Around 70 emergency vehicles, helicopters and vintage rescue machines will gather at Budapest's Aeropark on July 18, offering live rescue demonstrations, interactive activities and a spectacular convoy parade.

Visitors looking for an unusual family day out in Budapest this weekend should head to Aeropark, the aviation museum next to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. On Saturday, July 18, the museum will host its annual Blue Light Meeting, bringing together around 70 emergency vehicles in what organizers say will be the largest gathering in the event's history.

For one day, the museum's open-air exhibition space among historic aircraft will be transformed into a bustling emergency services showcase. Fire engines, rescue vehicles, ambulances, police cars, helicopters and vintage emergency vehicles from across Hungary will be on display, with many of them taking part in live demonstrations throughout the day.

One of the highlights is expected to be the arrival of the MD902 helicopter operated by Hungary's Air Police Service, scheduled to land at around 10:00 a.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the aircraft up close and learn how it is used in police operations.

Fire brigades from across the country—including both professional and volunteer crews—will present everything from modern fire engines and heavy rescue vehicles to historic classics such as vintage ZUK and Barkas firefighting vehicles. The police heritage collection will also feature several rare vehicles, including Hungary's smallest police car, the country's first Western-built police vehicle, an armored Opel Campo that served for decades at Budapest Airport, and a specially converted IFA W50 police transport truck.

Twice during the day, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., visitors can watch spectacular simulated traffic accident rescue operations. These realistic demonstrations recreate the aftermath of a serious head-on collision, showing how firefighters, paramedics and police officers work together to rescue casualties, secure the scene and coordinate emergency responses. Experts will also explain how bystanders can safely assist before professional help arrives.

This year's event introduces a new hands-on attraction: visitors will have the chance to try extinguishing a real fire under professional supervision. Water cannon demonstrations promise welcome relief if the forecast summer heat arrives, while families can also enjoy police dog demonstrations, bomb- and drug-detection dog shows, and a water-themed firefighter playground designed for younger children.

Many of the vehicles will be open for visitors to explore inside, while Aeropark's flight simulators will allow guests to experience helicopter flying. Several Hungarian organizations, including the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK), the Rapid Response Police and Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV), will also operate recruitment stands where visitors can learn about careers in emergency services and law enforcement.

A special guest at the event will be Hungarian online creator András "Szecso" Szécsényi, whose popular videos have introduced viewers to the work of police officers, firefighters and customs officers across Hungary.

The day will conclude with one of the festival's most impressive spectacles. At 4:00 p.m., the participating emergency vehicles will form a convoy and set off on an approximately one-hour parade through the surrounding area, passing Aeropark, Vecsés, Üllő, the Új Ecsei Road and the M4 motorway before returning to the museum.

Combining aviation history with emergency services, live action and interactive experiences, the Blue Light Meeting has become one of Budapest's most distinctive summer family events, offering visitors a rare opportunity to get closer to the people and vehicles that respond when emergencies occur.