People worldwide celebrate Advent, the period each December when Christians prepare for Christmas. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, on the 27th of November this year.
Debrecen Advent opens its doors at 9 am on the 26th of November and awaits visitors until 8 pm on the 23rd of December.
Both modern and traditional products can be expected at the downtown fairground: carpets, textiles, handmade ceramics and wooden toys, gingerbread, medicinal herbs, teas, salon sweets, and great Christmas ornaments and decorations. More than 90 stands with a Christmas atmosphere offer their products, of which a wide selection of special culinary delicacies will be available in nearly 30 wooden houses.
Outdoor programs await the public on weekends
Every Advent weekend, you will be able to meet outdoor programs, local and nationally known speakers, and numerous children’s programs – a playhouse and craft activities in the ‘Adventi Kuckó’ dreamed up together with DEMKI – on the downtown pedestrian streets. On the weekends of the magical fair, a roller pianist, dressed-up cartoon characters, fairy-tale creatures, stilt walkers, and verklis also appear in the viewing public. Bethlehem, Hungarian and Celtic traditions, and nostalgic Christmas elements are also presented at the concerts.
The period between the 3rd and 5th of December is all about Santa Claus: Santa welcomes the little ones in the ‘Adventi Kuckó’, and then on the 5th from 5:30 pm he takes part in the program of the band Kiskalász on the Dósa nádor square stage and invites them to sing and have fun together the little ones.
Performers on the Dósa nádor square stage include Csemer Boglárka “Boggie”, Ádám Szabó on accordion, Dénes Pál, the Vintage Dolls, Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band, Debrecen Big Band with Gábor Majsai, Jazz Five, Orpheum Madams, The kidney stones, Csakmag Vivien and her band. Among the stage programs, recognized representatives of Debrecen gastronomy will take place, so Christmas-inspired food, drinks, and desserts will be presented in the gastro show delegated by Debrecziner Gourmet.
Skating rink and ice disco
This year, too, a 750-square-meter ice skating rink serves as entertainment for winter sports lovers from the 26th of November to the 8th of January, which can be used with an entrance ticket of only HUF 1,000. 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, specifying the number of employees, age group, and age. The skating rink is made possible thanks to the support of the BMW Group. Every Saturday – 26th of November, 3rd, 10th, and 17th of December – domestic DJ Dew Taylor welcomes visitors to the corridor disco with a live DJ set with different themes, trendy, but with a Christmas atmosphere – surprise visual elements and skaters in light clothes are expected.
Community building, sports, and charity
An important element of Advent is living a shared experience and building community. One of the program elements is the discovery game of the ‘Havervagy’ team: the group of friends takes possession of the ‘Adventi Kuckó’ for a short time: they try to create an Advent atmosphere among old and new friends through exploratory and treasure-hunting puzzles.
The element of Advent in Debrecen promoting a sporty lifestyle and serving noble purposes is the charity Ugly Hoodie Run on the 10th of December, organized together with the head of Bakancslista Hungary, Regina Galambos-Party, which will be held simultaneously in Budapest, in Városliget, and in Debrecen, starting from Baltazár Dezső Square. After warming up with athletes and well-known people at the gathering station, you can run the 5 km distance individually or in relays, with a stroller or puppy, with family or colleagues, naturally in ugly hoodies. Those who take part in the run can join a charity initiative, the organizers are waiting for material donations on the spot.
Candle lighting and the lights of Debrecen
The main attraction of Advent Sundays is the lighting of candles, as these symbolic events show the light towards the holidays. On the first Sunday, the 27th of November, the magical procession starts from the Town Hall in Debrecen at 4.30 pm and takes the audience to the place of the candle lighting, in front of the Great Church. It is also worth visiting the main square this Sunday because the decorative lighting and installations are also illuminated at that time.
The huge, live pine tree on Kossuth square comes from Józsa this year, thanks to the donation of a young couple, while the children’s 24 small Christmas trees – live pines dressed in decorations made by the innovators – will be placed next to the silhouette of the bright, fabulous mini-city built around the ‘Adventi Kuckó’.
