The Galiba Kids Festival is back in Debrecen with more fun, laughter, and magical moments than ever before. Spanning two vibrant venues—from the cobblestoned courtyard of the Old Town Hall (Régi Városháza) to the lively Great Forest Amusement Park (Nagyerdei Vidámpark)—the festival promises five days packed with endless delights for families.
Two Venues, Double the Joy
For the first time, Galiba is truly taking over Debrecen! The festival not only fills the city center, but its newest addition—the Old Town Hall courtyard (Régi Városháza udvara)—is transformed into a wonderland from August 16 to 19. Here, families can dance, create crafts, and enjoy interactive performances. Kids can look forward to puppet shows, folk dance parties, hands-on arts and crafts, and activities inspired by local storybook heroes. Meanwhile, the Amusement Park at Great Forest Cultural Park (Nagyerdei Kultúrpark) is bursting with energy from music, dance, shows, and all the classic rides. Both venues buzz with free and imaginative programs for every age group.
Old Town Hall Courtyard (Régi Városháza udvara) Highlights
Every afternoon between August 16 and 19, magic takes center stage:
– August 16: Baby song circles at 4:00 pm, folk dance led by the Debrecen Folk Dance Ensemble (Debreceni Népi Együttes) at 5:30 pm, plus crafts from 4:00 pm.
– August 17: Start with nursery songs, then laugh along with the Galiba troupe’s live musical “King Matthias and the Honest Shepherd from Cinkota” (Mátyás Király és a Cinkotai Prímás) at 4:30 pm, followed by the “City Dances” mini-session.
– August 18: More baby play, a folk dance house, “City Dances,” and ongoing creative workshops for kids.
– August 19: Dalma Tenki (Tenki Dalma) brings “The Sulky Princess” (A Morcos Királykisasszony), a whirlwind fairy tale with a modern twist and plenty of music at 4:00 pm.
Special thanks to local partners including Pagony Debrecen (Debreceni Pagony), Bogi Négyesi (Négyesi Bogi), and others for keeping creativity flowing.
Kids Carnival Parade—A Flower-Filled Procession
Don’t miss the signature Galiba Children’s Parade on August 19, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Kids proudly march from Dósa Nádor Square (Dósa Nádor tér) to the Memorial Garden (Emlékkert), showing off their own decorated, flower-adorned carts in a riot of color. The day wraps up with a lively performance by the Kiskalász kids’ band at 7:00 pm. Entry for all is free!
Great Forest Amusement Park (Nagyerdei Vidámpark) Extravaganza
From August 16 to 20, the Amusement Park (Debrecen Zoo, Debreceni Állatkert) explodes with performances and family fun. Every single day, you’ll find puppet theater, concerts, dance showcases, and even astronomy shows. Sample highlights include:
– August 16: Brass bands, stilt dancers, majorette troupes, and a dazzling LED and belly dance night show.
– August 17: Concerts, “Little Mouse’s Boots” (Egérke Csizmája) puppet play, Italian flag wavers, Serbian folk dance, and high-energy dance groups.
– August 18: Giant puppets, thrilling drum shows, cool science experiments, wind bands, and energetic capoeira-folk hybrid performances.
– August 19: Trial bike demo, fairy tale stilt show, and street dance crews.
– August 20: Traditional heritage demonstrations, clown performances, and the grand “Happy Elves” (Vidám Manók) concert.
Festival Notes
All schedules are subject to change if the organizers need to shake things up, so stay tuned for surprises. For five festive days in August, the Galiba Kids Festival is the place for laughter, creativity, and shared memories that brighten the end of summer—one flower cart and puppet show at a time.
