Debrecen Advent awaits visitors between the 25th of November and the 23rd of December 2023 throughout the city.
The Christmas fair in front of the Reformed Church of Debrecen and in the city center is an unforgettable spot for those who want to enjoy a festive atmosphere. Visitors can enter a magical Christmas atmosphere with the wonderful buildings of downtown Debrecen in the background. The lights of the promenade, old and new light installations – the sphere, the deer, the sleigh, or the light tree, the Neopac light Christmas tree on the Dósa nádor square and the new surprise installations dressed in lights – as well as the huge pine tree all contribute to let the viewers break away from everyday life and tune in to the upcoming, intimate holiday.
Weekend concerts, fair attractions, children’s programs
Outdoor programs await visitors every weekend. The public can experience more than 120 programs in the city center, while DEMKI and the Debrecen Charity Board await families with musical programs and crafts in the ‘Adventi Kucko’.
Mini-trees decorated with hand-made decorations by kindergarteners will be brought to the city center on the 1st of December, and then between the 2nd and 6th of December, Santa Claus will also appear at Debrecen Advent and welcome the children in the ‘Adventi Kuckó’.
Children’s programs and large-scale Advent concerts are expected at the Kölcsey Center. At Bényi Galery ART SELECTION, end-of-season group exhibition connected with the fair, the public can choose from the paintings, necklaces, and works of applied art of 23 artists.
Candle lighting and the lights of Debrecen
The main attraction of Advent Sundays is the lighting of candles, as these events show the light towards the holidays. On the 3rd of December, the lighting of the first candle will be led from 4:45 pm by a spectacular parade of traditional art groups from the Old Town Hall to the Reformed Church of Debrecen, and then the city center will be lit up with festive lights. The decorative lighting will be visible from the first Sunday of Advent (December 3) until Epiphany (January 6) until 10:30 pm.
Debrecen’s Christmas tree
The 14-meter-tall pine, which will be decorated with 16,500 lights, is expected to arrive at Kossuth Square on the 21st of November, around 10 a.m. The tree was presented to the city by Tünde Mohácsiné Tőkés and his family.
Ice rink and ice disco
Thanks to the support of BMW Group Factory Debrecen, a 750-square-meter ice rink will serve as entertainment for winter sports lovers from the 25th of November to the 7th of January. The rink can be used with a ticket of HUF 1,200, and on school days, students from pre-registered schools can skate for free between 8 am and 2 pm. It is possible to inquire about free dates by e-mail in a message to kozosseg@fonixinfo.hu, indicating the headcount and age. Every Saturday, the DJs welcome visitors to the ice discos with Christmas-themed music, where surprise visual elements can be expected. Until the 7th of January, you can visit the Christmas-decorated and cozy Hütte and warm yourself up, drink tea, hot chocolate, or mulled wine, relax from shopping and looking at the fair.
Community building, sports, and charity
The element of Debrecen Advent promoting a sporty lifestyle and serving noble purposes is the charity Ugly Hoody Run, organized together with Regina Galambos-Parti, head of Bakancslista Hungary. In parallel with the highly successful initiative in Budapest, the Christmas Ronda Hoodie Run will start in Debrecen for the third time on the 9th of December, where charity goes hand in hand with the cloudless atmosphere and the joy of movement. At the sports event, all the participants must do is to get their cutest, ugliest, or funniest Christmas sweater, hat, scarf and bring the gifts for donation. In addition to popularizing community sports, the purpose of the charity run is to make Christmas more beautiful for needy, disadvantaged families and children living in Debrecen and its agglomeration. The organizers deliver the offered donations to the families through the employees of the Debrecen Charity Board. The participants will run through the beautiful Advent fair in the downtown Debrecen, starting from Baltazár Dezső Square. Move, Debrecen! members also join the organization, at the finish line Fruzsi Erdős welcomes the arrivals with Christmas songs.
The faces of the city – who inspire the Debrecen community
During Advent in Debrecen, projected portraits of people from Debrecen or people connected to Debrecen who were nominated by the audience and selected by the jury are displayed on a wall several meters high. We will see the individuals behind the communities of Debrecen, who perhaps have no idea how much influence they have on our lives, our everyday lives, and determine the event or environment that brings us together. From the 2nd of December, every Saturday in Advent between 5 pm and 7 pm, the photos of the 40 inspiring people will return to one of the busiest parts of Debrecen, at the building at 1 Csapó Street.
