Hunglish.orgNew Years Eve is approaching amd it's time for expats living in Hungary to start making plans on how to bring in the new decade. Start 2010 either at either a New Year's Eve Opera ball or at 1 of 3 different street parties to a nightclub or a cruise on the Danube.
Giving thought as to how you want to spend the last night of the decade if you happen to be in Budapest this year? Depending on how you want to enter into 2010 there are choices ranging from an intimate and posh nightclub to a dinner cruise on the Danube to a ball at the Hungarian State Opera along with street and club parties. The New Year’s Eve Opera Ball at the Hungarian Opera is most likely the fanciest way to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year in Budapest. So for those in the mood for waltzes and ballet plus a later progressive twist of DJ and Latino music, the ball has been going strong for the last 19 years. There will be a repertoire of music starting with a Johann Strauss’ operetta, The Bat. It will be performed by many established singers and ballet dancers plus musicians from the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra will be getting in tune. The gala will be catered by the famous Gundel restaurant and dinners will be eaten, depending on seats purchased, either on stage, in the state rooms or in the boxes. There is a choice for patrons between 2 and 3 course meals and even a vegetarian menu. The National Anthem will be sung at midnight, a New Year’s toast will be given, and a band will play and there will be dancing until dawn. The waltz will begin at midnight. There is a piano room, and for later entertainment the Netti and the Hollander band will be performing along with the world champion mixer András Lajsz. Fine cocktails will be served and Latino rhythms of Patrizio Baeza Band will play. Tickets should be purchased soon and can be bought at the following website for the Opera Ball. The tickets run from 60,000HUF to 325,000HUF. Guests are asked to dress up in formal attire and to wear a mask for the ball.
New Year's Cruise
For another way to spend a classy or romantic evening on New Year’s Eve that is less pricey or formal is taking a New Year's Eve cruise on the Danube with a 4-course dinner and a midnight spread and entertainment. There will be live gypsy music and a folk dancing performance by the Rajkó Folk Ensemble. Traditional foods will be served at midnight like frankfurter sausages with horseradish and mustard, lentil soup and roast pig. An open bar will provide all the champagne and cocktails, tea or coffee that guests may need to keep the night humming.
Street parties and clubing for New Year's
Symbol’s nightclub is an additional event offering a New Year’s party with a live band and DJ’s to keep the music going long into the night. The entrance fee for ladies is 1000 HUF and 2000 HUF for men, the fee comes with one free drink. Symbol is a high-end posh club in a three-level story house that dates back to the 1800s. Professional and stylish people enjoy Symbol; the décor is modern yet intimate with a variety of niches to retreat to within the club from a sports bar, a garden room, a phenomenal restaurant, café, wine and lounge bar plus a dance club. Parties on the streets of Budapest include festivities at Vörösmarty Square, Nyugati Square and at the Oktogon. At Vörösmarty Square there will be live bands from a few different countries; Hungarian pop groups will rock in the New Year playing live concerts for free. As it is also
Hanukah that night, there will also be music celebrating this occasion along with kosher wine and brandy being served. At Nyugati Square there will be Hungarian pop-rock bands and at Oktogon, popular Hungarian DJs will be mixing. All 3 of these street parties will have firework shows to enjoy later into the evening. Wherever you are when the clock strikes midnight, whether hosting your own New Year’s Eve party or attending a public party, there is certainly enough entertainment in Budapest to interest just about anyone, the real problem is, which event of many, will you decide to attend?
Written by Natalie Jaro