Gyula rolls into winter with a packed cultural calendar and year-round color: exhibitions, concerts, theater, food fests, museum workshops, sports, and both guaranteed and optional leisure programs. Gyula Castle, the Castle Theatre, and the famed Gyula Castle Spa anchor a city where pálinka and sausage are calling cards, and standout events land almost every month. From spring to autumn, the Castle Theatre stages festivals, while quality programs run nearly all year in the fortress. The Gyula Castle Spa is one of Hungary’s most loved.
December Kicks Off: Santa, Lights, Honey
On 2025.12.06, the city bursts with choices: Egy Pillanat Caffé hosts the 5th Santa Party; the Cellar Exhibition reveals “The Treasures of Almásy Castle”; “Castle by Candlelight” opens candlelit evenings at the castle; “Candlelit Castle Tours” bring night tours by candlelight; the Gyula Castle Spa runs Night Wellness; PartyVarázs throws a Santa Party; the playhouse welcomes “The Grinch in the Playhouse”; and the 1st Gyula Tractor Parade rolls out. The 16th Gyula Honey Festival runs 2025.12.05–12.06, followed by Gyula Nobel Week honoring László Krasznahorkai, 2025.12.06–12.12.
Santa From Finland, Family Days, and Market Magic
On 2025.12.07, Joulupukki, the real Finnish Santa, visits. Families can join “Castle Tour with Dönci the Dachshund”; explore Ladics House with “The Empress’s Cup,” candlelit guided tours, and the kid-friendly Gyula Castle: “Gingy in the Middle Ages” fairy-tale program. Advent at Ladics House features a Natural Decorations creative morning, while the Castle Garden hosts the Portéka Christmas Fair. The Blue Mini Train runs a Santa Line 2025.12.05–12.07, and the castle offers guaranteed programs the same weekend.
Mid-December Theater, Music, 3D, and Spa Nights
On 2025.12.08, GyulaKult stages The Snow Fairy’s Tale, a musical mini-theater. Ladics House repeats “The Empress’s Cup” on 12.09 and 12.10. Almásy Castle guides “Corset and Revolution” tours 2025.12.02–12.10. On 12.09, the Castle Theatre presents Herb Books – The Big Questions of Life. December 11 brings GyulaKult: Attila Kökény and Viktor Rakonczai’s musical night “An Advent Evening with Us” (14,990 HUF → approximately 41.4 USD). Also on 12.11: a Ladics House 3D printing club, a Christmas “Elf Workshop” decor session, plus more Ladics tours on 12.11–12.12. The castle’s guaranteed programs return 12.12–12.14. On 12.13: Castle by Candlelight, the Portéka fair, “Ladies’ Salon” at Almásy, GyulaKult Club concerts, an Advent workshop, Night Wellness, and Candlelit Castle Tours.
Advent Sundays and Festive Workshops
On 2025.12.14: more Ladics tours, another Dönci tour, an Advent concert at the Vigadó, and 3D cookie-cutter making at Ladics House. The Castle Theatre stages János Háy: The Girl Who Keeps a Dog on 12.16, with Ladics tours the same day. On 12.17, the Museum Free University dives into Treasures from the Árpád Era.
Final Advent Push: Choirs, Flowers, and Candlelight
Guaranteed castle programs run 12.19–12.21. On 12.20: Night Wellness, “Talking Flowers” at Almásy, the Portéka fair, an Advent workshop, Castle by Candlelight and tours, plus the Erkel Ferenc Mixed Choir of Gyula Christmas concert. On 12.21: Advent at Ladics House offers Krisztkindli, a special guided tour, and another Dönci tour.
VR Time Travel, Code-Breaking, and New Year’s Eve
Ladics House hosts VR Time Travel 2025.12.22–2026.01.04, and Code-Breaking Games on 12.23 and 12.30. Guaranteed castle programs return 12.26–12.28, with Night Wellness, “Countly Passions” at Almásy, Castle by Candlelight and tours on 12.27, and a Dönci tour on 12.28. Pre–New Year jam: GyulaKult Club’s session on 12.30. On 12.31, choose from New Year’s parties at GolfGallery, Woodland Center, Bols Café’s street bash, Kastélykert Bistro in Gyulavári, and the Vigadó.
Into 2026: Tours, Comedy, Magic, Zumba
The castle guarantees programs 2026.01.02–01.04, with Candlelit Castle Tours, Night Wellness, and Castle by Candlelight on 01.03, plus a Dönci tour on 01.04. Ladics House runs a 3D club on 01.08 (Body Scanner). GyulaKult lines up: Sándor Badár stand-up (01.15), GANGSTER POP: Bonnie, Clyde and Ganxsta (01.26), and Museum Free University on Roman magical tech (01.28). February highlights: Dr. Kitti Almási’s Loose Ends (02.12); Magda Szabó: Abigail on 02.25 (8,900–9,900 HUF → about 24.6–27.3 USD); Museum Free University on Herod, Jesus, and the Holy City (02.25); The Masters of Illusion in Gyula (02.27). March brings Claus-things by Claudia Liptai (03.05), the 2026 Dachshund Meetup at the Almásy Visitor Center (03.21), and a session on March 15, 1848 (03.25). Spring festivals: Medivid Agility and Para-Agility Festival (04.24–04.26), a talk on Generals or Martyrs? (04.29), Danny Blue: The Secret (05.07), From Corset to Bobbed Hair (05.27), and the 4th Zumba Festival Gyula (08.21–08.23). Total programs listed: 47.
