continue at certain locations in the days following the national holiday.
Ten venues will host events in Budapest: Margaret Island, the Danube riverbank near Budapest University of Technology, Kossuth Square, the Parliament, Szabadság Square, Várkert, Buda Castle, City Park, St Stephen’s Square, and the area around St Stephen’s Basilica.
The celebrations on 20 August will begin at 8 am with the traditional flag-raising ceremony and the swearing-in of newly commissioned officers on Kossuth Square. This will be followed by a military and air parade, which can be viewed from the riverbanks.
The Street of Flavours will be open from 9 am until midnight on the riverbank in front of Várkert. Parliament will be open to visitors free of charge and without prior registration from 20–22 August.
The Hungarian Defence Forces will hold an all-day programme in City Park, while Margaret Island will host interactive activities for families on 20 and 21 August.
Buda Castle will once again host the Festival of Crafts, alongside the Protestant Gathering. Szabadság Square will be transformed into a community relaxation area and food garden, while concerts will be held at the BME riverbank.
The traditional procession of the Holy Right Hand will begin at 7 pm on 20 August, following the festive Mass, departing from St Stephen’s Basilica.
The fireworks will begin at 9 pm as part of a 30-minute audiovisual show, with the actual fireworks display lasting 10 minutes.
Magyar said the government was prepared to ensure that the events are held safely and without disruption. An interministerial coordination working group established to prepare the celebrations will be supported by an operational task force.
Visitors are being asked to use public transport where possible, monitor weather conditions, and immediately seek shelter in a safe location in the event of a storm.
Asked about the cost, Magyar said the government considered 4 billion forints a realistic amount for organizing the series of events.
Representatives of Centrum Production, which is responsible for the artistic concept, said the organizers had not sought to create a new type of celebration. Instead, they aimed to establish a common language for the holiday while retaining familiar traditional programmes and complementing them with contemporary and modern events.
The detailed programme is available on the official 20 August website.
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