Debrecen4U October 5, 2026

Great Forest Week 2026

Voted for Hungary’s most beautiful forest in 2023, the Great Forest of Debrecen will be celebrated with a week-long event series organised for the seventh time by the Municipality of Debrecen, the Debrecen Values Committee, Future of Debrecen, the Debrecen Forestry Office of Nyírerdő Zrt. and numerous partner organisations from 5 to 11 October under the title Great Forest Week.

This year’s programme features guided nature walks, exhibitions, talks, concerts and a family day for visitors.

The Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Méliusz Juhász Péter Library, Zoo Debrecen, Debrecen Photo Club, the Great Forest Association, the Déri Museum, Természettár, the Friss Oxigén Foundation, DVSC Football Academy, Move Debrecen, the Agora Science Centre, Apolló Cinema, the DEMKI Borsos Villa Community Centre and Péter Pataki (Debrecen Grand Fair) are also taking part.

22 September – 10 October

THE HEDGEHOG – AN EXHIBITION BY TERMÉSZETTÁR
Venue: MÉLIUSZ Central Library – ground floor (19/D Bem Square, Debrecen)

5–11 October

GREAT FOREST TRAM
Nature is moving onto DKV’s trams once again, this time showcasing the wonderful animals of the Great Forest. From 5 to 11 October, passengers on tram routes 1 and 2 will hear the sounds of various native animals through the onboard speakers, while fascinating images of the animals will appear on the screens.

5 October

THE SECRET NIGHT-TIME RESIDENTS OF THE GREAT FOREST
Venue: DEMKI Borsos Villa Community Centre
Time: 2:00 p.m.

A special wildlife protection and nature education session for children
Presenter: Edit Varga, HNP-certified nature education guide and head of the School of Nature
A special guest at the session will be a permanently injured tawny owl. Through its story, participants can learn more about the world of wild animals and understand what it means to care for them responsibly.

5–9 October

WRITERS, POETS AND THE GREAT FOREST – QUIZ
Venue: Local History Section, MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem Square)

6 and 8 October

HEART-FRIENDLY THEMATIC WALK organised by Move Debrecen
Venue: Mist Theatre (Aquaticum tram stop)
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Route: 4 km around the Great Forest Stadium

6 October

THE GREAT PLAIN – an educational exhibition by Természettár
Venue: DEMKI Borsos Villa Community Centre (1 Borsos József Square, 4027 Debrecen)
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Through the exhibition panels, visitors can discover characteristic plant and animal species of Hortobágy National Park, gain an insight into the wildlife that has developed around the ancient burial mounds and traditional draw wells, and get closer to the unique landscape where people and nature have lived in close relationship for centuries. The exhibition will be opened with an interactive guided tour by Zoltán Váradi, director of Zoo Debrecen and head of Természettár. The exhibition can be visited until 3 November during the Borsos Villa’s opening hours.

6 October

A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME TO THE OLD GREAT FOREST
Venue: Local History Section, MÉLIUSZ Central Library (Debrecen, 19/D Bem Square)
Time: 5:00 p.m.

A talk by Attila Tamás Vass (Local History Section) as part of Great Forest Week. The event is free of charge, but those wishing to attend are asked to register at helyismeret@meliusz.hu.

7 October

MOZAIK MED COMMUNITY RUN
Venue: Great Forest Stadium (Entrance 3, on the Zoo side)
Time: 5:45 p.m.
5:45–6:00 p.m. – Registration, team photo and introduction to the training session
6:00–6:20 p.m. – Warm-up
6:20–7:10 p.m. – Run
7:10–7:25 p.m. – Cool-down and stretching
7:25–7:40 p.m. – Q&A

8 October

GREAT FOREST DAY
Venue: Debrecen Forestry Office of Nyírerdő Zrt. (25 Kartács Street, 4032 Debrecen)
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony featuring folk singer Ildikó Bárdosi and Miklós Molnár, lead violinist and forestry engineer.
Programme for the day:

• Craft demonstrations and workshops (wood carving and gingerbread making)
• 9.30am: hunting dog breed demonstration
• 10am, 12pm and 2pm: children’s performance by Kuckó Művésztanya
• “I’ll Be a Little Forester!” by Ferkó Kádár’s Photo Theatre
• Archery in the small forest
• Természettár’s hunting exhibition
• Presentation by Zoo Debrecen
• The Zöld Kör association from Hajdúböszörmény, with environmental and nature conservation activities

8 October

THE SECRETS OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Car park in front of Agora Science Centre
During the Botanical Garden tour, visitors can admire flowers that are currently in bloom and explore paths, many of which were laid out in the first half of the 20th century under the guidance of botanist Rezső Soó. At the statues of Mihály Fazekas and Sámuel Diószegi, they can also discover how many new plant names are owed to the authors of the Hungarian Herbal. Comfortable clothing suitable for a woodland walk is recommended for the approximately 45-minute event.
Registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/dDycwrwZKy
Places are limited. Each person may register themselves and a maximum of four additional people.

