Bridging the summer

For eight consecutive weekends the Széchenyi lánchíd (Chain Bridge) will be closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians, baby strollers, roller skaters, etc. The bridge is further transformed into a grand stage for performing artists with acrobats and musicians, fire-jugglers, bubble-blowers and kite-fliers for Summer on the Bridge Festival.

On Saturday, June 23, the opening of the festival is marked by Bárka Theater`s improvised performances, as well as a concert and a playhouse for children.

The winners of the music Fringe Festival will take to the stage from 9pm at the Buda end of the bridge.

On the Pest side, from 8:30pm the Brooklyn Funk Essentials, a multicultural New York grouping of musicians and poets who play acid-jazz, funk and hip-hop, will be performing .

For the rest of the weekends, and until Aug 12, the party will continue with Hungarian, French and world music, as well as with jazz and classical performances.

In addition, visitors can taste the cuisine of different nationalities for lunch and dinner under especially set up sunshades.

The event is a prelude to the city`s long-term plan to turn Budapest`s downtown, now prey to traffic conjunction, noise and pollution, into a pedestrian area.

Andreea Anca
www.budapestsun.com - Wednesday, June 20, 2007