Michael Jackson Memorial Tree Budapest
There is a tree in the middle of Budapest, which was promoted on 5 June 2009 from being one of many straight into Michael Jackson memorial tree.
- • The Michael Jackson Memorial Tree is an unofficial but wildly popular emotional shrine peacefully located in Erzsébet Square (Elizabeth Square) in the direct heart of Budapest.
- • It was rapidly established by dedicated local fans immediately following his tragic death in 2009 opposite the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus.
- • Fans officially chose this specific tree because Jackson famously stayed inside the Kempinski Hotel directly across the street during his 1996 HIStory World Tour.
Since then it has become a place of pilgrimage. The Michael Jackson Memorial Tree in one of the most popular parks in Budapest, at Erzsébet tér (Elizabeth Square), which is one of the favorite leisure places of foreigners and young people in Budapest.
Plenty of people come here every day to have a cold drink on Fröccsterasz (“Spritzer terrace”), have a party at the Akvárium Klub, hang out by the fountain, have a picnic on the grass under the Budapest Eye or just have a walk among the beautiful trees.
Jacko in Hungary
Michael Jackson visited Budapest altogether three times, first in 1994, when the promotional video of the HIStory album was shot at Heroes’ Square. Then he returned to our capital twice due to his world tour two years later. His first and only show in Budapest was in 1996 in Népstadion, which is called the Puskás Ferenc Stadion today.
Jacko stayed in the same suite at Kempinski every time, where he often stood by the window, waving and offering messages to his fans, who camped in the park in front of the hotel for up to 24 hours and was chanting his name.
The Origin of the Michael Jackson Memorial Tree
After his death, fans inaugurated the tree next to which they had spent so many hours as a Michael Jackson Memorial Tree, which was also licensed by District V Municipality. Flowers have been planted around the tree, candles have been lit ever since, photos, posters, and messages have been pinned to the tree trunk, and from time to time even one or two Jacko Pepsi are left at the stump of the tree.
If you spend some time relaxing on one of the benches surrounding the tree, it’s quite likely that one of MJ’s fans will stop by. Some of them are easily recognized by a hat, or by their white socks and black shoes, but I have already seen an elderly lady buzzing around the tree and taking care of the flowers. Although the last years of Jacko’s life was surrounded by scandals, one thing is for sure: if I listen to his music and watch his clips, I still have to say that Michael Jackson was a genius!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Michael Jackson Memorial Tree located?
The touching memorial tree is located in Erzsébet Square (Elizabeth Square), standing across the street facing the massive front windows of the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus in downtown Budapest.
Why is there a Michael Jackson memorial in Budapest?
The memorial exists because Michael Jackson spent several days staying inside the adjacent Kempinski Hotel during his 1996 HIStory World Tour surrounded by thousands of local fans gathering within the exact park below his window.
Can anyone visit the Michael Jackson tree?
Yes! The decorated tree stands within a free public city park, allowing international fans from all over the world to pay their respects, free of charge, 24 hours a day.
