On Children’s Day, May 31, the Budapest Festival Orchestra will present its free event, Music Fair and Family Day, featuring concerts for children and adults, plenty of crafts, dancing, creative activities, and games. This year, the event will once again take place at the Aquincum Museum and Archaeological Park, where families are welcome from 10:30 a.m. all the way until 6 p.m. In addition to all the fun, visitors will also have the opportunity to conveniently purchase tickets and season passes.
Music All Day Long
Over the years, the Budapest Festival Orchestra has developed a number of music programs designed to make classical music exciting, welcoming, and lovable for children. Tickets for their Cocoa Concerts are nearly impossible to get during the season — but on this day, audiences can enjoy this iconic concert format for free.
With Music Castle, their concert format wrapped in a story and always carrying an important lesson, they have already reached countless towns and cities across the country. In Budapest, this experience is offered less frequently — so it is not to be missed! Family Day will also feature a Choose Your Instrument session, where children can immerse themselves in the worlds of string, percussion, and wind instruments.
Meanwhile, there will be chamber concerts ranging from magical early music to soul-soothing classics, smile-inducing brass music, vibrant folk music, and the always memorable performances of the percussionists.
Games, Creativity, and Books
The organizers are preparing a variety of activities where children can create something to take home as a keepsake. Pagony, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will also join the event with a stand full of wonderful and exciting books, as well as a Gruffalo-themed game created especially for participants. The SZETT team will also be there, welcoming children with craft activities ranging from pompom-making to violin-making.
Experiences Firsthand
In addition to the entertainment, the event will also offer a convenient opportunity to purchase tickets and season passes. One of the highlights of the BFO’s 2026–27 season is Iván Fischer’s humorous children’s opera based on The Gruffalo, the world-famous story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Hungarian audiences will see it for the first time in October, in Ádám Nádasdy’s translation. Visitors will also be able to buy tickets for the BFO’s Cocoa Concerts and its symphonic concerts featuring international stars.
The detailed program of Music Fair and Family Day is available here.
The event is organized with the support of the Municipality of Budapest.