The Christmas market in front of the Debrecen Reformed Church and in the city center is an unforgettable spot for those who want a festive atmosphere. Visitors can enter a magical Christmas atmosphere, the unique background of which is provided by the beautiful buildings of downtown Debrecen. The lights of the promenade, old-loved and new light installations – the sphere, the deer, the sleigh, or the light tree, as well as the huge, living pine, contribute to the viewers breaking away from everyday life and tuning in to the upcoming, intimate holiday.
DKV will launch two Advent light trams again this year. The decorative lighting on the trams will be switched on at the same time as the city lights as part of the Advent candle-lighting ceremony at Kossuth Square. Advent trams will run according to schedule on lines 1 and 2 until the 6th of January. Passengers can use light trams at normal prices.
Program:
The 26th of November:
Kossuth square / Ice rink
8.15 pm – 10 pm the 60s, 70s Ice Party
Dósa nádor square
5 pm – 6 pm Vintage Dolls
6 pm – 6.20 pm Phoenix Fire Juggling Group
6.45 pm – 7.35 pm Debrecen Big Band – Guest: Gábor Majsai
Advent fair
4 pm Fair opening whirlwind
‘Adventi Kuckó’
4 pm – 8 pm Opening hours
4 pm – 6 pm DEMKI Advent Playhouse
6.30 pm – 8.30 pm Are you a friend? – Discovery game
The 27th of November:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
7 pm HoneyBeast
Dósa nádor square
3 pm – 3.30 pm Panificio il Basilico gastronomic presentation
4 pm – 4.30 pm DE-Monteverdi Choir
6 pm – 6.45 pm Dénes Pál: Nostalgic Advent
7 pm – 7.45 pm The kidney stones
‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am – 8 pm Opening hours
4 pm – 6 pm-18.00 DEMKI Advent playhouse
Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
4.45 pm Traditional singing procession 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, Lajos Püski, Chief Clerk of the Tiszántúli Reformed Church District and Ferenc Palánki, County Bishop of Debrecen-Nyíregyházi Diocese.
Festive square play with the participation of the stilt group Szárnyas Sárkányok and Fruzsina Erdős-Tóth, a singer who won the Csokonai award.
The 1st of December:
Bényi Gallery, Kölcsey Center
6 pm Mózes Incze and Alexandra Nádas exhibition opening
The exhibition can be visited: between the 1st and 31st of December.
The 2nd of December:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
6 pm Valceremónia
The 3rd of December:
Csonkatemplom
6 pm – 7.30 pm English Christmas concert
Kossuth square / Ice rink
8.15 pm – 10 pm Santa Claus Disco
Dósa nádor square
3 pm – 3.30 pm Kangaroo TSE
4 pm – 4.45 pm Bokros Trio: Bethlehem, Bethlehem
5 pm – 5.20 pm THERE WILL BE DANCE Dance and Sports Association
6 pm – 7 pm C.E.Z. Ensemble: Celtic Advent
7 pm – 7.30 pm Flaming Snails Fire Juggling Team
7.30 pm – 8 pm Rocksuli Debrecen
‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am – 7 pm Waiting for Santa Claus
10 am – 8.30 pm Opening hours
The 4th of December:
Kölcsey Center
5 pm Sunday Music (Ballroom)
7 pm Debrecen Garrison Band concert (Great Hall)
Dósa nádor square
3 pm – 3.30 pm Ikon cooking demonstration
4 pm – 4.45 pm Jazz Five: Advent experience concert
6 pm – 6.40 pm Ádám Szabó
7 pm – 7.15 pm Kangaroo TSE
7.20 pm – 7.40 pm R&B Dance Hip Hop Dance School Kangaroo TSE
‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am – 7 pm Waiting for Santa Claus
10 am – 8 pm Opening hours
Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
4.45 pm Traditional singing procession from the Old Town Hall to the Great Church
5 pm Second Advent candle lighting
Speeches: Deputy Mayor of the city of Debrecen, Richárd Asztalos, the evangelical director of the Debrecen Evangelical Church, and Barnabás Sipos, the vicar of the Hungarian Orthodox Church of the Hungarian Trinity in Debrecen.
Artistic collaboration with the child and adult actors of the Csokonai Theater’s play Für Elise.