8 October

THE HIDDEN FACES OF THE GREAT FOREST
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Agora Science Centre
András Máthé, head of the Debrecen Photo Club, will use his landscape photographs to show how unusual photographs can be created in different seasons. Visitors will also be able to admire award-winning wildlife and plant photographs by István Tamás Vida in a presentation accompanied by projected images. The talk is free of charge but registration is required. Places at Agora are limited; registration is available through Agora’s website.

8 October

STORIES OF THE GREAT FOREST – virtual walk in the company of famous figures, seasoned with anecdotes
Venue: DEMKI Borsos Villa Community Centre (1 Borsos József Square, 4027 Debrecen)
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Guide: local history researcher Máté Horog (City-Legends.Com)
The event is free of charge and everyone is very welcome.

9 October

THE SECRETS OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
Venue: Car park in front of Agora Science Centre
Time: 2:00 p.m.
During the Botanical Garden tour, visitors can admire flowers that are currently in bloom and explore paths, many of which were laid out in the first half of the 20th century under the guidance of botanist Rezső Soó. At the statues of Mihály Fazekas and Sámuel Diószegi, they can also discover how many new plant names are owed to the authors of the Hungarian Herbal. Comfortable clothing suitable for a woodland walk is recommended for the approximately 45-minute event.
Registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/dDycwrwZKy
Places are limited. Each person may register themselves and a maximum of four additional people.

10 October

OXYGEN CUP FOREST RUNNING RACE
Venue: 500 metres from the corner of the cemetery (Public Cemetery Gate 3, roundabout), heading into the forest.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Registration: http://sportstopper.hu/sportido-web/faces/oxigen.xhtml
Family entries are also welcome.

10 October

GREAT FOREST DAY AT SZIGET-KÉK
Venue: Sziget-kék Playground
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – Aerobics demonstration organised by Mozdulj Debrecen
10:30 a.m. – Debrecen Garrison Band story concert
11:30 a.m. – live storytelling with Anikó Rácz
12:30 p.m. – Great Forest melodies
2:00 p.m. – a magical journey into the wonderful world of musical instruments with the Trio Consort string trio

NATURE OF DEBRECEN WALK – HEALING TREES
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Meeting point: In front of Pálma Restaurant
The walk will be led by herbal adviser Szilvia Erdeiné Gergely. Nature is home to many plants that people have known and used in various ways for centuries. During the walk, the focus will include horse chestnut, oak, juniper, black walnut, ginkgo and osage orange. Participants can learn what medicinal preparations can be made from the fruits of certain trees, what role these plants have played in folk medicine, and what traditions and stories are associated with them. The walk will also explore why it is important to know about contraindications when using natural remedies, as well as how knowledge of plants is intertwined with folk traditions and cultural heritage. The walk will therefore offer a different perspective on the trees of the Great Forest.
Duration: approx. 1 hour
Distance: 1 km
Participation is free of charge – come and join us!

GUIDED NATURE WALK by the Hortobágy National Park Directorate
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Sziget-kék Playground, at the pavilion of the Hortobágy National Park Directorate
Participants will learn about the wildlife visible in the autumn forest, the natural values of the area and its forest types, as well as the challenges involved in maintaining a near-natural forest. The walk is approximately 6 km long and takes no more than 3 hours. Participants who do not wish to complete the full distance can shorten the route by returning to the city independently via Pallagi Road.
Registration: coming soon

ACTIVITIES BY TERMÉSZETTÁR and ZOO DEBRECEN
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Zoo tent
• Animal welfare in focus – police information stand
• Question-and-answer prize wheel
• 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Explorer discovery game at Sziget-kék
• 10:15 a.m.: KisMaszat Experience Workshop
• “In Grass and Trees…” – interesting facts about edible plants, ways of using them and tasting session led by Eleonóra Sárosi
• Cartoonist Viktor Kostyál
• Photo wall and giant colouring activity

FUTURE OF DEBRECEN AND GREEN SENTINEL INFO POINT
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

DEMKI CRAFT CORNER with the animators of the DEMKI Borsos Villa Community Centre
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

DEMKI CRAFT CORNER with the animators of the DEMKI Újkert Community Centre
Time: 12:30–3:00 p.m.

HORTOBÁGY NATIONAL PARK DIRECTORATE
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
An interactive mobile exhibition about Natura 2000 sites in the Hajdúság–South Nyírség landscape unit will welcome visitors, accompanied by nature-themed educational games.

HELEN DORON
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

10 October

FOREST TEACHER – LEGACY OF A BEETLE EXPERT FROM OLD DEBRECEN
Venue: Déri Museum (1 Déri Square, Debrecen)
Time: 3:00 p.m.
The scientific legacy of Dezső Kanabé (1878–1950), a teacher at a civic school, viewed from the perspective of posterity.
A guided tour by chief curator Szilveszter Mező as part of Nagyerdő Day, in the permanent exhibition Great Forest – Nature’s Storehouse.
Admission granted by tickets for the permanent exhibition.

10–11 October

DEBRECEN GRAND FAIR

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu