F1 Hungarian Grand Prix  (July 29th, 2012)

If you are a F1 fan and arrive in Budapest a bit before the start of ELTE Summer University, you shouldn’t miss the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix. The F1 Hungarian Grand Prix is held at Mogyoród, 20 km northeast of Budapest. The racetrack is in a valley, surrounded by hills, so you can enjoy much of the race from any point. You can also follow the race on several, well-positioned giant TV screens.

The Hungarian circuit isn’t boring at all. Though drivers often criticize the track, because it’s narrow and there are few points where they can overtake each other. After Monaco the Hungarian Grand Prix has the slowest average speed. Who wants to get first in the homestretch at the end of the race, has to have very good driving skills and a bit of luck. Prices vary within these categories from 50 € to 400 €.

Sziget Fesztivál (August 6–13, Óbudai Island)

This summer it is the 20th time that Sziget Festival welcomes visitors. Having won the Best European Major Festival title at the European Festival Awards, it aims to be a whole lot more than just a jubilee get-together. 2012 will once again see some of the hottest new bands in the festival’s line-up, including synthpop phenomenon, Hurts and UK rock scene’s finest ambassadors, The Horrors. And just to keep the right mixture of new and iconic, Placebo will also present their new album in front of a dedicated Sziget crowd, often quoted as the most international group of fans ever seen on such events.

“Nostalgic feelings are hard to avoid when you reach a symbolic stage, but I’m convinced that Sziget has to look forward” – said Karoly Gerendai, main organizer of the event. “A festival organizer needs to aim for the best each year, so even if it’s already the 20th edition of Sziget, that’s just a good occasion to make an even better job. This year we also have to show to the whole world that the Best European Major Festival title came to the right place, so besides the multi-artistic and unique spirit of Sziget, we also present great bands that are trademarks of the international festival scene. We are proud to announce Placebo, who are working on a new album and should be better than ever. We are also happy to welcome Hurts, who had a huge success last year on one of our indoor stages and proved to be more than qualified for the Main Stage this year. And our current list of new names also includes The Horrors, The Subways, Crystal Fighters, Mando Diao, Noah & The Whale and Friendly Fires. Of course we are still working hard on the program, so there’s a lot more to come.” – he added.

Summer on Chain Bridge

It is Budapest’s largest summer festival. Breathtaking view, wide-ranging programmes for free. Events are held on stages on both Pest and Buda side, between beginning of July-mid-August, every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm. During the festival you can walk across the bridge from the Danube Promenade to the Clark Adam Square, while enjoying the various cultural events and the wonderful vista.

You can listen to wind orchestras, music performances and even jazz concerts. Craftsmen (woodcarvers, embroiderers, lacemakers, potters, leather workers) present their traditional, rare skills.  They even teach you the basics of their trade if you’re adventureous enough. A good opportunity to get a glimpse of the culture, handicraft and folklore of Hungary’s different regions.

Tearoom and ice cream parlours provide for refreshments on the Buda end of the bridge.
Here you can watch the making of the special Hungarian (Transylvanian, to be precise) pastry, kürtös kalács (hollow, cylinder-shaped pastry with different coatings: sugar, walnut) and taste it freshly. I especially liked it because I haven't made this pastry yet. I thought it's too complicated. Now I might try making it.

The Blues Brothers Show (August 3rd & 5th, Margaret Island)

Puccini’sTurandot, (August 10th & 12th, Margaret Island)

One of the most famous operas by G. Puccini is spectacularly staged (special light effects, a big philharmonic orchestra etc.) on Margaret Island. The story of this amazing opera fairy tale is set in China: Prince Calàf falls in love with the cold Princess Turandot. To obtain permission to marry her, a suitor has to solve three riddles; any false answer results in death. Calàf passes the test, but Turandot still hesitates to marry him. He offers her a way out: he agrees to die should she be able to guess his real name.

St. Stephen’s Day August 20th

We celebrate the foundation of the Hungarian state over 1000 years ago. The new bread is blessed on this day too. Countless programs await both locals and tourists all the day round.

Besides commemorations organized by political parties there will be numerous other exciting things to do including the marching of military bands and majorettes, the Court of St Stephen (a historical playhouse), the Bread Festival, a spectacular archery show, the Red Bull Air Race, the Wheel Festival, a spectacular show with a whole range of bike programs. And of course, there'll be plenty of food, too: ox, pig and poultry will be roasted on open fire and last but not least Hungary's Birthday Cake 2012. The highlight of the August 20th-St Stephen's Day holiday is the Fireworks on Gellért Hill. The dazzling show can be seen from numerous points in Budapest, and the Danube Bend, especially at the Danube bank in Pest.

Jewish Summer Festival in Budapest (August 26th – September 6th)

The Jewish Summer Festival in Budapest is a great opportunity to find out everything about the Hungarian Jewish culture. The first Jewish Summer Festival was held in 1997. It is centred around the beautiful Dohány Street Central Synagogue in the former Jewish Quarter of Budapest. The event offers many programmes for Jewish and non-Jewish audience alike including a book fair, film festival, photo and fine arts exhibitions and performances such as klezmer music concert, cantor concert, classical music concerts, light music concerts, dancing and kosher cabaret. You can even taste Jewish gastronomic specialities.

Festival of Folk Arts 19th–21st August

You must visit the Festival of Folk Arts in Budapest Castle District between 19th and 22nd August if you want to find out more about Hungary’s rich folklore and crafts straight from the horse’s mouth. The Festival is the most significant forum for living folk culture in Hungary. The most renowned Hungarian artists and craftsmen from different regions of the country will introduce their skills handed down from many generations. This year egg painting, candle making and honey cake making will be in focus. Besides the workshops and fair there are many other programs to entertain you: artists from all around the world perform folk dances and folk music. Every evening you can dance to a different nation’s folk music.

http://www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/events-in-budapest.html#summer

The Valley of Arts (27th July – 5th August) – north of Lake Balaton

If industrial-size festivals are not your piece of cake, head to the Valley of Arts in the Káli Basin, north of Lake Balaton, where otherwise sleepy villages turn into a colourful celebration of arts, summer and togetherness.

The story started in 1989 (yes, it was truly a remarkable year in Hungary), when the villages of Kapolcs, Vigántpetend, Taliándörögd, Monostorapáti, Öcs, Pula and Nagyvázsony first welcomed a modest number of artists of all varieties, and anyone interested in them. With the exception of 2009, the Valley has attracted a growing number of festival-goers of every age and disposition ever since, becoming the most visited general arts festival in the Carpathian Basin.

The tiny villages do not only host artists and visitors but they also experience a magical transformation of the buildings, gardens and meadows into theatres, concert halls, galleries, cinemas and art markets.