On 30 – 31 January and 1 February, the zoo will host Chinese gastronomy evenings linked to its ongoing World of Animals Chinese Lantern Festival.

The light festival has been running since mid-October and continues until 22 February, welcoming visitors three evenings a week — Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — between 5pm and 9pm. It features large-scale illuminated artworks depicting animals from around the world.

During the three themed evenings, eight food stations will be set up across the zoo from 5pm to 9pm, serving a variety of Chinese dishes. The selection includes dumplings, grilled specialities, sugar-coated fruit skewers, desserts, pancakes and Chinese-style mulled wine.

Visitors will also be able to see a closed-system, AI-powered Chinese cooking robot, which prepares meals automatically once the ingredients are loaded.

Friday evening will also feature cultural performances, including lion dances, traditional instrumental music and a Sichuan-style bian lian face-changing show.

On 1 February, during regular daytime opening hours, the zoo will hold its well-known Mackóvasárnap (Bear Sunday) programme for children and families.

The event is linked to Candlemas folklore, which says a hibernating bear emerges from its den to predict how long winter will last, depending on whether it sees its shadow.

Although the traditional date falls on Monday this year, the zoo has scheduled the activities for Sunday to make it easier for families to attend.

Four animal-related programmes are planned. The zoo’s two brown bears, Hargita and Csángó, will have a public feeding at 11:30am. As these bears do not hibernate, they can be seen year-round. Additional sessions will take place at the coatis and red pandas, and visitors can also watch a sea lion training demonstration.

Families can also join a playful bear-themed adventure trail. Starting from the Main Gate Square, participants use an activity sheet to follow a multi-stop route around the zoo, visiting bear-related locations and learning more about the animals’ lives.

Most Bear Sunday activities will be held inside the Great Rock building, in the Magic Mountain exhibition space.

Programmes there include a story-based bear guide, creative craft sessions in the Bear Workshop, and an introduction to Nyali the kinkajou — sometimes called the “honey bear”.

In the Darwin Lab, zoo experts will give short educational talks on topics such as bear species associated with Hungary and the connection between bears and honey.

All Bear Sunday activities are included with standard zoo tickets and passes.

More:
Zoo Budapest

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