From November 17, downtown Budapest will be dressed in Christmas decorations: the Advent Basilica and the Vörösmarty Classic Xmas promise visitors new attractions this year.
On the square in front of the Szent István Basilica, the Advent Basilica awaits visitors with renewed festive light decorations, a multimedia exhibition, musical productions, a 12-meter Christmas tree, light painting, an ice rink, and craft and gastronomic exhibitors.
The Advent Basilica Christmas Fair is one of the most beautiful festive events in the European region; the program series won the title of the best Christmas fair in Europe in 2019, 2021 and 2022, and last year it also won the title of the standing star of the Christmas fairs.
The organizers are preparing a multimedia exhibition: light installations evoke the fairytale world of Alice in Wonderland. The street music productions will move up high, on the roof of the "nagyhütte", cultural productions with gospel, folk, jazz and funk style programs will be heard four times a week.
The 12-meter-high Christmas tree is located in the central part of the fair, and the free skating rink with skate rental and skating lessons awaits children here.
Visitors can enjoy the 3D light painting projected on the facade of the Basilica every half hour from 5:30 p.m. every day.
This year, the event will also feature exclusively domestic exhibitors, including craft and gastronomic vendors, with a special emphasis on Hungarian products.
The premium wine products of Hungary's most famous wineries will be given their own exhibition space, and some items from the Hungarian wine culture will be presented as wine pairings at the gastro exhibition.
This year, too, the organizers have ensured that everyone can find a range of food and drinks that suit their wallets, one meal per day will be available at each kitchen, which visitors can buy for a fixed price of HUF 1,500.
Folk artists, industrial artists and innovative creators offering modern designer products also exhibit at the fair; and in the visual workshop master blacksmiths demonstrate the tricks of their trade. The photo exhibition "Advent Anno" realized together with Fortepan, which will decorate the outside of the pavilions, will recall the past.
In their announcement, the organizers emphasize that the Bethlehem manger and the monumental Advent wreath will be placed in front of the Basilica.
This year, the Advent Basilica will once again provide space for the Ecumenical Aid Organization, which is waiting for donations during the entire fair, and the volunteers of the service will thank the donors for their willingness to help with gingerbread hearts baked by themselves on the spot.
A few hundred meters away, also in the city center, on Vörösmarty Square, the Vörösmary Classic Xmas awaits visitors, also from Friday.
The Vörösmarty statue in the middle of the square will stand encased in a transparent "snow globe", and a LED wall will be built around the statue, which will also serve as a multimedia information point: in addition to the information content, visitors can also participate in a social game that can be activated with a QR code.
A giant Christmas tree decoration will be on display at the Crystal Palace, and a free-to-use mini-railway will also operate in the square: families riding on it can enjoy the festive decoration of the Lion's Fountain up close. Visitors can also enjoy light installations with characters from Alice in Wonderland.
The gastronomic exhibitors of the Vörösmarty Classic Xmas offer the public the dishes of the traditional Hungarian food and drink culture related to the Christmas festivities. In addition to being able to choose a recommended menu with wine pairings, there will also be a dish available at each kitchen every day, which visitors can buy for a fixed price of HUF 1,500.
In the spirit of preserving tradition, the craft exhibitors will select their portfolio of traditional craft products, but there will be a craft house serving as an educational venue, where interested children can take part in weekend activities.
In addition to the exhibitors, the organizers also provide space for supporters of the Heim Pál Children's Hospital.
MTI
Cover photo: The Advent Basilica can be visited from Friday in the square in front of the Szent István Basilica
Source: adventbazilika.hu
