Eat … Drink and Be Irish, because everybody can be Irish on this day!
Sunday, March, 20. 2016.
WHERE!?! … District V., Szabadság Square – Budapest
WHEN!?! … 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
A huge gathering is expected to take place at the Szabadság tér once again. The local families, friends and tourists are awaiting to be Green for a day and take to the streets of Budapest. It going to be a celebration of St Patrick’s Day. The parade will be led by a premier bagpipe group and a giant floating of St Patrick will be on the venue.
On St Patrick’s Day it is customary to wear shamrocks or what-so-ever color green clothing or accessories. So be sure wearing green to be at the “in” crowd. St Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.
Welcoming families to enjoy Celtic face painters, arts and craft activities, Irish Dancers and street entertainers, along the green-green grass at the Szabadság Square. The spirit of Irish folklore and legends such as CuChullainn, the Irish Wolf Hound appears on the coat of arms of early Irish Kings along with the famous Shamrock and Harp, so be a part of it!
Guinness, crunchy-munchy cracks with line up of 20 traditional bands will keep the party rolling on.
Three months of full entertainment for all tastes, starting off on June, 10. 2016!
Five-star summer nights in Budapest … how does that sound!?!
Open-Air Theater at Margaret Island available from IBUSZ. With the joint Budapest Summer Festival and IBUSZ tourist experience package, guests can obtain hotel rooms in Budapest and VIP tickets to the super production at the Open-Air Theater on Margaret Island, which includes admission to the Water Tower, a welcome drink, boat transfer tickets and numerous other special services at significant savings. It’s advantageous to reserve the best 12 summer weekend five-star offerings now! For years, the affordable and increasingly popular Sleep in Budapest with a theater ticket! Complete tourist experience feature offered by the Budapest Summer Festival has included a hotel stay and admission to the productions at the Open-Air Theatre on Margaret Island, together with numerous additional amenities and gifts. The festival organizer Szabad Tér Színház Nonprofit Kft. with one of the most significant domestic travel agencies IBUSZ, together expanded this offer for the 2016 summer theatre season, so that more theatre goers and tourists visiting the capital could take advantage of the preferential services.
The „Five-star Summer Nights in Budapest”, is available exclusively at IBUSZ and offers a Gold, Silver and Bronze package with the following: Two night stay with breakfast at a chosen 3, 4 or 5 star Budapest hotel. Admission ticket to the Star Parade on Margaret Island performance, by VIP admission to the performance with a separate entrance, out of turn admission ticket to view the 105-year-old Water Tower lookout and exhibition. Welcome drink at arrival before the performance (a glass of champagne) and boat transfer with return from the city center.The affordable 38000HUF price offers are available for two nights for a minimum of two people from Friday until Sunday by showing the hotel room reservation or the admission ticket. Guests get a further 25% discount on tickets to the Walking Route (little railway) on Margaret Island, admission to the Palatinus pool, tours of the city on the CityTour HopOn-Off tour busses and Jazzy Tower concert tickets.
It is by no accident that Budapest has become the world’s second best city based on the votes by an esteemed international travel magazine (Conde Nast Traveller). It’s magical image, exciting nightlife, diverse and rich cultural offerings and unmatched recreational possibilities have renewed its attraction not only for foreign guests but for domestic visitors as well. This new initiative by the Budapest Summer Festival and IBUSZ fulfills two tasks: thanks to the renovation in recent years, the grand stage on Margaret Island has become one of Central Europe’s nicest summer playgrounds, and in its attractive setting popularize Hungarian art, and by stimulating cultural tourism, increases the number of nights visitors stay in Budapest. The 2016 will be the year of romance at the Budapest Summer Festival with the assistance of national and international stars such as Andrea Rost, Erika Miklósa, Zoltán Kocsis and the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry, Gergely Madaras, Domonkos Héja, Yuja Wang pianist, Marc Heller, Sébastien Guéze, and Giuseppe Filianote opera singers, jazz diva Stacey Kent, Stanley Jordan jazz guitarist, the Globe Theater of London and the Monte Carlo Ballet Company. From among Verdi’s most popular operas, Traviata and Othello will be performed, there will be a 3 tenor opera gala world premiere, romantic ballet music and dance, Romeo and Juliet ballet performance, the musical Evita, the Revue Circus and concert by the Virtuosos.
For more information visit: http://eng.szabadter.hu/
Budapest Congress Center
District XII., 1. Jagelló Road – Budapest
Still a month to go, yet if you are curious to be at Edvin Marton’s show it is your time to purchase your ticket/s cause they mostly sell out fast all over the world. So it happened on the day the tickets were out. Originally, Edvin Marton’s concert was sold out in just hours, so on the same day which is Sunday, April, 17. 2016. there will be held another concert. So if you do not wish to miss being there, it is worthwhile to get your seat at:
Edvin Marton, is a world-famous Hungarian violinist and every time he step on stage he simply is enchanting his audience with his unique, suggestive performance. Already played around five continents countries. He is an Emmy Award winning composer and performer. Studied at such prestigious schools as Tchaikovsky Music School in Moscow, Music Academy in Budapest, Music Academy in Vienna and Juilliard School of Music in New York.