A fabulous mini city for children
A fairy-tale town is being built – jointly dreamed up with Krones Hungary Kft. – in the area behind ‘Adventi Kuckó’: the gingerbread house, the winter church and the magical world of nutcrackers will amaze children and their parents. You can try out the light railway on the Dósa nádor Square, and the illuminated, baroque merry-go-round of Zoo Debrecen will also be waiting for those interested.
The most beautiful wooden house and the nicest service will get award
The purpose of the competition is for Debrecen Advent to find the most beautifully decorated Advent treehouse and the merchant or caterer who provides the best service, so deserving people can be nominated for audience awards in three categories:
(1) the most beautiful looking catering unit
(2) the best-looking trading unit
(3) the best-serving caterer or merchant.
You can vote online on the Debrecen Advent website by indicating the serial number and category found on the wooden houses from the 25th of November to 13th of December at 12 pm. On the 16th of December, it will be revealed in front of the audience who will win the Debrecen Advent “Most Beautiful Christmas Treehouse”, “Most Beautiful Christmas Hütte” and “Loveliest Christmas Merchant” titles this year.
‘Adventi Kuckó’ welcomes visitors every weekday from 3 pm to 8 pm from the 4th of December to the 22nd of December, in addition to craft activities and music programs organized by DEMKI and the Debrecen Charity Board.
Program:
The 25th of November:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-9 pm
Photo point - Kossuth Square
4 pm-4:45 pm East Brass
5 pm-5:15 pm Kangaroo Dance Sports Association
5:30 pm-5:45 pm Balance Dance School
6 pm-6:15 pm Harmony-Dance Stylers
6:30 pm-6:45 pm Debrecen Majorette Ensemble
7 pm-7:20 pm Phoenix Fire Juggling Group
The 26th of November:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-8 pm
Photo point - Kölcsey Center
6 pm „Hajdú 70” – Debreceni Hajdú Dance Ensemble
The 1st of December:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am-12 pm Kindergarteners decorating a pine tree - Kossuth Square
5:15 pm-5:45 pm György Reschofsky – Üveggolyó - Apollo cinema
5 pm Advent movie afternoons - Bényi Gallery
6 pm Art Selection – Advent exhibition and fair opening
The 2nd of December:
- Advent Fair
4 pm-5 pm Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band
3:45 pm-5:45 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
5 pm-6 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-9 pm
4 pm-4:10 pm Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band
4 pm-4:10 pm LESZ DANCE Dance and Sports Association
4 pm-6 pm Meeting with Santa Claus
6:30 pm-6:45 pm Red Stars Dance Crew - Kossuth Square
4:10 pm-4:30 pm Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band
4:10 pm-4:30 pm LESZ DANCE Dance and Sports Association
4:45 pm-5 pm Dance Universe Dance Sports Association
5:15 pm-5:45 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
6 pm-6:25 pm Crimson Snails Fire Juggling Team - Dósa nádor square
4:30 pm-4:50 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
4:45 pm-5 pm Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band
4:45 pm-5 pm LESZ DANCE Dance and Sports Association - Ice rink
8:30 pm-10 pm Santa’s ice disco
The 3rd of December:
- Reformed Church of Debrecen
4:45 pm Traditional singing parade from the Old Town Hall to the Great Church
5 pm First Advent candle lighting
Speeches: Mayor Dr. László Papp, Fülöp Kocsis, Archbishop-Metropolitan of Hajdúdorog Archdiocese, Károly Fekete, Bishop of Tiszántúli Reformed Church District and Ferenc Palánki, County Bishop of Debrecen-Nyíregyházi Diocese.
A festive square play with the participation of the Ort-Iki Puppet and Street Theatre, the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, the Debrecen Dance Team of the Csokonai National Theatre, the Hortobágy Shepherds, the Kuckó Art Studio, and the Bíró orchestra. - ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-8 pm
11 am-7 pm Meeting with Santa Claus
3 pm-3:15 pm Debrecen Freestyle Dance Club Dance and Sports Association
6 pm-6:15 pm Debrecen Freestyle Dance Club Dance and Sports Association - Advent fair
3:30 pm-5:30 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
4 pm-5 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - Kossuth Square
3:30 pm-3:45 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
4:00 pm-4:20 pm Clay Band Ensemble
4:30 pm-4:40 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
6:30 pm-6:50 pm Advent show by Klaudia Kuczmog and Marcell Horváth - Dósa nádor square
4 pm-4:15 pm R&B Dance Hip Hop Dance School
4:30 pm-4:45 pm Clay Band Ensemble
5 pm-5:30 pm DuoTrio Street Theater - Kölcsey Center
6:30 Debrecen Garrison Band: Adventissimo!