The 5th of December:
Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
4 pm Éva Csepregi concert
7 pm Viktor Rakonczai and Attila Kökény concert
Dósa nádor square
5.30 pm – 6.30 pm Uncle Santa – Santa Claus concert with the Kiskálász band
‘Adventi Kuckó’
3 pm – 5 pm Opening hours
3 pm – 5 pm Waiting for Santa Claus
The 6th of December:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
7 pm Budapest Bar concert
The 7th of December:
Bényi Gallery
6 pm Angels on a leash – Book presentation
The 9th of December:
Debrecen Reformed Small Church
6 pm – 7.30 pm Advent in Europe concert
The 10th of December:
Kossuth square / Ice rink
8.15 pm – 10 pm Ugly Hoodie Disco
Dósa nádor square
3 pm – 3.30 Ady Endre High School show
4 pm – 4.30 pm Animus Czengettyű Ensemble
5 pm – 5.30 pm Mákvirág gastro presentation
6 pm – 7 pm Debrecen Dixieland Jazz Band
7 pm – 7.30 pm Flaming Snails Fire Juggling Team
‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am – 8 pm Opening hours
10 am – 6 pm Greenbox Christmas photoshoot
1.30 pm – 3.30 pm You are a friend
Baltazár Dezső Square
10.30 am – 1 pm Ugly Hoodie Run
The 11th of December
‘Adventi Kuckó’
3 pm – 3.30 pm Debrecen Majorette Ensemble
4.30 pm – 5 pm Show of Endre Ady High School
6 pm – 6.45 pm Csakmag Vivien and her band
7 pm – 8 pm DJ. Dew Tailor
Debrecen Reformed Small Church
6 pm – 7 pm Sára Tímár and his band: “Now that star has risen”
Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
4.45 pm Traditional singing procession from the Old Town Hall to the Great Church
5 pm Third Advent candle lighting
The deputy mayor of Debrecen, Zoltán Krakomperger, general vicar of the Diocese of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza, and Sándor Komlósi, pastor of Szappanos Street Baptist Church, will give a speech.
Artistic contribution with the cast of the musical The Sky Holds the Earth.
6 pm Presentation of the book The Heaven Holds the King in the Karakter Café.
The 12th of December:
Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
7 pm Attila Dolhai concert
The 13th of December:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
7 pm Kodály Philharmonic Debrecen
The 14th of December:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
7 pm – 9 pm Saint Ephrem Men’s Choir – Guest: István Pál “Szalonna” and his band
The 16th of December:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
7 pm Lautitia choir family
The 17th of December:
Kossuth square / Ice rink
8.15 pm – 10 pm ALL-IN Xmas Disco
Dósa nádor square
3 pm – 3.30 pm Small Eggplant gastro demonstration
4 pm – 4.45 pm Windshifters Ensemble
5 pm – 5.50 pm Márkus Luca’s Advent show
6.15 pm – 7 pm Sironta Ensemble’s carillon
7.15 – 7.45 pm Cocktail Theater – Christmas cocktail presentation
‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am – 8 pm Opening hours
4 pm – 6 pm DEMKI Advent Playhouse
The 18th of December:
Dósa nádor square
3 pm – 3.20 pm Debrecen Hajdú Dance Ensemble
4 pm – 5 pm Orpheum Madams
6 pm – 7 pm Boglárka Csemer’s “Boggie” acoustic Christmas concert
7 pm – 7.30 pm Debrecen Garrison Band
‘Adventi Kuckó’
10 am – 8 pm Opening hours
4 pm – 6 pm DEMKI Advent Playhouse
Reformed Great Church
4.45 pm Traditional singing procession from the Old Town Hall to the Great Church
5 pm Fourth Advent candle lighting
Speeches: István Oláh, deputy mayor of the city of Debrecen, pastor of the Great Reformed Church of Debrecen, and dr. Gergely Szarka, vicar of the Greek Catholic Cathedral in Debrecen.
The 19th of December:
Great Reformed Church of Debrecen
7 pm Vera Tóth and the Budapest Jazz Orchestra featuring Erika Miklósa
The 20th of December:
Kölcsey Center – Great Hall
7 pm Kodály Philharmonic Debrecen Christmas Concert
Hozzászólások