The Celebration of Flowers in Debrecen

A myriad of flowers, a wonderful festive atmosphere, and star performers to boot: all this is offered on the bill of fare at the Flower Festival in Debrecen, which has recently come to mean not just a single day of fun but a week-long fiesta in the spirit of music, dance, and flowers... One of the most popular events in Hungary, this festival of flowers keeps attracting large crowds from year to year, rewarding them with a truly memorable experience. The show must go on this summer, too, yet with a bunch of freshly added new attractions. Traditionally, the floats in the parade display the most imaginative scenes possible, made exclusively of various floral components. In fact, there may be as many as 3 million flowers used for the individual arrangements, most often including asters, carnations, dahlias, gerberas, pine or spruce twigs, and compositions of dry flowers. Between the individual floats in the procession, there is a fine selection of celebrated art ensembles from home and abroad, interspersed with dance troupes, orchestras, bands, and baton twirling majorette squads, delighting the audience with spectacular performances. During the more than 100-year history of the festival, several millions of visitors, who decided to spend the time commemorating St. Stephen and the celebrations of new bread (baked out of flour ground of recently harvested wheat) in Debrecen, have had a chance to see as many as 600 floral arrangements on floats and several tens of thousands of parading participants...

Carnival Week Programmes

16. August
"The ancient city takes a step" (world premiere) A dancepoem from the history of Debrecen joint performance of the Debrecen Folk-dance Ensemble and the Hajdu Dance Ensemble
Location: Kossuth square, in front of the Great Reformed Church

17. August
The programme of the Cuban State Folk-dance Ensemble A dance show with traditional cuban music and rhythms.
Location: Kossuth square

18. August
R-GO Concert
One of the most successful Hungarian band of the eighties was founded in 1982, when Robert Szikora left the Hungaria band on its peak of success. They held a 20 year anniversary concert in 2003, and released their "Csikidam" album in 2004 which one was followed by the cd version of their "Amulet" album. The "Retro" album was released in 2006. The band`s latest album was "Letezem". Robert Szikora received the Viva Comet Award for the Hungarian Pop Music in 2007.
Location: Kossuth square

19. August
Ali Campbell (UB 40) concert
The UB40 was founded in Birmingham in 1978. They sold 70 million copies of their albums in the last 30 years. Their hits Red,red wine, I got you babe and Can`t help fallin in love brought them huge success. After 30 years their frontman Ali Campbell left the band and started solo career.

Location: Kossuth square
20. August
41. Debrecen Flower Carnival

21. August
Bobby McFerrin concert
The well-known musician won 10 Grammy Awards and has been in Hungary couple of times. His four-octave voice helped him to sold over 20 million copies of his albums. His famous song "Don`t worry be happy" led the American Billboard chart as the first a capella (vocal only) song. He worked together with Chick Corea, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbie Hancock. He wrote an a capella opera "Bobble". After an eight years break he releases a new album in 2010. He will also presents his VOCAbuLarieS album in Debrecen.
Location: Kolcsey Centre, Main Hall
Price: 6900 HUF, 7900 HUF
Let the show go on - on a nostalgic note