Poland Events and Festivals
January
New Year's Day Children's Concert
This annual concert in Lublin, roughly two and a half hours southeast of Warsaw by train, brings together some of Poland's best-loved performers and compositions to entertain the musically demanding children on New Year's Day. The event is organized by various musical academies in Lublin, whose students make up a large portion of the performers. Located at Ulica Jezuicka 420, Lublin, 950 Phone: +48 81 534 5547
www.galeria.pl/koncert-dzieci2001.htm
 Lotos Jazz Festival (Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa)
The annual Lotos Jazz Festival showcases widely known international stars, along with significant emerging artists. It ranks as one of the largest jazz festivals in Poland and embraces a wide spectrum of styles, disciplines and genres. Takes place for four days at the end of January.
June / July
International Festival of Contemporary Dance
Held in Warsaw for twelve days from the end of June through the beginning of July, the festival features fourteen shows, including two world premieres and six Polish premieres. More information and a detailed program are available by calling 826-13-04, 826-04-52
 Jewish Culture Festival
The Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow is one of the most important and largest events of its kind in the world. For nine days in the end of June/beginning of July, Kazimierz resounds with synagogue song, klezmer music, and Hasidic, classical, and Jewish folk music. There are films, performances, presentations, and exhibitions to see and stories told by the Jews about their culture. Workshops in Hasidic dance and song, klezmology, Hebrew calligraphy, Jewish paper cutting and cooking, conducted by people from both Ashkenazi and Sephardic culture, attract numerous learners. www.krakow-info.com/jewfest.htm
Summer Jazz Festival
This popular outdoor music festival is held in Krakow for one month spanning July and August. www.cracjazz.com for more information or call (+48 12) 423-4016
August
 International Chopin Festival
There are two Chopin Festivals – one in Warsaw and one in Chopin’s manor in Duszniki Zdroj. The one in Duszniki Zdroj is Poland's oldest music festival, and the largest Chopin festival in the world. During its nine days, approximately 25 concerts and recitals are held, featuring the world's best pianists. The venue is Chopin’s manor, located within a lovely park and close proximity to the Stolowe Mountains National Park which surrounds the town of Duszniki Zdroj. Held in the beginning of August.
The Chopin Festival in Warsaw is held for the entire month of August at the historical concert hall in Ostrogski Castle and at StanisÅ?awowski Theatre in Royal Lazienki Park. www.international.chopin.festival.pl/
 Sopot International Song Festival
This most popular music festival takes place in Forest Opera - a beautiful amphitheatre with among forested hills. Each year, hundreds of people come to the town of Sopot to listen to various styles of music. Enthusiasts of theatre and art may attend various events and exhibitions on the Chamber stage of Wybrzeze Theatre, located in a house near the beach. The Sopot Song competition event is one of the oldest song contests in Europe. The festival takes place for two days at the end of August.
September / October
 Rawa Blues Festival
Thousands of blues fans gather to enjoy popular Polish, American and European blues musicians. Among the highlights of past festivals were Luther Allison, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor and many others. Takes place in the beginning of October in Katowis. www.rawablues.com
Warsaw International Film Festival Film
This film festival screens over one hundred films from forty countries around October 7-18. Visit www.wff.pl for exact festival dates and screening schedule. Phone: (+48 22) 853-3636
 Wratislavia Cantans International Festival
Concerts, symphonic and chamber music concerts, opera and ballet performances, concerts of sacred music of different religions, vocal and instrumental recitals, art exhibitions and many other attractions take place for several weeks in the most splendid historical interiors of Wroclaw and several other Lower Silesia cities' buildings. Dates for Wroclaw are around September 9-16; followed by Lower Silesia around September 17 to October 1. www.wratislavia.art.pl
National Public Holidays
New Year's Day (January 1)
Easter Monday
May Day (May 1)
Swieto Trzeciego Maja “Constitution Day” (May 3)
Victory Day (May 9)
Corpus Christi (June 22)
Assumption (August 15)
All Saints' Day (November 1)
Independence Day (November 11)
Saint Andrew's Eve (November 29)
Christmas (December 25-26)
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