Dömötör Day Fair returns to Nagykőrös on Sunday, October 26, 2025, promising its signature vibrant market atmosphere with an even broader selection than usual. As the event falls just before All Saints’ Day, you’ll find the stalls overflowing with wreaths, cut flowers, potted plants, and every kind of candle, alongside the market’s usual bounty of goods. Vendors are preparing everything you need for the upcoming holiday, so if you need to stock up on chrysanthemums or grave candles, this is the perfect opportunity.
Massive Fair, Ancient Roots
Nagykőrös takes its market traditions seriously. The town’s right to host fairs dates back to the 16th century, and these events are deeply rooted in Hungarian culture. Today, an average fair draws 8,000–10,000 visitors, while the biggest—St. George’s Day (Szent György-nap) and St. Michael’s Day (Szent Mihály-nap)—can attract over 20,000, thanks to their colorful cultural programs. Expect folk dancers, puppet shows, operettas, and Hungarian musical performances, alongside the lively, bustling market scene.
No Cattle Allowed This Year
There’s one big change for 2025: due to regulations from food chain safety and animal health authorities, ruminants—meaning cows, sheep, and goats—cannot be brought in or sold at this year’s Dömötör Day Fair. The organizers ask everyone to respect this rule, whether you’re an animal trader or just coming for the spectacle. What about horses, pigs, poultry, or small animals? They are still part of the event, so the livestock section won’t be empty.
Prepare for the Clock Change
Remember, this market is held on the last Sunday in October, which is also when clocks go back for daylight saving time. That means an extra hour of sleep for everyone—organizers and vendors included! Gates open early: 4:30 a.m. for general market goods, 5:00 a.m. for pigs, 5:30 a.m. for cattle (in normal years), and 6:00 a.m. for the horse market. The fair usually continues until 1 or 2 p.m., weather permitting.
All Saints’ Day Prep
With All Saints’ Day just a week away, vendors selling wreaths, memorial candles, and chrysanthemums flock to the fair in greater numbers than at any other time. So, if paying respects is part of your plans, you’ll find everything you need on site.
Tradition and Diversity
Nagykőrös holds ten nationwide livestock and general goods fairs every year, with up to 400 registered vendors at the market. The product range is vast: food, crafts, clothing, toys, and market snacks are just the beginning. Among them, you’ll find specialty animal sellers—horses, pigs, poultry, and more. It’s not just a shopping trip, but a dive into Hungarian fair traditions, where echoes of royal charters and centuries-old privileges still ring out from the loudspeakers.
October 26 will be another one for the books—rain or shine, the Dömötör Day Fair will greet you with the lively chaos, scents, and sounds that only Nagykőrös can deliver.
