Free things to do in Budapest this week
Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October
Great things happening in Budapest this week that won’t cost you a forint.
Photo: Hegyvidék Galéria 1. Rumináció: Dóra Vanda Demcsák’s cows
11 September to 8 October, Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday 10:00 to 14:00
Hegyvidék Galéria, District XII
Life-size cow torsos in metal and papier mâché, each one more eaten away than the last, until nothing is left but the plinth. Dóra Vanda Demcsák builds the show on the parallel between a cow chewing the cud and a mind chewing over the same thought.
Photo: Kult2 2. The ballpoint pen inventor’s other inventions
24 September to 11 October, daily 10:00 to 18:00
Klebelsberg Kultúrkúria, Pesthidegkút, District II
A free exhibition on László József Bíró, who invented the ballpoint pen and also an automatic gearbox and an electromagnetic transmission device later used on Japan’s high-speed railway.
3. Idő-Állomás, Bálint Szajki's railway photographs
30 September to 29 October, opening 30 September at 19:00, then on show to 29 October, with a curator's tour on 20 October at 17:00
B32 Galéria és Kultúrtér, District XI
A press photographer spent months on the Hungarian railways, and these are the pictures. Free to see, in the gallery on Bartók Béla út.
Photo: KMO Művelődési Központ és Könyvtár 4. Edit Szalma: Képjegyzetek
22 September to 8 November, Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 16:00, Friday usually the same, weekends depending on what else is on
Előtér Galéria, KMO Művelődési Központ, District XIX
Edit Szalma draws for books and poems, and this free show in the KMO’s foyer gallery hangs the results as art in their own right rather than as illustrations.
Photo: Deák17 Galéria 5. LAK|HATÁS, housing seen by young artists
25 September to 8 January
Városháza Park, District V
An open-air show in the park behind City Hall, on what home means to people starting out. The Deák17 gallery picked the work from an open call and hung it outdoors, so you can take it in on the way past.
Photo: KMO Művelődési Központ és Könyvtár 6. Zenél Kispest, street concerts for World Music Day
Thursday 1 October, 17:00 to 18:00, with the rolling piano out from 12:00
Streets, squares and shopping centres across Kispest, District XIX
For one hour Kispest hands its streets, squares and shopping centres over to musicians who all start playing at the same moment. Walk between them and you can hear Irish music, a cello orchestra and a brass band in an afternoon.
7. Budapest International Book Festival
1 to 4 October, Thursday 12:00 to 20:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday 10:00 to 19:00
Hungexpo, District X
Four days of Hungarian and international publishing under one roof, with Germany, Austria and Switzerland sharing the guest of honour slot and the Irish novelist Colm Tóibín as guest author. Entry costs nothing.
Photo: Oktoberfest Budapest 8. Oktoberfest on Margaret Island
25 September to 4 October, Friday 17:00 to 23:00, Saturday 14:00 to 23:00, Sunday 12:00 to 21:00
Paulaner Sörkert, Margaret Island, District XIII
A big marquee in the Paulaner beer garden on Margaret Island, with Munich festival beers, Bavarian food and live brass bands over two weekends. Entry is free, and a second site on Erzsébet tér runs the same weekends.
Photo: Csokonai Kulturális Központ 9. Community clothes swap in Rákospalota
Saturday 3 October, 10:00 to 16:00
Csokonai Rendezvényház, Rákospalota, District XV
Bring the clothes you have stopped wearing, take away somebody else’s, and no money changes hands either way. The district’s culture centre runs it for a day, with adults’ and children’s clothes both in the mix.
Photo: We love Dogz 10. DOGZ great pack walk along Andrássy út
Saturday 3 October, from 10:00, walking off at 10:30 and finishing at 14:00
Szent István tér to the Városliget
Several hundred dogs and their owners walk the length of Andrássy út together, from the Basilica to the Városliget. Taking part costs nothing, but you have to register first.
Photo: MáraiKult 11. Zenta town brass band on the castle terrace
Saturday 3 October, from 14:00
Savoyai terrace, Budavári Palotanegyed, District I
The closing concert of Budavár's outdoor music series, played on the Danube-facing terrace beside the equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Walk up and listen.
Photo: Újpesti Kulturális Központ 12. Kacatoló, the children's flea market in Újpest
Saturday 3 October, 09:00 to 12:00
Ifjúsági Ház, District IV
Children aged six to eighteen sell and swap the toys they have outgrown. Getting in costs nothing and neither does a table, but tables have to be booked first.
13. A Csend Ünnepe, a community day on the Aszódi estate
Saturday 3 October, from 14:00
Madaras József tér, District IX
Ferencváros's cultural centre puts on an afternoon and evening for the Aszódi estate, and anyone can turn up. Music, games and hands-on craft workshops in the square, and every part of the programme is free.