Nagykőrös will roll out its beloved Irén Day Fair on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 2750 Nagykőrös, Alsójárás dűlő 1 (lot no. 0247). Expect a full-on folk showcase with traditional crafts, folk dance (néptánc), puppetry, Hungarian folk songs (magyar nóta), operetta, and a sprawling market. The town’s right to hold fairs dates back to the 16th century, and these gatherings still draw serious crowds: typically 8,000–10,000 people, while St. George’s Day and St. Michael’s Day blow past 20,000.
Centuries of Privilege, Still Alive
The fair traces its pedigree to royal charters, including a privilege reaffirmed in “the month of Christmas” in 1759 by the Apostolic Queen Maria Theresa, granted to the loyal council and judge of the market town of Nagykőrös. In that spirit, the heirs of csikós horsemen, gulyás cattlemen, kondás swineherds, and juhász shepherds may still drive every kind of hoofed stock—bullocks and other cattle—into the bustle. Also expected: today’s keepers of old guild crafts, merchants, grill masters, minstrels, lutenists, comedians, fire-eaters, jesters, and criers—anyone who can prove their trade with a trusty seal and pays the market toll fair and square. Signed: Dr. Szabolcs Czira, Mayor of Nagykőrös.
Ten Big Markets, Four Hundred Traders
Nagykőrös hosts ten national livestock and traders’ markets a year. Around 400 vendors currently rent stalls, offering a wildly mixed selection. Beyond the main trader rows, animal sections are clearly separated: horses, cattle, pigs (plus goats and sheep), poultry, and small pets.
When Gates Open
– Traders’ market: 4:30 a.m.
– Pig gate: 5:00 a.m.
– Cattle gate: 5:30 a.m.
– Horse market gate: 6:00 a.m.
The fair usually runs until 1–2 p.m., weather permitting. Visitor numbers range from 5,000 to 25,000 depending on the date and forecast. Date: March 29, 2026. Location: Nagykőrös.
