Once again this year, the Budapest Festival Orchestra welcomes families with concerts, playful workshops, and colorful programs at the free Music Fair and Family Day on June 7 at the Aquincum Museum.

Through its diverse music education programs, the Budapest Festival Orchestra has long been committed to providing children with joyful, memorable encounters with classical music from an early age. One of the highlights of this effort is the Music Fair and Family Day, taking place this year on June 7 in the unique historical setting of the Aquincum Museum and Archaeological Park.

Supported by the Municipality of Budapest, this free, all-day event offers a rich and colorful program for families. Children can enjoy a Cocoa Concert, a Music Castle and Choose Your Instrument sessions, craft workshops, dance, and interactive activities, while adults can immerse themselves in the magic of chamber music performances. Throughout the day, visitors can take part in origami, glitter tattoos, string games, badminton and ball games, a coloring tent, storytelling sessions, and even vegetable carving workshops thanks to Eisberg – a full day of active, creative, and music-filled experiences for all ages.

The day begins at 11:00 a.m. with a museum walk and a Music Castle children’s concert, followed by a Chamber Concert. From 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., children can participate in the Choose your Instrument program, where they can get hands-on experience with various instruments. At 1:00 p.m., the focus turns to baroque music, and at 2:00 p.m., the Cocoa Concert will feature highlights from Mozart’s The Magic Flute and a special variation for bassoon based on a Mozart theme.

In the afternoon, traditional folk music from Palatka will fill the porch of the Painter’s House at 3:00 p.m.. At 4:00 p.m., the BFZ’s percussionists will take the stage with an energetic performance showcasing the diversity of rhythm, followed by a concert from the brass section at 5:00 p.m., bringing the day to a festive close.

As part of the Music Fair and Family Day, visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s 2025–26 season: season passes and tickets will be available on-site, including those for children’s Cocoa Concerts as well as grand orchestral evenings featuring international stars.

The programs will take place throughout the museum’s various locations: the ruins of the archaeological park, the shady gardens furnished with beanbags, deck chairs, and parasols, as well as the museum’s atmospheric buildings will all provide a unique setting for musical experiences. Through this event, the Budapest Festival Orchestra once again conveys its message: music belongs to everyone, and it is at its most powerful when it becomes a shared experience.