My second year in Budapest and I can finally admit it: Frolicking through pumpkin patches, decked out in flannel with a cup of apple cider in hand just isn’t part of the “fall experience” here. But, come the weekend before Halloween, there is another way to get your pumpkin fix: the Jack-O-Lantern Festival at Hösök Tere (Heroes’ Square).
Getting There–Getting to Heroes’ Square couldn’t be easier from the city center. Hop on the Metro Line 1 (the oldest electrical subway in continental Europe, by the way) at Deák Ferenc Ter and 10 minutes later emerge at Heroes’ Square. (Make sure you validate your ticket as there’re always extra ticket checkers on staff.)
Normally a striking monument, Heroes’ Square is transformed into a flickering playground during the Jack-O-Lantern Festival. Everybody and anybody is encouraged to bring their own jack-o-lantern and put it on display, while spectators can bring dry goods to donate to a charity drive.
As I wove through the makeshift pumpkin patch I was struck by how the adults seemed to be having just as much fun as the children gaping at the different designs. Halloween is an imported holiday in Hungary and celebrations pick up more and more momentum each year, so I guess everybody welcomed another reason to be festive. And the kids certainly seemed to enjoy the excuse to run around in their costumes (there were some cutie patooties, that’s for sure!).
The event had a great family atmosphere, but it was also fun to go solo as an adult, scoping out the most creative pumpkins, warming my hands with a cup of mulled wine (or at least I would have if I’d had the patience to wait in line, haha) and trying to snap a picture of my favorite pumpkin amidst all the other avid squash photographers.
So if you find yourself in Budapest on Halloweekend, head to Heroes’ Square to check out some gord-geous works of art.
Happy Halloween!
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