Saint Mary’s Day, celebrated on August 15, is one of Romania’s major summer holidays and one of the country’s most important name days. In Bucharest, the celebration includes Romanian music, traditional dancing, outdoor events, fairs, and plenty of reasons to spend the weekend around the city.
If you are visiting Bucharest between August 14 and 16, 2026, the Saint Mary’s Day weekend offers a particularly varied programme. You can experience traditional Romanian music in the Old Town, attend an open-air concert by the lake, discover Romanian lăutărie, see spectacular tuned trucks, watch movies under the stars, browse an artisan fair, take a boat ride on the Dâmbovița River or enjoy a traffic-free walk along Calea Victoriei.
Here are some of the events worth adding to your weekend.
Saint Mary’s Day at Caru’ cu Bere – Live Music and Traditional Dance
One of the most atmospheric places to experience Saint Mary’s Day in Bucharest is Caru’ cu Bere, the historic restaurant on Stavropoleos Street in the Old Town.
On Saturday, August 15, Caru’ cu Bere celebrates Saint Mary’s Day with live music, Romanian folk dances and entertainment throughout the day. The programme takes place in the restaurant’s spectacular historic setting and includes performances in the Salonul Regal.
For international visitors, this is probably one of the easiest ways to combine a traditional Romanian celebration with one of Bucharest’s best-known historic venues. You can spend part of the day exploring the Old Town, then stop at Caru’ cu Bere for food, music, and traditional dancing.
Don’t forget: Caru’ cu Bere is one of our top choices for traditional Romanian food.
Program
Royal Hall
14:00 — Café Concert, Anima Quartet
19:00 — Folk dances, Altița Group
19:45 — Taraf Caru’ cu bere
21:15 — Ballroom and sport dances, Contesina Group
Crama Breslelor
20:00 — Folk dances, Altița Group
21:15 — Taraf Caru’ cu bere
Details
- Location: Caru’ cu Bere, Strada Stavropoleos 5, Bucharest
- Date: Saturday, August 15
- Reservations: +40 726 282 373
Truck Tuning Festival – AUTOEXPO & TUNING at Casa Presei Libere
The Truck Tuning Festival – AUTOEXPO & TUNING takes place at Casa Presei Libere – House of the Free Press, bringing an entirely different type of spectacle to Saint Mary’s weekend.
The event is dedicated to customised trucks and other vehicles, with modified trucks, vans, cars and motorcycles gathered in one large outdoor exhibition. Expect unusual paintwork, customised interiors, accessories, tuning elements and vehicles designed to attract attention.
The festival takes place between August 14 and 16, although August 14 is dedicated to exhibitors. Public access is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, from 09:00 to 23:00, and Sunday, August 16, from 09:00 to 20:00.
Admission for visitors is free.
Location: Casa Presei Libere, Piața Presei Libere 1, Bucharest
Public programme: August 15, 09:00–23:00; August 16, 09:00–20:00
Admission: Free
Cinema Under the Stars at Marin Preda Park
Summer cinema continues during Saint Mary’s weekend with the final screenings of Cinema Under the Stars – Cinema sub Stele.
The outdoor cinema moves to Marin Preda Park in Sector 6 for the August 14–16 weekend, with one free movie screened every evening from 20:00.
The programme is:
Friday, August 14, 20:00 – Tron: Ares
Saturday, August 15, 20:00 – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Sunday, August 16, 20:00 – Jungle Beat 2
Admission is free, making this an easy evening option for families, couples or anyone looking for a relaxed summer activity away from the city centre.
Location: Marin Preda Park, Sector 6
Dates: August 14–16
Time: 20:00
Admission: Free
Lăutărie on Saint Mary’s Day at Hanu’ Berarilor Oprea Soare
For another distinctly Romanian musical experience, Hanu’ Berarilor Oprea Soare hosts a special Mixtură de Lăutărie concert on August 15.
The concert begins at 14:00 and brings lăutărească music into the elegant setting of Casa Oprea Soare, one of Bucharest’s historic restaurant buildings.
Lăutărească music has a long history in Romanian urban culture, particularly in Bucharest, and the Saint Mary’s Day concert is a good opportunity for foreign visitors to experience a musical style closely connected to the city’s traditional restaurants and old neighbourhood culture.
Location: Hanu’ Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare
Date: Saturday, August 15
Time: 14:00
Artisan Fair at Victoria Hub
If you prefer handmade products, independent designers and locally created objects, head to Victoria Hub at Calea Victoriei 210.
