The Budapest Fringe Festival is described as “a side-runner to the Budapest Spring Festival” and “like a huge Talent Show … that gather and in some way support the less known (underground) artists through securing a place for their performance”.
The performing artist are mainly from Hungary but also from neighbouring countries like Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and more distant countries like France and Japan.
350 performers will appear during the two and a half days of the festival.
When: 28-30 Mars
Where: Buda, the Millenáris Park complex & Marczibányi Cultural Centre
Web: www.budapestfringe.hu
As every year Budapest 2008 will offer many interesting experiences of all kind to visitors from all over the world. How about a great music festival with Woodstock feeling (Sziget), the roaring engines of the F1 Grand Prix, concerts with Mark Knopfler and Kylie Minogue or deliscouse Hungarian wines and food festivals and events, just take your pick. 2008 will offer something for everyone.
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Best of all is all the Budapest programs, events, festivals, concerts and celebrations attracting international artists, celebrities and visitors. Budapest year 2008 will be no exception. There is always something interesting happening for everyone in Budapest. One good example is the grand operabal that took place in Budapest 2007:
Here we list some of the most interesting events in Budapest this year 2008.
Budapest spring festival (14-30/3)
Hungarian Grand Prix (3/8)
Budapest Sziget Festival (August)
Concerts in Budapest: Chris Rea (3/3), Mark Knopfler (12/5), Kylie Minouge (15/5), Santana (6/28)
Budapest is a dynamic city with something for everyone: music events, classic concerts, wine festivals, cultural exhibitions and much more. If you´re interested in Budapest as a travel destination but dont know when to go go this list with all major event and festivities might help you to decide when to visit Budapest.
Budapest Spring Festival
Last for 2 weeks in March-April, International classical music stars perform and give concerts.
World Music Day
Usually the last weekend of june. Jazz, rock, folk music events and open air concerts.
Bridge Festival
June - August. Lanchid is closed every weekend during the summer. The bridge becomes a long party area with arts & Crafts, food, drink, music and entertainment.
Sziget Festival
Prepare for 1 week of Woodstock in August! The largest music festival of Europe with many international top artists.
Hungarian F1 Grand Prix
On a weekend in August. Very popular international event with lots of tourist from all over the world.
St. Stephen’s Day
On the 20th August. Hungarys biggest celebration of the whole year with fireworks, street entertainment and the works. Great parties.
Budapest Parade
In the end of August. 100,000 line Andrássy út to watch a parade of floats, dancers and DJs and finish in Heroes Square and party into the night.
Jewish Summer Festival
A weekend of August displaying Jewish arts, performances, concerts, theatre and more.
Budapest Wine Festival
Two weeks in September. Wine producers presents their wines. Concerts, folk music and events at the Castle District and Vörösmarty tér.
Budapest Music Weeks
2 weeks September/October. The traditional opening of the classical season.
Budapest Autumn Festival
Usually in October. A great festival with perfomances, music, fine arts cinema, exhibitions and theatre.
Budapest Christmas Fair
26th November - 24th December. Started in 1999 and have become one of the biggest in Europe. Very popular international event at Vörösmarty Square. in the heart of Budapest.
The Hungarian formula 1 - 3968 metres track of pure excitement!
A formula 1 Grand Prix is in-itself a lifetime experience. Enjoying the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix 2008 in Budapest Hungary, one of Europe’s most beautiful and interesting cities will make it unforgettable! Here do you thing Sylvester Stallone went to prepare his car racing movie “Driven”? That’s right, he went to see the Hungarian formula1 in Budapest! One of the best advantages of Hungaroring, the Hungarian racing track near Mogyorod, 19 km outside of Budapest, is that it is located in a natural valley with approximately 80% of the racetrack visible.
