Events in Krakow
Encyclopedia
The historic city of Kraków
, Poland
, especially the Old Town, is the hub of many outdoor and indoor festivals, cultural events and street parades. Many of them are seasonal and take place only one time, while others are organised annually for many years by various festival societies. All of them draw interest from the locals and visitors alike.
Some of the events are organised by the city, some by private companies, but most express Polish
and Kraków living traditions kept and celebrated by its citizens.
Below is the list of popular cultural events arranged by month.
Easter
Easter Holidays is the period full of customs celebrated by the locals (some of them are spread around Poland while others are typical only for Kraków). Among them one may take part in Rekawka, Emaus, food blessing or Smigus Dyngus. Easter is movable feast that falls somewhere between March and late April.
The Night of Museums
This event gives you the opportunity to visit all the museums in Kraków (for a symbolic fee of 1 zloty). All of them prepare special concerts, shows interactive exhibitions - to attract the visitors and gain their interest. The museums are open till late in the night.
district (on Nowy Square). It is a musical event joined with the contest of the best soup (between the local restaurant-keepers) that may be tried out by the visitors.
Juwenalia
The feast of Kraków students. During the three days of the event the students rule Kraków. Numerous concerts are organised and the students (who traditionally get dressed) are welcome by the President of the city who gives them the keys to Kraków.
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is a movable feast that falls in May or June. Churches of Kraków organises colourful processions for the locals (during which some of the citizens take part in the event dressed in folk costumes). About week after the Corpus Christi the parade of Lajkonik
(a man traditionally dressed as a Tatar) takes place.
Floating of the Wreaths (Wianki)
Midsummer festival is organised by Vistula river (at the foot of the Wawel
castle). There are concerts held, artistic show - and the whole event is culminated with huge fireworks.
Jewish Culture Festival
The festival became internationally renowned happening. During a week of festival the visitors can take part in workshops, exhibitions and numerous concerts - all connected with Jewish Culture. The festival is culminated with open-air concert "Shalom on Szeroka street".
All Saints
During the 1st of November (as well as the 2nd) the Poles pay visits to the cemeteries to embellish the graves with flowers and light the candle. During those days the cemeteries become a spectacular site with thousands of candles. Especially it is worth visiting the cemeteries that boast unique architecture (such as Rakowicki cemetery).
Nativity Scenes
Building colourful Nativity Scenes is an old Kraków tradition. The Christmas Cribs (called: Kraków szopka
) are exceptional as they remind Kraków in their architecture (especially St Mary's church). The contest takes place on the Main Market Square - by Adam Mickiewicz monument. After the contest the most interesting pieces (together with the ones presented in previous editions) are displayed in Historical Museum of Kraków.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, especially the Old Town, is the hub of many outdoor and indoor festivals, cultural events and street parades. Many of them are seasonal and take place only one time, while others are organised annually for many years by various festival societies. All of them draw interest from the locals and visitors alike.
Some of the events are organised by the city, some by private companies, but most express Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Kraków living traditions kept and celebrated by its citizens.
Below is the list of popular cultural events arranged by month.
Welcoming of the New Year
The New Year's party is organised on the Main Market Square of Kraków. During this open-air show the locals and the tourists have the opportunity to welcome the New Year and take part in concerts (performed also by international artists) that are organised by the city.New Year's concert
Each year the Cracow Philharmonic organises a concert that takes place exactly on the 1st of January.Carol Songs concerts in churches
In Poland there is a very strong tradition of singing Carol songs during Christmas and after. It is a custom that in January many churches organise Carol songs concerts during which one can listen to traditional versions of the songs and traditional music of Polish folk groups.International Sea Songs Festival ("Shanties")
Sailing songs (so called: Shanties) are popular not only among the sailors or inhabitants of seaside areas. Since many years Shanties festival is also organised in Kraków where Polish and international performers present this type of songs. EasterEasterEaster is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
Celebrations in Krakow
Easter Holidays is the period full of customs celebrated by the locals (some of them are spread around Poland while others are typical only for Kraków). Among them one may take part in Rekawka, Emaus, food blessing or Smigus Dyngus. Easter is movable feast that falls somewhere between March and late April.Misteria Paschalia Festival
The festival presents historical music and takes place parallel to Easter Holidays. The concerts are held in the Cracow Philharmonic as well as in historic churches around the city. The Night of MuseumsLong Night of MuseumsThe Long Night of Museums or the Night of Museums is a cultural event organized together by multiple museums and cultural institutions in a location during which the establishments remain open late into the night...
This event gives you the opportunity to visit all the museums in Kraków (for a symbolic fee of 1 zloty). All of them prepare special concerts, shows interactive exhibitions - to attract the visitors and gain their interest. The museums are open till late in the night.International Soup Festival
The festival is organised in KazimierzKazimierz
Kazimierz is a historical district of Kraków , best known for being home to a Jewish community from the 14th century until the Second World War.-Early history:...
district (on Nowy Square). It is a musical event joined with the contest of the best soup (between the local restaurant-keepers) that may be tried out by the visitors.
