In a statement sent to MTI, the organisers emphasised that these fairs are the heart of Budapest’s festive season. Their goal, they said, is to create high-quality, accessible experiences for everyone by building on traditional Christmas values and offering a wide range of programmes and attractions.

At St. Stephen’s Square, the Advent Basilica fair celebrates its 15th anniversary with a special jubilee light projection on the Basilica’s façade — an iconic element of the market that has been renewed with modern technology and stronger, brighter projectors.

In addition to familiar scenes, a new animated projection will debut this year, telling the story of the 120-year-old St. Stephen’s Basilica. Visitors can enjoy the light shows every day from 5:30 p.m., repeated every half hour.

The square will also feature a canopy of twinkling lights reminiscent of a starry sky, a nearly 12-metre-tall Christmas tree, and a new illuminated welcome gate at the entrance. A tunnel of lights will lead towards Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út, while new selfie points and a multilingual selfie booth will enhance the visitor experience.

Clear signage will help guests navigate among the food stalls, where a unified set of serving dishes and takeaway boxes will contribute to a more sustainable and cohesive look. Choir performances and live music will add to the festive atmosphere throughout the season.

Meanwhile, on Vörösmarty Square, the beloved Vörösmarty Statue will once again be enclosed in a transparent “snow globe” structure — the market’s central feature — which this year debuts a new illuminated sculpture display offering a unique light show experience.

The square’s lighting design has also been refreshed: beyond the traditional decorations, the live Christmas tree will receive bespoke lighting, and each of the square’s trees will be adorned with its own light installation.

Visitors can also interact with a multimedia LED wall, where motion sensors and AI-generated animations respond to their movements. The display will include multilingual quotes by Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty, adding a literary touch to the spectacle.

Comfortable padded seating will be installed around the marble base of the statue, and additional selfie spots and custom signage will align with the fair’s visual identity. The free children’s mini train will return this year with a new Vörösmarty Square stop.

To make the markets more affordable, each large food stall at both locations will offer one dish for 1,600 forints, while prices for staple festive favourites — such as plain lángos, cheese-and-sour-cream lángos, stuffed cabbage, sausage with bread and mustard, and mulled wine — will also be capped.

The fairs will also host themed gastro weekends, featuring dishes priced between 2,000 and 2,500 forints. Each weekend will highlight a specific culinary theme, including goose dishes, roasted pork knuckle, fish, desserts, stews and goulash, stuffed cabbage, and even meals prepared with alcoholic ingredients.

The Advent Basilica market will close the festive season on 1 January with “Lentil Day,” in line with the Hungarian New Year’s tradition for good fortune.

Both fairs will showcase craftspeople, folk artists, and contemporary designers, whose handmade creations contribute to the festive charm and authentic atmosphere.

At St. Stephen’s Square, the traditional Nativity scene and monumental Advent wreath will again be on display, with candle-lighting ceremonies held every Sunday during Advent.

Both markets will also feature charity initiatives, reflecting the season’s spirit of giving.

 

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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