Closing ceremony

Up to the year 2000 the official closing ceremony of the Festival was housed by the sports stadium of Kecskemét where each group performed a short version of their programme. Every year a closing ceremony including short selections of performances by each group is held at the stadium of Kecskemét. Thousands of parents hosting foreign children who are busy with their work during the week gather that evening to watch a full performance of the event for the first time. At the end of the ceremony, the children return the town keys to the mayor who acclaims them honourable young citizens of Kecskemét, certified by a charter to be taken home.

The multi-language array of many nations' children then take the last opportunity to dance and listen to the Csiperó song and say farewell to each other and the beloved puppet. The final parade takes place on the main square of Kecskemét with wonderful fireworks symbolizing the wish of sweet dreams and bon voyage to the Csiperó kids.

From 2000 the guest children say farewell to their Hungarian hosts on the Main Square of the town but only for a year when the foreign children host the Hungarians in their home country. On the ceremony the most popular groups give a short performance, and in 2004 some members of each group came together to form a huge choir that sang the official anthem of the European Union, Beethoven's 9th Symphony. The spectacular closing event of the ceremony is when following the children handing back the key to the town the many dozens of balloons with the colours of the visiting countries are let fly up high in the air. After the farewell concert several thousands of spectators watched the fireworks the finest part of which was the Greek fire falling down from the balcony of the Great Church.

In 2006 apart from the fireworks there was another surprise for the audience. The half an hour 'laser show' gave everyone a delightful description of the colourful Europe. It showed the most characteristic buildings such as the Acropolis, the Stonehedge and the Eiffel Tower, but we also saw Dutch wooden clogs, gondolas of Venice, and German beer.

This was the way the Future of Europe Association wished sweet dreams and a safe journey home to all the guests of Csipero.