The 20th August is the national and state holiday of Hungary and the anniversary of the consecration of Stephen I of Hungary. In Debrecen, however, it is also the day of the Flower Carnival. It is a real attraction, drawing in visitors from across the country and internationally ever since it was first organised in 1966.
The Flower Carnival will be organized in the name of “Culture, Community and Connection”. The main locations of the event will be the Great Forest, the University Square, the Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage, and Debrecen Amusement Park and Zoo from 12th to 22th of August, 2021.
Flower carts exhibition
According to historians, the following two events are the predecessor of today’s flower carnival.
In August 1900, the board of the Debrecen Civil Cycling Association decided to hold a national cycling competition later in September to raise awareness of the association’s new track. The highlight of the event and competition was a “large-scale flower corset, which they want to create with a lot of taste and splendor”.
On June 14, 1905, the Debrecen Ambulance Association, which was in a difficult financial situation at the time, organized a flower carriage carnival with the aim of raising money for the purchase of a new ambulance. 23 cars decorated with flowers participated in the procession that was led by the cities own car.
After that, more than six decades passed before flower carts (what would be described as floats today) would take to the streets of Debrecen again.
The flower carts of 2021 will be exhibited on 20th of August in the stadium-side part of Nagyerdei körút but there will be no parade this year. The carts can be seen on 21st and 22nd of August at Kossuth Square free of charge.
A taste of the flower carnival programs from August 12 to 22:
August 12: FLOWER OF WORLDS I Planting roses in the spirit of cooperation – Szekler Park
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/362319308931789
August 12: Cluj-Napoca Market Square – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/325405812511479
August 12-22: THE MAGIC PLAYMOBILE WORLD IS WAITING! – Kölcsey Center
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1187968378383945
August 13: The roots of Miskolc – a joint evening of Péter Aranyosi and Péter Vida – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/785036832207362
August 13: National Theater I CSÍKSOMLYÓ PASSIÓ – Kossuth tér
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/535038887631599
August 13-21: Czech Beer Terrace – Nagyerdei Park
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1433060853718743
August 13-22: Handicraft Fair – Piac Street and Rózsa Street
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/4013928865372558
August 14: FruzsikáS concert (Melody Art Association) – Dósa nádor tér
https://www.facebook.com/events/368051004908164
August 15-22: Galiba Children’s Festival – Debrecen Zoo and Amusement Park
The Galiba Children’s Festival will be held in the Debrecen Cultural Park, the first rural zoo and botanical garden in the country, from 15th to 22nd of August. In the spirit of national values, it will focus on Hungarian fairy tales, well-known fairy tale figures and the Hungaricums. A Galiba menu for families, which includes goulash soup, stuffed cabbage from Debrecen and non-alcoholic spritzer (fröccs), will also be prepared.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1115170848892991
August 16: Rost Andrea feat. Hot Jazz Band I I would dance tonight – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/960982141111962
August 16-21: THE CITY IS DANCING! IA Debrecen Flower Carnival dancer program series – at many points in Debrecen
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1357417427988188
August 17: Fusio Group concert – Dósa Nádor tér
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/593035638348435
August 17: Concert of Zoltán Kodály World Youth Orchestra – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/491916855585464
August 18: Bordeaux Dragon Concert – Dósa Nádor Square
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/577040197007250
August 18: HAVASI concert show – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage – Balázs Havasi, a world-famous composer-pianist, will present his concert “Pure Piano”
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/815116345874628
August 18-22: 39th Hungarian Press Photo Exhibition – Csapó Street Pedestrian Area
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/254896719495732
August 18-22: Thirsty artists! Exhibition and fair of cacti and succulents – Kölcsey Center
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/163873865718413
August 19: WEDDING – Spade, hoe, bell… – Kossuth Square
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/376916510471555
August 19: III. Night Ride Debrecen
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/4199008070135126
August 19: Debrecen Big Band concert – Dósa Nádor tér
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/553230669424519
August 20: Festive Programs
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1915534925286836
August 20: Flowering I Studio Outdoors – Medgyessy Promenade
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/500707721017329
August 20: Csík Orchestra concert – guest: Krisztián Grecsó and Miklós H. Vecsei – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/344720697347504
August 20: Hungarikum gala concert – Kossuth tér
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/342254153944850
August 20: Street ball with Gergő Rácz and his band – Egyetem tér
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/313690446963354
August 21: Lisuus Brass Quintet Concert – Dósa Nádor Square
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/838509723455008
August 20-22: Flower carriage promenade – Nagyerdei körút, Kossuth tér and Piac utca pedestrian zone
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/323345572822200
August 21: SUMMER VALCEREMONY with Bálint Gájer and the Debrecen Big Band – Nagyerdei Outdoor Stage
Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/223762156320319
More carnival programs: https://www.facebook.com/DebreceniViragkarneval
Czech Beer Terrace
From 13th to 21st August, the Czech Beer Terrace will reopen in the Great Forest, where those interested can taste delicious Czech beers. The Czech Beer Terrace, like the terraces of restaurants, can be visited without a Vaccination Certificate.
