March doesn’t lack meaningful festivals and events. Choose from my recommendations.
What weather to expect in March?
March is a season of its own. It has nothing to do with winter or spring. As Sándor Márai catches it perfectly – it has its special lighting. And that is true – it’s not winter anymore, but not spring either.
But at least, we can go out without a warm coat and the first powerful rays of sunshine arrive. People set out to enjoy the world set free from the captivity of winter.
Outdoor programs become the center of attraction with the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848 coming to focus on 15th March.
What is the average temperature in March?
Events and festivals in Budapest in March 2022
Leánykökörcsin virágzás (Pasque flower blooming) – Sas Hill
- Date of the event: in the middle of March
- Venue: 1112 Budapest, Tájék u. 24
- Paid
One of our first spring flowers, pasque flowers blossom in the middle of March. Blooming is usually short-lived, lasting for only 2-3 weeks, so that’s the time for nature-lovers to visit Sas Hill as these lovely flowers bloom in large numbers on the nature trail.
Pasque flowers are protected, but it isn’t worth picking them either way as touching them may cause eczema in those sensitive to them, since the hairs protecting them in cold winter nights are slightly poisonous.
Bikavér Párbaj (Bikavér Duel)
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: Stefánia Palota, 1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 34-36
- Paid
Traditionally, the most important wine duel in the country is organized in Budapest every year. The two great Bikavér producers, Eger and Szekszárd battle each other.
Of course, it’s only a symbolic duel as two completely different types of excellent quality wines are compared here. So, if you like wine, especially red and bikavér, it might be a good enough reason to visit this fun event.
Wine tasting is generally organized in Hotel Corinthia where visitors meet the wine producers and get some insight into the craft of wine production.
There will probably be no complaints about the quality of the wine, as only the best wineries can take part in the symbolic duel.
Budapest Photo Festival
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: MŰCSARNOK, 1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 37.
- Paid
Budapest Photo Festival, the largest photo festival in Hungary, is housed in numerous representative venues – several museums and galleries.
The aim of the exhibition is to present the values and significant events of contemporary domestic and international photography, and also give an insight into the already classic photography.
Exhibitions of famous Hungarian and foreign photographers are also opened as part of the festival and the stars of the profession also appear at the event.
Another benefit of the exhibition is that it brings the photography community together – professionals get to meet their colleagues and amateur photographers meet like-minded fellows.
Get Closer, Budapest Jazz Fest
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 1124 Budapest, Csörsz u. 18
- Paid
If you enjoy the world of Jazz, this is the place for you. You can meet legendary Hungarian and foreign Jazz artists at this multi-day event every year.
This series of events was revived a few years ago as there had been Jazz concerts in Budapest occasionally, but the aim of the festival is to introduce the best contemporary Hungarian and foreign artists to Jazz lovers.
It was destined to succeed from the beginning as the series of concerts at the Fest offer quality cultural experience.
National Dance House Festival and Fair
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 2
- Paid
The National Dance House Festival and Fair is hosted in Budapest every year.
Folk music performers and folk ensembles from Hungary and the whole Carpathian Basin perform at the festival to introduce themselves to the public.
In addition to professional performers, there are also amateur children’s and adult folk-dance ensembles, and schools performing at the event.
Yet, the festival is more than a folk music event. It also includes a fair with artisan folk crafts introduce visitors to the folk arts of different nationalities by region.
The multi-day event also offers great programs for children. The Folklore Festival, which received excellent ratings, was added to the list of qualified European cultural festivals a few years ago.
Garden Expo
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: Sportaréna, 1146 Budapest, Stefánia út 2
- Paid
Those living in a detached house or interested in gardens must visit this three-day event as they can get first-hand information about the latest gardening trends.
The Hungarian representatives of the profession share their ideas on grassing, designing a pond and creating our own private entrance oasis. Everything connected to gardening can be found here from the latest garden furniture and shades to garden machinery and several other garden-related items.
In addition, luxury or extra product lines like professional garden grills and outdoor saunas are also represented at this grand-scale exhibition. And if you are about to start construction, Garden Expo is a must.
Utazás Kiállítás (Travel Exhibition)
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 1101 Budapest, Albertirsai út 10
- Paid
Travel Exhibition, the most important tourism fair in Hungary, is organized annually in HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center.
The long-standing event deals with everything connected to traveling. Some of the more important topics are foreign and domestic routes, accommodation, travel agencies, hospitality, transport companies, etc. In addition to quality professional programs, everyone gets authentic information about travel issues.
This means that the exhibition is worth visiting, whether we are planning a short domestic weekend or a several-week holiday abroad.
Festivals in the countryside in March 2022
Medvehagyma Napok (Ramson Days) – Bakonybél
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 8427 Bakonybél, Kossuth u. 1
- Paid
Bakonybél is located in the picturesque environment in the middle of Northern Bakony. That’s the area where huge amounts of tasty ramsons, rich in vitamins, grow.
So, it’s a great place for hiking as well. During the two-day event, participants can attend a shorter 4-kilometer and a longer 10-kilometer tour.
Locals started promoting ramsons more than ten years ago, thus while hiking, everyone gets to know about the beneficial effects of this plant and receive some food recipes from it.
And you can even go food tasting. Those of you staying for two days will be given a discount by the Bakonybéli Szállásadók Baráti Köre (Circle of Bakonybél host friends).
Kodály Memorial Concert – Balatonfüred
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 8230 Balatonfüred, Gyógy tér 1, Anna Grand Hotel
- Free
The large-scale concert is organized annually in memory of Zoltán Kodály by the Balatonfüredi Zenebarátok Egyesülete (Balatonfüredi Music Friends Association).
Each year performers include different choirs including adult choirs as well as school choirs.
