Three fairs featuring artisan products and food, performances from the National Theatre Festival, concerts by Danko Jones and TENDER, and another weekend at the Witches’ Fair: from 16 to 18 October, Bucharest offers options for both spontaneous outings and evenings planned in advance.

The selection below includes events announced by organisers, host institutions and ticketing platforms. Schedules and prices were checked on 15 October; check availability and any booking fees before purchasing.

Brumărel Fair: crafts and autumn food at the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant

For an outing that requires no advance booking, Brumărel Fair takes over the courtyard of the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant from Friday to Sunday. Craftspeople and artisans bring ceramics, wooden objects, textiles, jewellery, toys and decorations. There is also an area dedicated to vintage items, from porcelain and clocks to furniture and traditional textiles.

The food selection includes cheeses, pies, honey, zacuscă vegetable spread and pickles, alongside dishes you can enjoy on site. The announced menu features stuffed cabbage rolls, lamb pastrami, fish dishes and fresh grape must. Craft demonstrations and creative workshops are also planned.

Opening hours are 10:00–18:00 on all three days, and admission to the fair is free, according to the announcement from the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant. Access to the courtyard is from 3 Monetăriei Street. Look for the entrance on Monetăriei rather than relying solely on the museum’s main address on Kiseleff Road. Purchases are paid for separately.

Artisan Food Market moves to the National Library

The 13th edition of Artisan Food Market runs from 16 to 18 October at the National Library of Romania. It is an option for anyone who wants to discover local producers, compare products and learn directly how the cheeses, bread, chocolate, preserves and artisan drinks on display are made.

The organisers’ programme includes presentations and tastings. Saturday’s schedule features a spicy food tasting from 13:00 to 14:00 and an artisan chocolate and coffee presentation from 14:15 to 15:15. On Sunday, a masterclass dedicated to Hoghilag cheeses starts at 12:00.

The fair is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00, at 22 Unirii Boulevard. Listed ticket prices are 20 lei for one day, 33 lei for two days and 51 lei for all three days. The “Muzeul Sarmalelor” exhibition, dedicated to stuffed cabbage rolls, has a separate 10-lei ticket—this should not be confused with admission to the fair. From Piața Unirii, you can walk along Unirii Boulevard towards the library.

Taste of Transylvania: cooking demonstrations and tastings at the Village Museum

At the “Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum, Taste of Transylvania Boutique Festival brings together restaurants, chefs and culinary experiences. The programme combines cooking demonstrations with workshops and music, so you can easily spend several hours exploring.

The festival programme features Oana Coantă on Friday at 18:00 and Alex Petricean at 19:00. Saturday includes a discussion with Adi Hădean at 17:00 and a demonstration by Simone Cantafio at 18:00. Taste Academy workshops are listed as free but require registration; admission to the festival requires a ticket.

The venue is at 30 Pavel D. Kiseleff Road. The organisers list the following provisional opening hours:

• Friday, 16 October: 12:00–21:00;

• Saturday, 17 October: 11:00–21:00;

• Sunday, 18 October: 13:00–18:00.

On Sunday, entry from 11:00 is reserved for holders of the special brunch ticket. The organisers recommend Aviatorilor metro station as a transport reference point, with an onward journey to the museum.

Day tickets cost 139 lei on Friday, 159 lei on Saturday and 149 lei on Sunday. They include admission to the festival and museum, plus two dishes from selected participating restaurants. The 269-lei weekend pass covers all three days and includes three dishes in total. Brunch and “Blind Culinary Experience” meals require separate tickets.

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Two National Theatre Festival productions at the Bulandra Theatre

For theatre lovers, this weekend’s National Theatre Festival programme includes “The Bald Soprano”, by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Mihai Măniuțiu. The Timișoara National Theatre production explores the comedy and absurdity of conversations between Ionesco’s characters. The performance lasts one hour and 20 minutes, is recommended for audiences aged 14+, and is performed in Romanian with English translation.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, at 19:00, and Sunday, 18 October, at 17:00, at the Bulandra Theatre’s Toma Caragiu Hall, 76A Jean-Louis Calderon Street. The dates are confirmed in the official festival programme.

Another option is “The Tót Family”, by István Örkény, directed by Hunor Horváth and produced by the “Csiky Gergely” Hungarian State Theatre in Timișoara. The story follows a family hosting their son’s commanding officer while their son is away at war, trying to accommodate the officer’s every whim. The performance lasts three hours, including an interval, and is recommended for ages 14+.

“The Tót Family” is performed on 17 and 18 October at 19:00, at Liviu Ciulei Hall, 1 Schitu Măgureanu Boulevard. The production is in Hungarian and Romanian, with Romanian and English translation. The two Bulandra venues are at different addresses, so check the hall printed on your ticket. Prices and availability can be checked through the booking pages linked by the festival.

Danko Jones and Split Dogs perform at Quantic on Friday

On Friday, 16 October, Canadian hard rock band Danko Jones performs at Quantic, with Britain’s Split Dogs as the opening act. It is one of this weekend’s options for a night of live rock in a club setting.

The detailed schedule on the ticket page distinguishes entry time from the performances: doors open at 19:00, Split Dogs are scheduled for 20:20, and Danko Jones for 21:30. The door-opening time is therefore not the start time of the headline set.

The address is 82 Grozăvești Road. At the time of checking, the platform displayed a promotional general admission price of 121.88 lei, reduced from 174.11 lei. The offer may change, and the final total should be checked before payment.

TENDER brings its new album to Expirat – Halele Carol

Also on Friday, 16 October, British duo TENDER, consisting of James Cullen and Dan Cobb, comes to Expirat for a concert promoting the album “Where the Waves Break”. It offers an alternative for those who prefer electronic sounds and an intimate club concert.

The event takes place at Expirat – Halele Carol, 1 Doctor Constantin Istrati Street, with doors opening at 20:00. General admission presale tickets were listed at 145 lei on the ticketing platform. The advertised time refers to admission; check the organisers’ final schedule for the artists’ stage time.

The Witches’ Fair continues at the Comic Opera for Children

Families can visit the Witches’ Fair, held in the garden of the Comic Opera for Children. Running on weekends until 1 November, the event features encounters with fantasy characters, creative activities and workshops such as painting, pumpkin carving and 3D printing.

For 16–18 October, opening hours are Friday, 16:00–20:00, and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00–20:00. The address is 16 Giulești Road, and admission to the fairground is free, according to the Comic Opera for Children.

Workshops and attractions use the rechargeable OCC Card, available at the information points. Free entry to the garden does not mean that all activities are free: check the price of your chosen experience before adding credit to the card. For families with young children, arriving in the morning on Saturday or Sunday leaves more time to explore.

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