Hundreds of thousands of visitors from Hungary and neighbouring countries alike are expected to attend the festivities.

The country – together as one. Programmes of the national holiday in Budapest

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

9:00 am

Hoisting of Hungary’s national flag with military honours and passing-out parade

Freshly graduated cadets of the National University of Public Service take the oath of inauguration before state dignitaries, parents, relatives and the general public. The ceremony will be addressed by János Áder, Hungary’s President of the Republic, and Csaba Hende, Minister of Defence.

10:00 am

Family activities

Visitors are offered a variety of folk dance shows and concerts on Clark Ádám Square. Stilts parade, inauguration of Hungary’s birthday cake, traditional dancers, folk singers, and the performance of the popular TV production, School of Singing will offer real family entertainment.

2:30 pm

Ecumenical blessing of bread

In the presence of craftsmen and young people from neighbouring countries, Imre Bence, dean of the Lutheran Church of Buda, blesses a loaf of bread adorned with a ribbon in the national tricolour as the symbol of the national holiday on Clark Ádám Square. Ceremonial speeches will be given by Mónika Balatoni, Minister of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations, Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, and Gábor Tamás Nagy, Mayor of the 1st district (Castle District).

5:00 pm

Ceremonial holy mass and Holy Right procession

The Country’s Bread is blessed on Szent István Square as part of the ceremonial holy mass. After the ceremonial holy mass, the Holy Right is accompanied by corps of the Hungarian Defence Forces and a procession from St Stephen’s Basilica.

6:30 pm

Performance by the “Peacock Variations” talent show

The participants of “Peacock Variations” contribute to the survival of folklore as the most ancient branch of our national culture. Participants of the popular television show will perform on Clark Ádám Square.

9:00 pm

Ceremonial fireworks on the Danube banks

A traditional ceremonial play of lights offered by the sight of rockets as they are launched from three barges and the Chain Bridge.

10:00 pm

Concert of Ákos on Dózsa György Square

At the venue of the concert, by the statue of György Dózsa (1st district) the fireworks will be displayed on screens.

Festival of Folk Arts in Castle District and Promenade of Gastronomy on the Buda embankment all day.

Programmes of the national holiday at Lake Balaton

This year a number of events will contribute to the festivities at Lake Balaton.

Ceremonial fireworks begin at 9 pm at different locations.

Further concerts and free-of-charge family activities in: Balatonboglár, Balatonfüred, Balatonlelle, Fonyód, Keszthely, Révfülöp, Siófok, Tihany, Veszprém, Zamárdi and Zánka.

The organizers reserve the right to change the programme.

Source: augusztus20.kormany.hu

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