The 5th of December:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 3 pm-8 pm
4 pm-4:20 pm Waiting for Santa Claus with puppeteer György Reschofsky
4 pm-6 pm Meeting with Santa Claus - Dósa nádor square
6 pm-6:15 pm Waiting for Santa Claus with puppeteer György Reschofsky
6 pm-6:20 pm Meeting with Santa Claus
6:15 pm-6:30 pm Happy-Time Dance Club
The 7th of December:
- Apollo cinema
5 pm Advent movie afternoons
The 9th of December:
- Baltazár Dezső Square
10 am Christmas Ugly Hoodie Run - ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-9 pm
2 pm-6 pm DEMKI – crafts, music shows - Advent fair
2 pm-6 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
4 pm-5 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - Kossuth Square
3 pm-3:45 pm Garagulya Stork-legged Comedy Company – Hungarian Christmas
4:10 pm-4:25 pm Kangaroo Dance Sports Association
4:25 pm-4:40 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
5:10 pm-5:25 pm Lituus Brass Quintet
6 pm-6:40 pm Christmas show by Flóra Kováts Trio - Dósa nádor square
2 pm-3 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
3:15 pm-3:30 pm Balance Dance School
4:30 pm-5:10 pm Christmas show by Flóra Kováts Trio
5:45 pm-6 pm Lituus Brass Quintet - Ice rink
8:15 pm-10 pm Ugly Hoodie ice disco
The 10th of December:
- Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
3:45 pm Singing traditional parade from the Old Town Hall to the Great Church accompanied by groups from Bethlehem
4 pm Second Advent candle lighting
Speeches: Deputy Mayor Dr. Lajos Barcsa, Richárd Asztalos, the director pastor of the Debrecen Evangelical Parish, a representative of the Debrecen Greek Catholic Church. Contributors: Kuckó Művésztanya, Bíró Band and Debrecen Folk Ensemble - ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-8 pm
2 pm-6 pm DEMKI – crafts, music shows - Advent fair
2 pm-6 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
4 pm-5 pm Fairytale characters at the fair
3 pm-4 pm Ort-Iki Puppet and Street Theatre - Kossuth Square
4:15 pm-4:30 pm R&B Dance Hip Hop Dance School
4:30 pm-5:30 pm Ort-Iki Puppet and Street Theatre
5:35 pm-6 pm Debrecen Garrison Band - Dósa nádor square
3 pm-4 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
4 pm-4:15 pm Debrecen Majorette Ensemble
4:50 pm-5 pm LESZ Dance Dance and Sports Association
5 pm-5:20 pm Debrecen Garrison Band
5:45 pm-6 pm Pirouette Dance Studio - Kölcsey Center
6 pm Waltz Dance Studio: Christmas Waltz Ceremony
The 11th of December:
- Kölcsey Center
7 pm DebTalk – The Kölcsey lounge
Guests: Steve Hajdú, Attila Magyar
The 14th of December:
- Apollo cinema
5 pm Advent movie afternoons
The 15th of December:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 3 pm-8 pm
The 16th of December:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-8 pm
2 pm-6 pm DEMKI – crafts, music shows - Advent fair
2 pm-6 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
2 pm-6 pm János Vágó “Mr. piano”
4 pm-5 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - Kossuth Square
3 pm-3:45 pm Langaléta Garaboncias – “Shepherds” show
4:15 pm-4:30 pm Debrecen Majorette Ensemble
4:35 pm-4:45 pm Announcement of the results of the wooden house beauty contest
4:50 pm-5 pm LESZ DANCE Dance and Sports Association
5 pm-5:30 pm János Vágó “Mr. piano”
6 pm-6:45 pm Late Beggars Christmas show - Dósa nádor square
2 pm-3 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
3 pm-3:15 pm Positive Dance – Positive Centrum Dance Arts Association
3:35 pm-3:50 pm Dance Universe Dance Sports Association
4:30 pm-5:15 pm Late Beggars Christmas show
5:45 pm-6 pm Kangaroo Dance Sports Association - Ice rink
