Cultural Festival at Castle Garden Bazaar: A Three-Day Celebration Awaits
Castle Garden Bazaar Hosts Exciting Three-Day Cultural Festival
Budapest is set to come alive with a vibrant cultural celebration, as the Castle Garden Bazaar welcomes attendees to the VárkertFeszt (Castle Garden Fest) from May 30 to June 1. This three-day festival promises a rich tapestry of concerts, literary and dance performances, films, and engaging family programs.
Krisztina Sikota, Deputy Director General for Tourism, Culture, and Communication at the Castle Museum, highlighted at a press conference that this annual event was first launched last year to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Castle Garden Bazaar’s revival. The festival focuses on families, children, and young people, offering all-day craft activities, playhouses, and interactive games designed to entertain young audiences.
"This year, we are thrilled to welcome audiences with a diverse range of productions, spanning genres from jazz and folk music to literary acts and theater performances," Sikota noted.
Outdoor stages will be expertly set up in the picturesque Neo-Renaissance Garden, the Öntőház Courtyard, and the Szárazárok (Dry Ditch). The festival’s larger concerts will take place in the event hall of the Castle Garden Bazaar.
On the evening of May 30, attendees can look forward to a lively concert featuring “Jenő Fekete and the Banda,” where Fekete will present a mix of original songs, classic blues, and covers, with special guest singer Tamás Takáts joining the performance.
The festivities continue on May 31 with a Hungarian-Greek music and literary evening titled “Apostrophe on the Trail of Hellas,” set to captivate audiences in the Castyard Courtyard. The final day of the festival, June 1, will see the Orchestra of the Budapest Philharmonic Society take the stage, performing beloved songs from legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand. That same day, Parno Graszt will entertain with authentic gypsy music, teaming up with the Bohemian Betyars for a unique fusion of punk, Hungarian folk, and world music.
Sikota also shared insights into the summer programs at Várkert Bazár, where visitors can participate in free open-air dance-hall series led by István Pál Szalonna and his band on the Panorama Terrace, alongside live gypsy music and equestrian activities in the Palace District.
On summer evenings, the VárKERT Cinema will screen popular Hungarian films, while the cherished “Dance in the Garden” series will continue to draw crowds. Free concerts are slated to take place in the Buda Castle District and Várkert Bazaar, complemented by a vibrant open-air exhibition titled Summer in the City, curated in collaboration with the Hungarian National Gallery.
Visitors can also engage in thematic walks throughout the Castle Garden Bazaar and the Palace Gardens, immersing themselves in the rich cultural heritage Budapest has to offer.
The VárkertFeszt is poised to be an unforgettable experience, showcasing the talent and creativity of artists while celebrating community and culture in the heart of Hungary.
Via MTI, Featured Image: MTI/Tamás Purger