The Artisan Fair returns for the Saint Mary’s Day weekend on August 15 and 16, bringing together artisans, creators and local producers in a central location on Calea Victoriei.
Visitors can browse jewellery, accessories, handmade objects, decorations and other locally produced items while exploring one of Bucharest’s most popular central areas.
The fair is open on both Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 23:00.
Location: Victoria Hub, Calea Victoriei 210, Bucharest
Dates: August 15–16
Hours: 11:00–23:00
Free Boat Rides on the Dâmbovița River – United Nations Pier
You can also spend part of Saint Mary’s weekend on the Dâmbovița River.
The Dâmbovița Apă Dulce programme continues its free boat, canoe and kayak rides from Debarcaderul Națiunile Unite – United Nations Pier, right in central Bucharest.
For this weekend, rides are scheduled for:
Friday, August 14 – 16:00–20:00
Saturday, August 15 – 15:00–20:00
No reservation is required. Visitors can simply go to the pier and join subject to available places.
The experience offers an unusual perspective on central Bucharest and is particularly easy to combine with the Old Town, Constitution Square, Calea Victoriei or other events taking place nearby.
Location: United Nations Pier – Debarcaderul Națiunile Unite, Dâmbovița River
Friday, August 14: 16:00–20:00
Saturday, August 15: 15:00–20:00
Admission: Free
COCON Exotic Butterfly Exhibition at Antipa Museum
The COCON Exotic Butterfly Exhibition continues throughout Saint Mary’s weekend at the Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History.
The exhibition takes place inside the greenhouse in the museum courtyard, where visitors can walk among live exotic butterflies in a tropical environment and observe different stages of their life cycle.
Antipa Museum has also announced a special visiting schedule for the holiday weekend.
On both Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, the museum is open from 10:00 to 20:00, with last admission at 19:00.
COCON itself remains open as part of the museum’s summer programme until September 6.
Location: Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, Șoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 1
August 15–16: 10:00–20:00
Last admission: 19:00
Open Streets Bucharest on Calea Victoriei
Saint Mary’s weekend also brings another edition of Open Streets – Bucharest, Urban Promenade, with Calea Victoriei becoming pedestrian-only on Saturday and Sunday, August 15–16.
The pedestrian section runs between Dacia Boulevard and Splaiul Independenței, with Calea Victoriei closed to regular road traffic between 10:00 and 23:00.
The weekend programme is concentrated around several central locations.
On Saturday, August 15, Revolution Square hosts sports and recreational activities from 10:00 to 22:00. The Kretzulescu Park area hosts a coloured-sand creative workshop from 11:00 to 13:00 and a magic show with Magitot from 18:00 to 19:00. The “Emoții în Oraș” campaign takes place near the National Military Circle between 17:30 and 20:00.
On Sunday, August 16, sports activities return to Revolution Square between 10:00 and 22:00, while another creative workshop takes place near Kretzulescu Park from 11:00 to 13:00. “Emoții în Oraș” continues at the National Military Circle from 17:30 to 20:00.
For visitors, Open Streets is also an easy way to connect several parts of the weekend. The pedestrian route passes close to the Romanian Athenaeum, Revolution Square, the National Museum of Art, the Old Town and numerous restaurants and cafés.
Location: Calea Victoriei, between Dacia Boulevard and Splaiul Independenței
Dates: August 15–16
Pedestrian hours: 10:00–23:00
How to Spend Saint Mary’s Weekend in Bucharest
One of the advantages of this Saint Mary’s Day weekend is that many of the events can be combined rather than treated as separate destinations.
You can start August 15 with traditional music at Hanu’ Berarilor or Caru’ cu Bere, continue through the pedestrian area on Calea Victoriei, browse the Artisan Fair, take a free ride on the Dâmbovița and finish the day with an outdoor movie or a Romanian music concert at Berăria H.
Families can combine COCON at Antipa Museum with King Michael I Park and Berăria H, while automotive fans can head north to Casa Presei Libere for the Truck Tuning Festival.
Whether you want Romanian traditions, music, outdoor activities, family attractions or simply a different way to explore the city, Saint Mary’s weekend, August 14–16, offers plenty to do in Bucharest.
Please note that we are not responsible for any event cancellations or last-minute programme changes. We recommend verifying event details with the organisers before attending.