Witness his captivating style of playing greatest classical, rock music and presenting his own original hits have made him a Gold and Platinum artist in Europe, Russia and China as well. At the show with his rock band Edvin Marton plays the greatest hits from his new album titled ’’Rock Symphony’’. Can hear Marton’s style of playing Vivaldi rolling over to Metallica. Just to mention a few to be heard from hos repertoire: Vivaldi – Storm, Coldplay – Clocks, Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody, Metallica – Nothing Else Matters and a bunch of more.
He plays on his highly esteemed 1699 Antonio Stradivari violin in a way you have never heard before. His compositions will certainly blow you away with emotions, move the spirit and rock the house!
Edvin Marton is a winner of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest seen by more than 200 million people. Other awards include a 2008 MTV Europe Award and an American Television EMMY Award for Best Original Composition (ABC Television Network).
Have a sweet tooth, or not … never-the-less meet with family, friends at the world of past, present and future of sweetness brought to you by
Királyi Marcipán Kft. – Royal Marzipan Ltd.!
For decades under socialism sweets packaging looked terrible, often sticky liquid and frankly they were mainly sugar-by-sugar. However, at the time being grandparents, parents, even to this day retain the flavors in their mouth. Slowly the sweets and candy factory manufactures had pulled down the curtain. A dumping of new sweets arrived, but for some reason these long gone delicacies interestingly were reborn in foreign land and again they appeared for the customers at sweet festivals in Hungary. These reborn sweets are named to-day as “Retro Sweets” and in the past years these retro sweets became popular more than ever. Especially, when parents and grandparents with a wide smile meet them again and told their child or grandchild that they grew up eating these for example both the dentist’s nightmare … the törökméz –honeycomb toffee – and the krumplicukor – potato sugar, téli fagyi – winter ice-cream,Diana sugar (chocolate covered alcohol), Balatonszelet– slice of Balaton, medvecukor – licorice, kakas nyalóka – cock shape lollipop and a huge selection in size and forms of other lollipops, Zizi –sugar-coated puffed rice grains, all sort of sugar jellies that a generation ate them.
On March, 14-15. 2016., grannies, grandpops, parents may take a ride back to the past decades yummies they had to the „Sweetville” at the Akvárium Club – Budapest. Each day music programs. As for Monday, March, 14. can enjoy the wonderful voice of Milán Szakonyi and on March, 15. István Fekete, both day’s concert starts off a 3 p.m.
Now within bringing back a bit of history the Királyi Marcipán Ltd., deploys dozens-and-dozens of their only hand-made marzipan dessert of a selection of 150 different fillings in flavors. Here jus mentioning a couple of yummy variations of flavors: whiskey, rum, apricot and plum pálinka, Red wine from Villány and the noble Tokaj wine as fillings of marzipan, steeped in French cherry brandy for the wise guys. All these Marzipan are covered with Belgian chocolate.
Many entertainment programs such as face painting for children, clown jokes and also the children may learn the secret of hand-made marzipan. A huge collection of chocolate bars are also available on the spot, especially the Royal Marzipan Ltd. bars, the Csokimobil – chocolate Mobile having the latest version of mobile phone with pictures on the cover. More special chocolate bars for special occasions: Valentine Day, Birthday, Name Day, Easter, Women’s Day, Kids messages, Pictures of Hungary’s famous sight-and-sound on the cover.
A good excuse to taste sweets-over-sweets, so hop over to the First Marzipan Festival a spend a day to recall, remember and look for their other venues to visit for young and old.
DAY1 ... Even though the data are under processing on the opening day showed the tourism trends show that the visitors are mainly looking at inland offers. Never-the-less there is still 3 days to go for visitors to look and see what the foreigner exhibitors can offer them.
Many foreign exhibitors were here last year and having good experiences with their offers, came back this year aswell.
The list would be extremely long to mention having from 28 countries with 399 exhibitors of domestic and foreign exhibitors, but a short note to see a couple of offers at their stand can be learnt. On the first hand, Budapest – Hungary as the City ofGuest of Honor, with its slogan “Budapest hosts Hungary”. In 2016., the Budapest Summer Festival and the Budapest Spring Festival offering this year within the spirit of Romanticism assembled cultural activities and including for tourists special packages to book also available during the exhibition on the spot. At the Margaret Island Open-Air Stage, Hungarian and International artists will be on stage such as: Andrea Rost, Erika Miklósa, Zoltán Kocsis, Támas Vásáry, Gergely Madaras, Hawk Dominic. Welcoming foreigner stars on stage will be Yuja Wang- Chinese pianist, Marc Heller, Sébastien Guez, Giuseppe Filianoti, James Valenti – opera singer, Stacey Kent – jazz diva, guitarist – Stanley Jordan and London’s Globe Theater and the Monte Carlo Ballet. As a novelty 3 Tenors opera gala and there will be Virtuosi festive variety show, circus and concerts as well.
