Pécs’s only dedicated puppet stage, Bóbita Puppet Theater (Bóbita Bábszínház) in the Zsolnay Quarter, is rolling out family shows for children aged 4 and up on December 24, 2025. The beloved company, housed at 7600, Zsolnay Vilmos Street (Zsolnay Vilmos utca) 16, blends baby theater, classic puppet pieces, and youth performances built around traditional fairy tales, and has earned accolades at multiple Hungarian and international festivals. This holiday, the marquee event is Bóbita Puppet Theater: King Ali’s Festive Dinner (Ali király ünnepi vacsorája), a seasonal production set to charm young audiences and their grown-ups in the heart of Pécs.
When and where
The performance date is December 24, 2025, at Bóbita Puppet Theater (Bóbita Bábszínház) in the Zsolnay Quarter. The venue is an easy hop from Pécs’s historic downtown and sits within one of the city’s most vibrant cultural districts. While programs and times can shift, the organizers note that they reserve the right to change the date and details, so it’s smart to check for updates ahead of your visit.
What to expect on stage
Bóbita’s lineup centers on the gold standard of children’s literature: classic fairy tales staged with expressive puppetry and imaginative design. The company’s aesthetic spans playful baby theater and more adventurous youth pieces, always keeping the storytelling clear, visual, and engrossing for kids 4 and up. The holiday show, King Ali’s Festive Dinner (Ali király ünnepi vacsorája), promises festive magic: think warm colors, rhythmic scenes, and the kind of gentle humor that keeps children leaning forward in their seats.
About Bóbita Puppet Theater
As Pécs’s sole puppet theater, Bóbita holds a special spot in the city’s cultural life. The troupe is a fixture at festivals and has earned recognition both at home and abroad. While the theater’s roots are in traditional tales, its direction is contemporary—clean staging, crisp pacing, and hand-crafted puppets that feel alive. Parents appreciate that it’s engaging without being overwhelming; kids love that the stories speak their language.
Make it a full day out
Set in the Zsolnay Quarter, the theater sits amid galleries, courtyards, and family-friendly attractions, making it a perfect anchor for a holiday outing. The area’s pedestrian-friendly layout means you can stroll before or after the show, grab a hot drink, and let the kids burn off energy in open spaces. The city center is just a short walk or ride away.
Where to stay
Pécs has a deep bench of stays near the action. In the historic downtown, the 4-star Adele Boutique Hotel occupies a protected 19th-century building, fusing period touches with modern comfort across rooms and apartments. A short walk from the Cathedral, Barbakán Hotel offers two-, three-, and four-bed rooms, along with a conference hall and underground parking.
Up on the hillside, Bagolyvár pairs crisp air and sweeping views over Pécs’s Zengő-facing side with a distinctly Hungarian flair: 19 rooms decorated with folk motifs and six suites modeled after traditional press houses, each inspired by a famous Hungarian wine. Expect a quiet setting and a restaurant with hearty Hungarian classics and desserts.
For a modern-classic mix in the city center, Boutique Hotel Sopianae keeps the heritage facade but opens into sleek interiors and personalized service. Villa-district apartments sit close to the UNESCO-listed Early Christian Necropolis, the Cathedral, and Museum Street, while another centrally located hotel places you within a brief stroll of the Knowledge Center and the Kodály Zoltán Concert Hall.
If you’re game for a nature-steeped stay, the Büdöskút key house (Büdöskúti kulcsosház) sits between Remete Meadow (Remete-rét) and Orfű, roughly 800 yards off the road along the Blue Trail and Green Cross paths, and sleeps up to 12 guests—great for groups. In the Mecsek hillside villa quarter, a family-run pension places you five minutes from forest paths and minutes from downtown; nearby are the Zoo, the Da Vinci private clinic, Mandulás playgrounds, fire pits, and walking routes up toward the TV Tower. Guided group hikes are free.
Where to eat and drink
Start sweet at Angyali Kísértés, a chocolate and bonbon shop with a home-baked feel. In the mood for a big, unfussy meal? A popular local eatery dishes everything from fried, grilled, and stuffed meats to brassói, fish, oven bakes, risottos, flatbreads, and—naturally—pizzas, with salads, soups, and desserts to round it out.
For classic Hungarian cuisine, a downtown restaurant serves dependable quality and fair prices with a daily changing menu. Breakfast starts at 8 with foamy coffee, sandwiches, house-made pogácsa, and hand-stretched strudel (rétes); they also host standing receptions and small events on-site or off-site.
Aranykacsa Restaurant (Aranykacsa Étterem) leans into local ingredients and modern technique, with wine tastings in the Vinárium, casual eats and drinks in the Tüke room, family and protocol dining in the Zsolnay room, and wedding dinners, banquets, or birthdays upstairs in the Dakk hall and garden.
Bagolyvár’s restaurant doubles down on Hungarian tradition with a stylish edge, spotlighting old-school dishes and sweets. For something breezier, a bistro at the Balkans’ gateway serves fresh, home-style plates in a relaxed setting with strong value. Big Bell Restaurant (Big Bell Étterem) adds a craft show-brewery and beer garden to the mix; Bohemia Beer Kitchen (Bohemia Sörkonyha) brings Beer – Burger – BBQ to downtown. Quick and affordable weekday lunches are on tap at Borostyán Fast Food (Borostyán Gyorsétterem) on Király Street (Király utca), serving Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. And at PAULUS, the day shapeshifts—coffee shop in the morning, self-service canteen at noon, beer spot by night—plus a calendar of events.
Good to know
Organizers reserve the right to change the date and program. For contacts and activation of listings, reach out directly to the venue or providers. For families planning a holiday theater day, book early, check updates, and enjoy the festive glow of Pécs around Bóbita Puppet Theater (Bóbita Bábszínház).
