Debrecen Advent

More than 100 programs, 200 performers, nearly 500 contributors and 120 wooden houses at 6 locations in the city center: the Debrecen Advent program series soon opens its doors.

Debrecen Advent awaits its audience with more than a hundred uplifting productions and high-quality porters, as well as a gastronomic offer tailored to the holiday season from November 29 to December 23.

This year, the organizers have prepared a particularly colorful program offering rich in novelties, so that the waiting period will provide unforgettable experiences for all ages.

New features add color to the city center

The Dósa nádor Square is adorned with a fabulous world and light park, where families, children and adults alike can experience the wonders of Christmas. The fairy-tale town will bring to life the longed-for terrain table of our childhood, with a tunnel, church, pine trees, a miniature railway and a carousel. The Christmas elves who appear at the fair will also be visible for the first time, who come to life every night and can be found in a new location in the morning by the most discerning. This time, Debrecen Advent will be enriched with a new spectacular attraction: with the cooperation of the shops in the city center, the Advent calendar will come to life from December 1, which can be discovered in a new window every day. The festive lights will not only decorate the city, but a starry sky will also appear above the ice rink, providing a fairytale experience for skaters on the ice rink, which can be used by those wishing to skate until January 6. Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the holiday fair awaits everyone in the city center of Debrecen.

Social initiatives

During the Advent period, more than 7,000 children can use the ice rink for free this year, which not only provides a social experience, but also offers the opportunity to play sports. In keeping with the classic Christmas tradition, in addition to selected, high-quality craft and gastronomic exhibitors, visitors will also be treated to a 1,500-HUF single-dish meal among the delicacies. During the Advent fair, from Monday to Friday, elementary school children can participate in free chimney cake making. Additional craft activities await children and families in the Advent Corner, who can make their own holiday decorations.

We can also expect delicacies in music

From Thursday to Sunday, free programs await those interested in the fair area and on the stage. The Advent fair audience can choose from programs ranging from children’s concerts to productions evoking the intimate atmosphere of the holiday, from street theater to spectacular dance performances, at several venues in the city center. The internationally recognized Animus Bell Ensemble, the Bordó Sárkány Band, the Szironta Ensemble, and the audience-favorite musical duo; Békefi Viki and Feng Ya OU will perform. As part of the Debrecen Advent, concerts will be given by, among others, the Eszter-lánc fairy tale orchestra, the popular Debrecen Garrison Orchestra, the Four Fathers Ensemble, Singh Viki, and also Kata Csondor, who became known for her Christmas hit. Meanwhile, we can tune in to Christmas with continuous festive programs at the Kölcsey Center, where, among others, the Valcer Dance Studio, Adventissimo and the StEFREM choir with Sára Bolyki will be seen and heard. You can find out about the detailed programs of the Debrecen Advent on the website and social media pages of the event and the Kölcsey Center.

With the power of spirituality and tradition

Every Advent Sunday, visitors can tune in to the holiday by lighting candles together in front of the Reformed Church of Debrecen. The long-standing processions starting from the Old Town Hall bring the magic of Advent to the city center of Debrecen. (The first candle lighting is on December 1st, at 5 p.m., while on the following Sundays, visitors are welcome at 4 p.m.) Old customs are revived with the nativity scene meetings, which bring all ages closer to the holiday of love. This year, the programs also include the Ugly Sweater Run for charity on December 7th between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Baltazár Dezső Square, which is also a popular element of the Debrecen Advent, as the charity run aims to popularize community sports and make Christmas more beautiful for needy and disadvantaged families and children.

Advent Soul Garden

The Memorial Garden will be transformed into a Soul Garden for the duration of Advent, courtesy of the Debrecen-Nagytemplom Reformed Church and the Charitable Board, where light installations, soul walks and fundraising will take place in the “Add more” charity cottage.

Living Bethlehem

On December 20, 21, and 22 at 3 p.m., the Christmas story will be brought to life in the manger set up in the Memorial Garden with the participation of real characters.

Debrecen bids farewell to the New Year with a street ball

We can welcome the New Year in Debrecen with a large-scale New Year’s Eve street party: to the delight of many, BÚÉK Debrecen is returning, which awaits its audience on Kossuth Square on December 31, New Year’s Eve. The music and dance party will start at 8 p.m. with a DJ, followed by a live concert by Abrakazaba Band featuring Jenifer Szirota and Máté Gudics from 9:15 p.m. In the last hour of the New Year, Abrakazaba will perform with Tamás Vastag. At the New Year’s Eve street party, Erős vs Spigiboy will perform their best-known hits from after midnight until 2 a.m.