January Festivals
New Year’s Day: the first day of the year kicks off in familiar style in Budapest. 1 January is a national holiday and a day too often spent recovering from the antics that took place the previous night. March Festivals
Hungarian National Day: marking the Hungarian Revolution from 1848 when the country was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, National Day on 15 March sees patriotic speeches and music take over segments of Budapest. June/September Festivals
Summer Festival: doing exactly what it says on the tin, the Summer Festival features live music and theatre on Margaret Island and Varosmajor. It kicks off in June and goes all the way to September. August Festivals
St Stephen’s Day: remembering the man considered the father of Hungary, St Stephen’s Day on 20 August is a big deal in Budapest. Expect fireworks to light up the Danube marking what is a spectacular festivity. December Festivals
St Nicholas Day: falling on 6 December, this old festival is still popular in Budapest, particularly among children who can expect to receive chocolate from St Nicholas in the middle of the night. This is unless they have been bad the past year, in which case birch twigs are left instead. Christmas: starting long before the 25th, Christmas is a magical holiday in Budapest with lots of carol singing, abundant lights across the city and the occasional snowfall. The day itself is usually taken off work and school, and spent eating and drinking while opening presents. | 