8:15 pm-10 pm ALL-IN ice disco
The 15th of December:
- Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
3:45 pm Traditional singing parade from the Old Town Hall to the Great Church
4 pm Third Advent candle lighting
Speeches: deputy mayor Dr. István Puskás, representative of the School Sisters of Our Lady, János Kiss, pastor of the Debrecen Baptist Church. Contributors: Students of Debrecen Music, Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble, Debrecen Baptist Church Choir, Debrecen Folk Ensemble, Kuckó Art Academy and Bíró Band - ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 am-8 pm
2 pm-6 pm DEMKI – crafts, music shows - Kölcsey Center
2 pm Vackor’s Christmas
7 pm Szent Efrem Men’s Choir – Christmas album presentation concert - Advent fair
2 pm-6 pm Zsolt Horváth organ-grinder
2 pm-6 pm János Vágó “Mr. piano”
4 pm-5 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - Kossuth Square
4:10 pm-4:35 pm Choir and János Vágó “Mr Piano” joint show
4:40 pm-5:20 pm Ort-Iki Puppet and Street Theatre
5:20 pm-5:35 pm Happy-Time Dance Society
5:50 pm-6:15 pm Choir - Dósa nádor square
3:45 pm-4 pm Positive Dance – Positive Centrum Dance Arts Association
4:45 pm-5 pm Choir and János Vágó “Mr. Piano” joint show
5:15 pm-5:40 pm Choir
6 pm-6:15 pm Red Stars Dance Crew
The 21st of December:
- Apollo cinema
5 pm Advent movie afternoons
The 22nd of December:
- ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 pm-9 pm
2 pm-6 pm DEMKI – crafts, music shows - Advent fair
2 pm-6 pm János Vágó and “Mr. piano”
3 pm-5 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
5 pm-6 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - Kossuth Square
3 pm-3:20 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
3:30 pm-3:45 pm Pirouette Dance Studio
4 pm-4:25 pm Choir and János Vágó “Mr. Piano” joint show
5 pm-5:15 pm Lituus Brass Quintet
5:15 pm-5:35 pm Choir - Dósa nádor square
2 pm-3 pm János Vágó “Mr. piano”
3:45 pm-4 pm Dance Universe Dance Sports Association
4:35 pm-5 pm Choir and János Vágó “Mr. Piano” joint show
5:25 pm-5:40 pm Lituus Brass Quintet
5:45 pm-6:15 pm Choir - Ice rink
8:15 pm-10 pm Christmas ice disco
The 23rd of December:
- Debrecen Reformed Small Church
4 pm Fourth Advent candle lighting
Speeches: Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs, Barnabás Sipos, parish priest of the Hungarian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Debrecen, representative of the Tiszántúli Reformed Church District. Contributors: Luca Márkus, actor of the Vígszínház, the Lautitia Choir Family, Dániel Sárosi, organist, Gergely Dánielfy, actor, singer, Hanna Jantyik, flutist, Zsolt Dombovári, bagpiper, the Debrecen Folk Ensemble, the Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble, the Kuckó Art Academy, the Bíró Band, and the Dragon Girls Fire Juggling Team. The Flame of Bethlehem comes to Debrecen with the help of the 43rd Főnix Scout Team and anyone can take it home after the evening. - ‘Adventi Kuckó’
Opening hours: 10 pm-7 pm
2 pm-6 pm DEMKI – crafts, music shows - Advent fair
2 pm-6 pm János Vágó and “Mr. piano”
3 pm-5 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
5 pm-6 pm Fairytale characters at the fair - Kossuth Square
3 pm-3:20 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
3:30 pm-4 pm Clay Band Ensemble
4:35 pm-4:50 pm Happy-Time Dance Club
5 pm-5:40 pm Animus Czengettyű Ensemble
5:50 pm-6 pm LESZ DANCE Dance and Sports Association
6:30 pm-6:50 pm Christmas show by Klaudia Kuczmog and Marcell Horváth - Dósa nádor square
4 pm-4:30 pm Clay Band Ensemble
4:30 pm-5 pm DuoTrio Street Theater
Hozzászólások