Winter Farewell Mini Carnival at Szent István Square
The annual Winter Farewell Mini Carnival returns to Szent István Square in Szeged on February 17-18, 2024.
The two-day celebration features a festival parade, winter puppet burning, various kids' and family programs, concerts, and an artisan market with local handmade products.
The highlight of the weekend is the festival parade, with busó performers in their traditional costumes, and a lot of noise to scare the winter away. The parade starts from Dugonics Square at 17:30 on Saturday and brings the winter puppet through Kárász Street and Széchenyi Square eventually to the endpoint of the parade, Szent István Square, where the puppet will be burnt on a bonfire.
The winter puppet (kiszebáb) is a straw puppet - often in the form of a witch - that symbolizes illness, bad spirits, and generally all things bad. Traditionally, the burning of the kisze puppet, accompanied by a lot of noise, was believed to ward off all bad things, drive the winter away, and welcome the spring.
Everyone is welcome to join the celebration. The winter puppet is already at Dugonics Square for anyone to pin a note on it with the bad things they want to ward off. These notes will then be burnt with the puppet on Saturday, February 17.
Program
Saturday, February 17
9:00 Handicraft market opens
9:30 Opening of the winter farewell weekend with fanfare performed by the brass students of the University of Szeged (teacher: József Boros)
10:00 Kids' concert by the Katica Band
11:00 Witch Hunt: interactive game for kids
15:00 Busó dance performance by Botos Busó Group
17:30 Festival parade with the Botos Busó Group, the Délikert Napsugár Folk Dance Group, and the Gyantár Band. The parade starts at Dugonics Square and arrives at Szent István Square.
18:00 Burning of the winter puppet at Szent István Square
Sunday, February 18
9:00 Handicraft market opens
10:00 Habakuk Band kids' concert
11:00 Donut eating contest for kids
14:00 Kövér Béla Puppet Theater’s carnival performance
15:00 Csiga Duó kids' concert
16:00 “Broom dance” interactive game for kids
On both days:
The Water Tower on Szent István Square will be open for visitors between 11:00 and 16:00. Entrance ticket: 700 HUF
Giant building blocks, a carousel, a small railway, a bouncy castle, and ponies for the kids
From 9 in the morning handicraft market with handmade lifestyle products and food items
Note: the organizer SZVP - Szegedi Városkép és Piac reserves the right to change the program without prior notice
Featured image for illustration