The start of the Grand Prix in Budapest Hungary 2007
Ticket prices for the F1 GP
The price for the Hungarian Grand Prix 2008 ranges between 80 to 400 Euros. The most popular ticket-categories are:
Super Gold Priority 2 (Wkd.) EUR 380.00
Gold 3 Priority 2 (Wkd.) EUR 285.00
Silver 3 Priority 2 (Wkd.) EUR 257.00
Silver 3 Priority 2 (Sun.) EUR 238.00
Gen. Admission Priority 2 (Wkd.) EUR 99.00
Family (Wkd.) EUR 250.00
Buying tickets for the Grand Prix Formula One in Budapest 2008
Basically you have two choices, either you buy a whole Grand Prix travel package from international Grand Prix travel specialists like “Formulatours” or “Grandstand Motor Sports” (se links below) or just buy the Formula One tickets and the travel-tickets to Budapest separate.
Ordering F1 tickets online: the gpticketshop: (official Grand Prix ticket sales agency)
Budapest hotel booking online: Budapest hotel reservation & guide! Budapestguide.net offers online hotelbooking in cooperation with one of the biggest online hotelbooking serviceproviders: bookings.com
Getting to the Hungarian Formula 1
The Hungarian racing track is located near the village Mogyorod not far from Budapest (19 km) easily accessible by the HÉV, (short distance train) from Örs vezér Tér. Get of att “Szilasliget” station, from there you walk. It takes almost 30 minutes. If you have at ticket you can take one of the buses from the Arpad bridge (Pestside) that the Grand Prix provides.
In the center of Budapest at the Erszébet square you will find Gödör (the Pit), a very cool mix between underground music club, culture & exhibition-centre, and bar, where Hungarian and international bands and DJ:s (like Yonderboi) perform everything between etno-ambient-rap (you should have been there!) to jazz.
All the free concerts and activities draw crowds of very mixed style, young and old which creates a very friendly and open atmosphere. It is probably due to the different sections of the culture centre which makes it easy for almost everyone to feel comfortable. The different parts of Gödör Klub are:
the music scene with tables and chairs where you can sit and listen to the artists performing almost every night,
the bar and the dark cosy corner with games and other fun to “play” with your friends,
the exhibitions, mostly design, art, photography and architecture (often from university students). Just order a beer or drink in the bar and stroll around the exibition. Enjoy!
A38 is one of many dynamic cultural concepts in Budapest, an old Ukrainian cargo ship renovated and redesigned for € 3 million. Since 2003 when it opened in the 11th district it have become one of Budapest most interesting and dynamic scenes in Budapest nightlife attracting international artists and stars like:
Maceo Parker,
Courtney Pine,
Amon Tobin,
Vienna Art Orcestra,
DJ Krush,
Einstürzende Neubauten,
Laibach,
John Cale,
Tomasz Stanko,
Plastic People of The Universe,
A38 is often one of the main locations in many of Budapest festivalsand cultural programs and have had theatre plays, performances, exhibitions and many other cultural activities since it opening. A38 aims to:
“… become a modern, pleasant, dynamic cultural centre. Besides its international music programming it also provides home for various cultural activities such as professional meetings, film, literature, digital and even gastronomy events.”
The A38 ship is a party area with a capacity to take 600 persons and seating capacity for 250. There are two bars and one restaurant inside. During summer there is also an outdoor bar on the deck. A38 is acoustically designed and have high quality sound, light and video equipment. The music programs at A38 ranges from jazz, electronic, worldmusic to contemporary and rock bands.
The crowd is usually mixed in age and style and varies much depending on the programmes of course.
The stone carrier A38 is very easy to access by public transportation. Just take one of the trams 4 or 6 to the Petöfi bridge on the Budaside.
Dont miss Budapest yearly Atumn festival full of interesting and progressive present artists and their achievements in many different arts. The purpose is to make new Hungarian art and artists, known and recognised in Hungary. The festival includes programs in areas like:
The Island festival started in 1993 and have become one of Europe’s biggest musical events. This year they celebrate the 15th year and expand the festival to 8 days. The festival has 11 stages where international and Hungarian artists and bands will perform during the 8 days. The program include:
- The Killers
- Nine Inch Nails
- The Chemical Brothers
- Sinead O´Connor
- Madness
- Pink
- The Hives
To mention just a few. If your interested in, what i imagine, a Woodstock kind of experience …