In addition to preserving traditions and honoring the memory of Zoltán Kodály, the aim of the memorial concert is to attract the general public to classical music and choir concerts.
Every year, there are more and more people visiting the event, so this endeavor is certainly a success.
Túzokdürgés Dévaványán (The Great Bustard’s lekking in Dévaványa)
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: Túzokvédelmi Látogatóközpont, 5510 Dévaványa
- Paid
They say that the great bustard’s lekking is like Paris – everyone has to see it once. In case you don’t know what lekking means, let me explain it to you: it’s an elaborate and also quite spectacular mating dance.
During lekking, males resemble an unfolding white rose. They strut up and down showing off their bluish-purple neck. But imagine seeing twenty or thirty of them doing this simultaneously!
One thing is for sure: those poor hens face a difficult choice. The great bustard is the largest bird in Europe with the largest population located in Dávaványa.
Unfortunately, disturbing them during lekking is strictly forbidden, so the Körös-Maros National Park organizes guided tours with off-road vehicles during which the birds can be admired using high-performance telescopic binoculars. Early morning and late afternoon hours are the most suitable for observation.
Barlangok hónapja (Month of caves) – Aggtelek National Park
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 3759 Aggtelek
- Paid
The aim of the Let’s Go Caving program is to introduce the amazing natural wonders to the public. Thus, Aggtelek National Park provides both convenient paved cave walks and unpaved, so-called adventure caving experience all over March.
In addition to discount tickets, there are also numerous children’s and adult programs awaiting families this month. We may also learn a lot during these guided tours.
Questions such as when the devils plowed in the Aggtelek region, what karst topography looks like, or why the Baradla Cave does not absorb the water of Aggtelek Lake are answered there as well.
Füredi Tavaszi Fesztivál (Füred Spring Festival) – Balatonfüred
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 8230 Balatonfüred, Tagore Promenade
- Free
In addition to the joy of revival in the spring, the Füred Spring Festival taking place from 13th to 15th March is also a commemoration of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848.
The all-day programs will definitely provide something to everyone’s liking. There will be lectures on history and literature, but gastronomy and wine tasting come to focus as well.
The Reform Age walk and torchlight procession can be a touching experience even for those of you who have no connection to Hungarian history or its most significant revolution.
Waiting for Storks in the Hortobágy Bird Park
- Date of the event: in the end of March, 2022
- Venue: 4071 Hortobágy, Petőfi tér 6.
- Paid
As Mihály Babics puts it beautifully: “By the time birds come back to the old nests, there will be no trace of ice or coldness.”
Although there are several migratory birds in Hungary, for some reason, storks have become the most awaited birds. The homecoming of birds is a beautiful sight, but waiting for the storks in Hortobágy is much more than that.
That’s the time when healed birds are set free, which can also be done by visitors to the event. On 15th March, there are falconer shows, national flags and rosette decorations when even storks wear rosettes in Hortobágy commemorating the War of Independence.
Kokárda Fesztivál (Rosette Festival) – Komárom
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 2900 Komárom, Duna part 1
- Paid
The Fortress of Monostor, a popular hiking destination, is home to the annual Rosette Festival. It is no coincidence as György Klapka and his soldiers defended the fortress for one and a half months after the Surrender at Világos.
Thus, the all-day programs include guided tours and lectures on history as well. However, there are several other exciting programs, such as puppet shows for children and an interactive café for adults.
There are also handicraft workshops where rosettes can be made, while older kids and adults will definitely enjoy the rifle musters and the hussar and artillery show.
Pálinkafesztivál (Brandy Festival) – Eger
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 3300 Eger , Törvényház utca 4
- Free
The brandy festival held in the Orchard Garden of Agria Park is a great success every year. The finest brandy specialties can be tasted here. The products of the best producers are offered here, and we might even catch a glimpse of how brandy is made.
Also, there are winemakers present at the event, so wine tasting is also possible, not to mention the delicious snacks making the event complete. There is also live music throughout the two-day event enlightening the mood even further.
Tavaszi Fesztivál (Szentendre Spring Festival) – Szentendre
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 2000 Szentendre
- Free
Spring is here, so head for the Szentendre Spring Festival, which has been organized successfully for decades. This small town of a magical atmosphere is worth visiting any time of the year.
During the festival, there are several concerts, theatre performances, literary evenings, exhibitions and other cultural programs at several venues.
All invited performers are renowned, prestigious artists providing meaningful entertainment for everyone. Because there is a huge variety of programs, I suggest you decide what you are interested in before setting off.
The annual Bach for Everyone Festival is also part of the Spring Festival, commemorating the world-famous composer.
Szegedi Toros és Pálinkafesztivál (Szeged Pork and Brandy Festival)
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 6720 Szeged, Széchenyi Square
- Free
With its great atmosphere and some amazingly delicious bites, Szeged Pork and Brandy festival has a history of more than a decade.
Domestic smallholder farmers, brandy distilleries, sweets manufactories and many more present their products in the city center, at Széchenyi Square.
While culinary delights are in the center of attention, culture is also an essential part of the event. This is reflected in the numerous traditional musical, dancing, and other stage performances awaiting visitors.
Kecskeméti Csokifesztivál (Kecskemét Chocolate Festival)
- Date of the event: N/A
- Venue: 6000, Kecskemét
- Free
Circular chocolate, square chocolate, long chocolate, short chocolate, round chocolate, flat chocolate, solid chocolate, hollow chocolate – and that is only the beginning of Artúr Gombóc’s list of favorite chocolates.
What’s sure is that all of them will be available for tasting at the Kecskemét Chocolate Festival. The two-day event features the best chocolate manufactories of the country offering everyone a bite of their favorite sweets.
Of course, there will be no shortage of children’s programs either with a playhouse, handicraft activities, an all-day gingerbread workshop and chocolate modeling.
