The accompanying program of the 56-year-old Debrecen Flower Carnival, this year’s XI. The Galiba Children’s Festival, which will be held for the first time, provides nearly 200 free programs for children and their families for five days in the country’s only classic Amusement Park, the Big Forrest in Debrecen between August 17 and 21.
The continuously renewed patina park with a history of more than 60 years offers unforgettable experiences for children all summer long, and from August 17, on the first day of the festival, it awaits the general public with a full range of programs for fun and relaxation. The children’s festival includes interactive and exciting stage productions, magic shows and concerts, board games, video games and craft activities, and sports presentations, whose programs, in addition to cloudless entertainment and skill development, present the world of various professions and crafts this year.
What will you be when you grow up?
Veterinarian, Herbalist, Magician, Physicist, Chemist, Soldier, Gardener, Flight Attendant, Policeman, Driver, Actor, Board Game Tester, eSportsman, Firefighter, Paramedic, Policeman, Railroader, Musician, Dancer, Singer, Model, Archivist, Priest, Pharmacist, hairdresser, environmentalist, fencer, aerialist, gymnast, marksman, kung-fu master, aerobics instructor, coach, stilt walker, soccer player, handball player, interpreter, scientist, engineer, marketer, programmer, designer or TV – the Galiba Children’s Festival brings modern and traditional professions for the little ones and even helps the older ones to get to know what the new jobs of today are all about.
During these five days in the Amusement Park, the comedians of the fair can appear anywhere and at any time: the wonderful tinkling of the Agyagbanda band is responsible for the music; and the stilt walkers of the Vojtina Puppet Theater, the Ort-Iki troupe, and the Duó Trió dazzle the young.
Music education is not only a part of education, but also plays an important role in maintaining health: listening to music increases brain activity and productivity, and listening to pleasant music and playing instruments releases dopamine. Through the interactive instrument care programs of the Lituus Brass Band, the Magic Forest, the Garrison Band, and Rocksuli, children can get closer to instruments, music, and different musical genres.
A defining element of childhood is reading fairy tales: these days, the folk tales of the Galiba Children’s Festival are complemented by beautiful music and folk music, as well as a folk dance presentation and dance hall courtesy of Imre Bíró and his band.
The name Matyiproba, which is connected to the name of our folktale hero, Matyi Lúdas, may also be a novelty for adults. In this test, the children can measure themselves in skills tests with the help of folk wooden toys, where the winning competitor can go home with no less a title than being Maty of the Year!
Board games are experiencing a renaissance among both children and adults! What are we playing? team and the visitors will be able to choose from hundreds of board games in the Pagony bookstore in Debrecen.
Visitors – for an entrance ticket – can take part in zoo walks, where they can meet Matyi Lúdas’ geese, as well as another 900 individuals of 200 species from 5 continents, and get to know these amazing animals: they can see them being fed, get information about their nature and habits, while also getting to know the work of their caretakers. In the botanical garden, an exhibition of succulents and cacti awaits future botanists and plant doctors, while young geologists can learn about the treasures of the Earth’s womb in the framework of the exhibition The World of Minerals, the Poetry of the Earth.
The guiding principle of the Galiba Children’s Festival every year is to educate children on the importance of sports and a healthy lifestyle. DEAC’s gymnastics department, handball and soccer nurseries, Claudia’s Angel’s aerialists and various dance schools (Latin Zumba, modern dance, ballroom dance, cheerleading, acrobatic show, hip-hop, shuffle) present different forms of movement for which the children they can connect and discover what, in addition to the joy of sport, also means relaxation for them.
At the festival, children can meet the amazing paramedics, brave firefighters, soldiers, and policemen who arrive with their amazing tools and vehicles, which adventurous toddlers can even try out: a fireman’s slide and an ambulance – just two of the iconic pieces that can be owned by Under Galiba. And speaking of vehicles… KidCar is made with child-sized remote-controlled electric cars, while thanks to DKV, children can test a mini electric minibus and test their skills in the escape room on the bus. DERKE brings transportation-related games for different age groups, from wooden toys to interactive quizzes. Kortársak az Egészgeses Fiatalokért Egyesület comes with bicycle, motorcycle and car simulators and related tasks.
The most fairy-tale moment for children is when they jump on their own bicycle for the first time: this experience gave birth to the running bike competition for 2- and 5-year-old toddlers on August 21 on the KRESZ track in the amusement park.
The much-awaited elements of the Galiba Children’s Festival are a wide variety of crafts, painting and coloring, fridge magnet making, face painting, and hair braiding, or the very popular wheel of fortune, picture display, and badge making.
Lehets Király, Kismaszat, Oviakadémia, and Egyenlő Esély Egyesület help to fine-tune children’s senses with sensitizing sessions and crafts that develop fine motor skills; and the Csodakutya Foundation presents the healing role of dog therapy.
Of course, today’s modern games will also play a role in the five-day festival, so Rioter Games will represent the gamers, you can try out many exciting VR games, and FIFA and Formula 1 consoles will be coming to the festival. Beat Sabber, currently the most popular game among children, is expected to be the biggest attraction.
Visitors can also experience the achievements of technology first-hand: they can see with their own eyes how 3D printing works or what the science of robotics is capable of, and the little ones can admire the magic of graphic software through green box photos, as the graphic artists create scenery around the children, from Demona to Ice Wizard.
At the Galiba Children’s Festival, ice cream, colorful ice porridge, popcorn, cotton candy, and pipe cake are not to be missed, in addition to healthy delicacies, fruit cups, and a children’s menu. The coffee roaster Zádor in Debrecen offers refreshments for adults in edible glasses made of corn mash.
Admission to the Amusement Park is free on the five days of the Galiba Children’s Festival.
Those interested can find out about the current news of the Galiba Children’s Festival from the event’s Facebook event.
Főnix Rendezvényszervező
Main photo: Diána Széles, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen.
