A picturesque open-air museum in western Hungary is getting a sparkling makeover. For the first time, the Göcsej Village Museum (Göcseji Falumúzeum) in Zalaegerszeg turns into a sprawling, story-driven light exhibition, where people, crafts, animals, and houses glow under the night sky. Illuminated gates and tunnels open a portal to the past in a completely new way, blending nostalgia with bold art and a healthy dose of wonder. It’s an evening walk designed to charm kids and adults alike, where history meets imagination and the art of light.
Hungary’s First “Light Village” Takes Over Zalaegerszeg
From October 24, 2025 through February 1, 2026, the museum transforms nightly into Village of Lights (Fények Falva), the Zalaegerszeg stop of the DECOLED Story of Lights series. This is Hungary’s first light village: a luminous scenography built from more than 150,000 bulbs and roughly 3.7 miles of light garlands that bathe the museum’s lanes, yards, and porches in glow. Over 50 installations bring animals, village crafts, and everyday life to life as sculpted light figures beneath a starry sky.
7,000 Square Meters of Luminous Storytelling
The exhibition spreads across nearly 75,000 square feet, reshaping the traditional village setting every evening. Expect illuminated blacksmiths and farmers, village animals, and a shimmering light tunnel that stitches the whole journey together. The aesthetic is handcrafted and narrative-driven, designed to make visitors feel like they’ve stepped into a folk tale recast in LEDs.
A 12-member on-site build team assembled the show in about a week, supported by more than 20 additional specialists handling planning and logistics. It’s a precise, choreographed production that aims to feel effortless once the lights flip on.
“A New Face for Winter Nights”
Zoltán Balaicz, the mayor of Zalaegerszeg, put it this way: “The Göcsej Village Museum (Göcseji Falumúzeum) is one of the city’s most unique venues, and now it shows a new, illuminated face. The Village of Lights is not only a cultural attraction, but a community experience that gives new meaning to winter evenings in Zalaegerszeg.”
The concept behind DECOLED’s Story of Lights series is to braid light, art, and local stories so visitors don’t just see lights—they walk away with narratives and emotions. “In Zalaegerszeg, history comes to life through light,” said DECOLED managing director Eva Poláčková. “Village of Lights reveals that our ancestors’ everyday life can be retold in a modern, poetic form. It’s a meeting of tradition and imagination that enchants children and adults alike.”
Open Every Night, With a Few Exceptions
Village of Lights (Fények Falva) runs daily from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., October 24, 2025 to February 1, 2026. It’s closed on December 24–25 and December 31. Parking is free directly in front of the museum on Village Museum Street (Falumúzeum utca), just a short walk from the entrance; if the main lot fills up, public spaces on nearby streets are available. Leashed dogs are welcome; keep them supervised to protect the installations and everyone’s experience.
Walk the Light Village
This is Hungary’s only outdoor light show of its kind. After sunset, the traditional village becomes an outdoor stage for sculpture-like light scenes: people at work, animals in motion, the crafts that defined rural life. Gates and tunnels guide you through the streets as reality blends with art and imagination. You might meet a fairy-tale water nymph, or watch horses pulling a glowing plow. Photogenic spots are scattered throughout for the inevitable family album moment.
Tickets and Passes
– Child, Student, Senior (65+): 2,900 HUF (about 7.92 USD). Friday–Sunday: +500 HUF (about 1.37 USD).
– Adult: 3,300 HUF (about 9.01 USD). Friday–Sunday: +500 HUF (about 1.37 USD).
– Family (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children): 11,800 HUF (about 32.22 USD). Friday–Sunday: +700 HUF (about 1.91 USD).
– Children under age 2: free.
– Season pass (named, unlimited entry for the whole season): Child/Student/Senior 8,900 HUF (about 24.30 USD); Adult 10,500 HUF (about 28.67 USD).
Tickets are available online and at the venue ticket office.
Coffee, Cake, and a Warm-Up Spot
On site, the cozy Museum Café and Buffet serves fresh coffee, homemade cakes, and light snacks in a warm setting—ideal for a mid-walk break or a wind-down after the lights.
Who’s Behind the Lights
DECOLED began as a family business in 1997, founded by Vítězslav Poláček. His wife, Eva Poláčková, and their son, also named Vítězslav, later joined. What started in the Poláček family garage has grown into manufacturing and warehousing across more than 645,000 square feet. With over a thousand public installations, DECOLED is now a key player in the Czech and broader European markets, with projects in 13 European countries.
Story of Lights Across Hungary
DECOLED’s Story of Lights fuses emotion, design, and technology with site-specific tales—handcrafted light sculptures arranged into a carefully choreographed experience. In 2025, the series visits five Hungarian cities: Pécs, Szolnok, Gödöllő, Zalaegerszeg, and Fertőd.
Zalaegerszeg’s calendar is packed right through: November 10–16, 17–23, 24–30; December 1–7, 8–14, 15–21, 22–23, 26–January 4; January 5–11, 12–18, 19–25, and January 26–February 1. Each window is another chance to see the museum shine—literally.