On the second-hand, a wide variety of foreigner exhibitors arrived this year aswell to make the Hungarians wish to spend their holidays abroad, and most probably if they really want to know a country’s cultures then certainly will learn through its gastronomy. As mentioned, more than two dozen foreigner exhibitors are present, so here is a couple mentioning to visit their stand.
Austria – Offering unforgettable entertainment and loads of fun at the Wiesn Festival – September,22. – October, 9. 2016. (More info to come)
Israel – The israeli stand was opened by His Excellency Ilan Mor Israeli Ambassador to Hungary, by saying Israel is a place to visit once in a lifetime, these were the first welcoming words. Take a journey through the ancient Holy land, learn, discover the authentic Israel with family, friends or fellow travellers. Whatever the season experience something new, interesting and exciting, including activities, customs and places that are unique. Hear more about the travel opt. on the spot. There is a huge of holiday offers that will surely catch the eye.
Turkey – A place where nature, Sun and Sea, health and wellness, sport, culture can be all reached having vacation at Kemer/Antalya with family or friends. There are many hotel just by the Sea where the spectacular mountains and sea view of the Mediterranean can be perceived on the spot.
Malta – Is closer from Budapest than many may think. It is a small countries with marvelous places to visit, for instance: Popeye Village, the Grand Fort and during the fall holds the Birgufest – Candlelight event at Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa) – which is one of Malta’s oldest and most historic cities.
Cyprus – Was a good reason for the visitors by telling, Cyprus can be visited any time of year that suits you. Many places rich of ancient ruins can be found there and also very handy is a “free” weekly guided tour, I was told. Was highlighted to visit Pafos Archaeological Park. It is at the entrance of the harbour one can access this quite stunning park which houses a truly unique collection of remarkable treasures dating from far back in time in the 2nd century B.C.
The visitors strolling around the stands were pretty surprised by the sight of Mr. Piano Man rolling along the pathways…
Coming up more adventure at the Travel 2016. Hungexpo – Budapest
Gourmand are awaited at a laid table for a special Hungarian treat.
The past day within the grand selection of menus was invited to taste and hear about the forthcoming Restaurant Week at the Hotel Corinthia Budapest.
Coming up again this year for the 10th occasion in the capital and at several region’s restaurants entered by a high number offering the 3-course special menu prepared exclusively for the occasion. The participant restaurants offer their menus for the price of 3300HUF and the premium menus for 4900HUF. Beside the delicious menu, 3 kind of wines are offered for the price of 1990HUF. These wines were previously and especially selected to the different menus recommended by sommelier Antal Kovács at each participating restaurants to match the menus. The service charge is always included into the menu price. Restaurants who serve premium menus are marked with red color as “DiningCity Star” at the reservation list.
Bookings for the Dinning Week is also available in English language and can only be made through the website at: http://www.etteremhet.hu.
You can see right the minute whether the selected restaurant has available seats for that certain day and time. Therefore, when hitting the reservations button it will be shown in real-time and will automatically will appear as the approval. Whether wish to make change of already reserved seats, it is not necessary to first delete and make a new reservation.
This year for the first time, the 10th Dinning Week joins for charity to the „Feed the Children Foundation” (Gyermekétkeztetési Alapítvány). This means that from the sum of each menu 50HUF goes to the Feed the Children Foundation. At the end of the Dinning Week the income will be transferred to support the needy children.
Here are is a link to follow, see the restaurants participating at the 10th Dinning Week en English language: http://www.etteremhet.hu/lang/en/restaurants_list?city=budapest
and also can be viewed those regional restaurants participating aswell: http://www.etteremhet.hu/lang/en/restaurants_list?city=countryside
From February, 26. 2016 – 6 March, 6. 2016. for the 6th occasion the Institut Français invites movie lovers to join Francophone Film Days – 2016, featuring drama, comedy, romance and thriller movies.
This year at two locations in Budapest, the Urania National Film Theater and Cirko-Geyser Cinema. In addition to the film days, concert films, literatures and language programs, theater and dance performances, exhibitions, Q+A at lectures and social issues.
Beyond the screening in Budapest, the movies will head to be viewed at other cities in Hungary: Miskolc, Szeged, Pécs, Debrecen, Tatabanya, Székesfehérvár, Szombathely, Szolnok, Jaszbereny, Eger, Győr until the end of March, 2016.