JuwenaliaJuwenaliaJuwenalia is an annual students' holiday in Poland, usually celebrated for three days in late May, before the summer exams, sometimes also at the beginning of June. Juwenalia are celebrated in all colleges in Poland, with different names depending on a school or a city...
The feast of Kraków students. During the three days of the event the students rule Kraków. Numerous concerts are organised and the students (who traditionally get dressed) are welcome by the President of the city who gives them the keys to Kraków.The great Dragon Parade
The parade is a spectacular event during which huge dragons (created by Kraków youth) are carried to the banks of Vistula river — all accompanied by brass bands, stilt walkers and dancers. Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi (feast)Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
Corpus Christi is a movable feast that falls in May or June. Churches of Kraków organises colourful processions for the locals (during which some of the citizens take part in the event dressed in folk costumes). About week after the Corpus Christi the parade of LajkonikLajkonik
The Lajkonik is one of the unofficial symbols of the city of Kraków, Poland. It is represented as a bearded man resembling a Tatar in a characteristic pointed hat, dressed in Mongol attire, with a wooden horse around his waist...
(a man traditionally dressed as a Tatar) takes place.
Floating of the Wreaths (Wianki)WiankiWianki is a cyclical cultural event, taking place annually in Kraków at the bend of Wisła river, near the Wawel hill.-History:...
Midsummer festival is organised by Vistula river (at the foot of the WawelWawel
Wawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
castle). There are concerts held, artistic show - and the whole event is culminated with huge fireworks.
The bread festival
The event takes place in Kazimierz district. The bakers present traditional methods of baking bread, while the whole event is accompanied by folk dances and singing. The visitors may purchase regional fare. Jewish Culture FestivalJewish Culture Festival in KrakówThe Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków is an annual cultural event organized since 1988 in the once Jewish district of Kazimierz by the Jewish Culture Festival Society headed by Janusz Makuch, a self-described meshugeneh, fascinated with all things Jewish...
The festival became internationally renowned happening. During a week of festival the visitors can take part in workshops, exhibitions and numerous concerts - all connected with Jewish Culture. The festival is culminated with open-air concert "Shalom on Szeroka street".Summer Jazz Festival
The festival features jazz concerts that are held in various places of Kraków (many in legendary "Under the Rams cellar"). Polish and international performers are invited.Traditional Music Festival "Crossroads"
The festival presents the variety as well as common elements of traditional music from numerous countries, but especially those situated along the Carpathian mountains.Pierogi (Dumplings) Festival
The festival presents one of the most famous item of Polish cuisine - the dumpling. The event will help you to get to know Polish tradition of cuisine better as well as to try out the specialties.Music in Old Cracow Festival
The annual event during which the soloists, orchestras and eminent musicians take part. The concerts are held in historical places of Kraków - such as churches, Wawel castle and the Cracow Philharmonic.Sacrum Profanum Festival
The main idea of the event is to present instrumental and vocal-instrumental music masterpieces in geographical order.International Festival of Old Music
This event presents old music, played on old, traditional instruments in historic parts of Poland. All SaintsAll SaintsAll Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
' Day
During the 1st of November (as well as the 2nd) the Poles pay visits to the cemeteries to embellish the graves with flowers and light the candle. During those days the cemeteries become a spectacular site with thousands of candles. Especially it is worth visiting the cemeteries that boast unique architecture (such as Rakowicki cemetery).Jazz at All Saints' Day
It is the oldest Jazz festival in Europe during which one can listen to Polish and international jazz musicians. Concerts and workshops are organised within this event.Christmas Market
The opening of the Christmas Market falls in November. The visitors can purchase hand-made local products, exceptional gifts, as well as to try out specialties of Polish cuisine. Nativity ScenesKraków szopkaKraków szopka , or nativity scene is a Christmas tradition originating from Kraków, Poland, and dating back to the 19th century. An unusual and characteristic feature of the szopka is the use of historical buildings of Kraków as backdrop for the Nativity of Jesus.-History:Nativity scenes, common...
Contest
Building colourful Nativity Scenes is an old Kraków tradition. The Christmas Cribs (called: Kraków szopkaKraków szopka
Kraków szopka , or nativity scene is a Christmas tradition originating from Kraków, Poland, and dating back to the 19th century. An unusual and characteristic feature of the szopka is the use of historical buildings of Kraków as backdrop for the Nativity of Jesus.-History:Nativity scenes, common...
) are exceptional as they remind Kraków in their architecture (especially St Mary's church). The contest takes place on the Main Market Square - by Adam Mickiewicz monument. After the contest the most interesting pieces (together with the ones presented in previous editions) are displayed in Historical Museum of Kraków.