This weekend at Debrecen Zoo will be the second annual Bear Festival, an event rooted in European folklore involving bears, and the specific date of February 2nd. According to folk tradition, if bears leave their caves that day, in clear weather and see their shadow, they will get scared and hurry back in – meaning winter will last a few more weeks or if, however, the weather is gloomy and they do not cast a shadow, they stay out, marking the end of winter.
In addition to such a weather forecast with the help of our Asian black bear named Dönci, the Bear Festival will offer an introduction to all members of the ursid family to which the bear also belongs, as well as some iconic zoo residents that are only namesakes to true bears in Hungarian, including South American coatis and red pandas, featuring close encounters with the latter for those luckiest.
Animals will not be the only ones to feast, thanks to a rich selection of honey and gingerbread products for you to try and buy. Children will get to turn into bears with free thematic face-painting while the Arts-and-Crafts Corner will await all who wish to make their own little teddy. All events and activities are free of charge for visitors with a Zoo Pass.
Full program:
10:00 a.m. All Things Ursine (Meeting Room) and Asian Black Bear Feed (Bear Enclosure)
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to Face to painting (Sunday only)
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to Arts to and to Crafts Corner (Gibbon House)Honey and Gingerbread Market