During the FilmDays 30 movies, including 23 pre-premier will be screened. Six movies from the Francophone countries Algeria, Belgium, France, Greece, Romania, Canada and Switzerland.
The 3days program are opened from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
In the month of February it does not end the continuing large-scale of events in Budapest.
The Millenary Fish Festival has just ended and is giving the venue way to the festival of pork stickers.
The event will be lined with the best domestic and international pork cuisines, all spiced with high quality handicraft products. Visitors may also can experience the classic farmhouse traditions of the past. Also Pork breeds from the Carpathian Basin will be on the spot. The event is lined with hundreds of culinary specialties made from pork, not only to taste, but also can learn tricky ways of cooking it.
For the smallest ones, especially those living in Budapest, who cannot see live animals only at the zoo will be having pleasure visiting the farm-yard, watching live animal demonstration and taking part in petting animals. Also during all three days, the children can take visit the free, heated children’s area having free arts and crafts workshops, visiting of large-scale livestock show and strolling in-and-out the mini zoo. The continuous stage programs, major concerts and folk games entertain the audience of all age.
Day1. … At the opening day, which is Friday guests can buy their tickets to the “Gluttonous Friday” for 50% discount price and go for tasting to the indicated stands, shown in the coupon booklet for various meals. The national press organs and celebrities will be divided in teams as filler of their own sausages, and int he meantime the retro concerts will take the main role.
Day2. … On Saturday, rollicking music, a real village atmosphere with traditional village atmosphere will take place where a wedding party starts off for the Hungarian food lovers. At this event will be elected the most beautiful girl in the village elections. Another fun experience is to take part by chasing pork, and even pork-eating competition. The lads can measure their skills in a completion as who will be the village’s most strongest Anybody may enter the city’s biggest sausage competition, where families may bring their most favorite family’s recipes.
Day3. Sunday Hungarian folk music and folk dancers will play the main role and of course enjoying meals during the luchtime or as an evening supper. Another funny time for the day is to take part in chasing pork, and even particioating at a pork-eating competition and sausage eating competition.
Listen to the music by the way the Hungarian BluesSteel presenting the American and British blues!
Along on the tap fine, special beers will be in company for sure and you will not be blue at all, enjoying the BluesSteel and the „Üzletembers”BussinessFolks music.
The BluesSteel and the „Üzletembers” BussinessFolks are to be jointly giving a concert on the stage at the „Sörfőző” Legend Brewing Center. They are not yet legends, but definitely worthwhile to go and listen on the coming Friday night at the popular Pub.
The emerging rock-blues team already previously held a memorial concert to long gone ahead musician „Radics ’70”, and the audience appreciated every second and note at the concert.
Within the list of their repertoire can hear the BluesSteel playing evergreen pop music by well-known musicians as Steve Ray Vaughn, Gary Moore and BB King, furthermore hear superb music from the past generation’s best musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Cream and John Mayall. During the concert Péter Vámos, Cook Karesz and Gábor Kárnyáczki will play for the first time their own brand new songs, so the public will hear these for the first time. They will be releasing a brand-new album by the end of the year.
In the second part of the program, Tibi Hegedűs and Gyuri Cserép and other band’s members: Kyru Zsöci and Zoli Pálmai will give a hint to the audience how the seventies hard rock really sound way back.
The First Beer Festival – Serfőző Pub – Hotel Gellért – Budapest
A fine time to indulge yourselves with friends within the cavalcade of beers.
February, 19 – 21. 2016.
The event is jointly organized by Serfőző– Beer Brewer and Danubius Hotel Gellért. The coming week-end February, 19-21. the LIQUID BREAD, as the Hungarians call it, Hungarian and international brewers products will be served as in a Pub.
At this first Beer Festival will be on tap and bottled over 100 types of draft beers at your fingertips making sure that nobody will remain thirsty. Just a hint of a few beers and breweries … Barbár, Blanche de Bruxelles, Bohemia Regent, Corsendonk, Floris Kriek, Delirium, Serkentő – Franzberger Brewery, Sümegi Brewery, Abbey of Zirc Manufactury, Guinness, Kilkenny, Bombardier, Primátor, Bernard, Bigfoot Brewery, Maissel’s Weisse, Csíki Beer, Fót Handcraft Brewery, Wells & Young’s Brewery, Robinson Brewery, Brewdog, Flying Dog, Oedipus, Opat, Pardubicky Porter, Postřižinské, Satan, Hedon, Legenda and many more well-known labels.
Beside the beer specialties visitors may not worry about getting hungry, cause fine delicacies of László Héjja, Head chef of Hotel Gellért will be serving delicious dishes during the week-end. On Sunday visitorsBeer brunch and a Beer dinner will be available and served.
Rolling in Budapest 