This picture in which a young man with a moustache stands holding a bicycle decorated with flowers must have been taken then.

Five years later in 1905 the Debrecen Ambulance Association organised an other flower corso in the town’s main street in order to collect money for an ambulance car since in the town that time when somebody had an accident, it took much time to find a doctor.

Since 1966 apart from some breaks the Flower Carnival has been held every year in Debrecen on 20th August. In the beginning only Hungarian groups participated, after a few years foreign groups were also invited.

Now the carnival is a spectacular event with beautiful flower cars and dance groups coming from Debrecen, her sister cities and other countries as well.

The carnival is increasingly popular and is the most visited event of the city. Carnival time the number of Debrecen’s population is doubled. In 2009 the Debrecen Flower Carnival celebrated its 40th anniversary. On this occasion recalling the beginnings a bicycle parade was held and a sun-dial made of 40 thousand flowers was set up in Baltazár Dezső Square.

Carnival Parade - Sunday, 20 August
7:00 a.m. - 13 p.m. Megyeháza [County Hall] (Piac u. 54.) - Nagyerdei körút [Big Forest Boulevard]
Carnival Parade - a procession of bikers, vintage automobiles, floral floats, and artistic ensembles

One of the major and, perhaps, most popular cultural events in Hungary was 50 years old last year. The central feature of this annual series of functions is the carnival parade held on August 20, when 5-by-12-meter floral compositions, made of several hundred thousand flowers, float graciously down the streets of Debrecen, surrounded by dancers and artistic ensembles from Hungary and abroad, whose focus is the preservation of cultural heritage and traditions.

Bleachers:
Rózsa Street: 4 490 HUF
open bleachers, seats on benches on “the first come first served” basis
Approx. arrival of the Carnival march: 07:30 a.m.
Online ticket booking exempt from handling charge: debreceniviragkarneval.jegy.hu

Kossuth Square: 6 990 HUF - SOLD OUT!
roofed bleachers, pre-reserved seats on chairs
Approx. arrival of the Carnival march: 07:30 a.m.

Kölcsey Centre: 4 490 HUF
open bleachers, seats on chairs on “the first come first served” basis.
Approx. arrival of the Carnival march: 08:00 a.m.
Online ticket booking exempt from handling charge: debreceniviragkarneval.jegy.hu

Füredi Street: 4 990 HUF - SOLD OUT!
roofed bleachers, seats on benches on “the first come first served” basis.
Approx. arrival of the Carnival march: 08:15 a.m.

Egyetem Avenue: 4 990 HUF - SOLD OUT!
roofed bleachers, seats on benches on “the first come first served” basis.
Approx. arrival of the Carnival march: 08:30 a.m.

Children under 3 are free on the bleachers provided they sit in lap. Spectators are given a wristband at the access point to the bleachers in the morning to be worn all through the event. The presence of the wristband is regularly controlled by the organizers.

Spectators missing the wristband are asked to leave the bleachers. The performing groups present their programme in front of all the bleachers. The parade is free to watch from other spots in its route, however, please note that in such cases visibility is not guaranteed and also that the groups perform their shows exclusively in front of the bleachers.

Find rain check and cancellation guidelines for the parade and the float exhibition here.

Detailed program