Events in the Krakow- Zakopane, Malopolska Area

Events in Poland not to be missed:

• New Year or Sylwester when Poland celebrates - make sure you're in the main square in Krakow or big town centre and enjoy a fantastic time with the revellers. Or book a dance and meal in advance. Firework displays follow.
• Skiing and tobogganing throughout January, February and March at the numerous ski slopes between Krakow and Zakopane. Horse drawn sleigh rides with jingling bells.
• Fat Thursday, the Thursday before Ash Wednesday when Poles stuff themselves with their favourite treats, especially lovely Polish doughnuts or fried pastries called faworki, before Lent.
• Easter - buy some colourful painted wooden eggs to take home and if you're religious take part in the church services. Easter Monday is a time of great fun for the young people - it's a day of pouring water over each other for fun.
• 1st of April or All Fools Day is celebrated by all pranksters in Poland so beware if you're on holiday then.

More events and happenings in Krakow (Cracow), Rabka, Zakopane- Poland

3rd week of February in Krakow (Cracow) - an international festival of sea shanties. Why you may ask, surely it should be in the coastal north rather than land-locked south of Poland, but go along and enjoy a rip-roaring time. See Sea Shanty festival web site.

May 3rd celebrations - public holiday when people enjoy time out - see the Poles gather, picnic and play.

June sees the start of the widely acclaimed Krakow (Cracow) Jewish Festival which takes place throughout the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz and other parts of Cracow, ending with an open air concert in Szeroka Street.

A street theatre festival also takes place in June. Enjoy street parades and performances. There is always some sort of street theatre in the main square in Cracow.

1st-3rd June Childrens' Festival in Rabka Zdroj (1 hour south of Cracow) with traditional Polish song and dance. Football tournament.

Wianki or Wreaths midsummer festival takes place on the banks of the river Wisla, opposite Wawel Castle in Krakow, in late June on St. John's day. Since pagan times, virgins shower wreaths to float down river. Usual jokes about lack of virgins nowadays. This is accompanied by music, fireworks and various festivities. About a million people come to Krakow every year to participate.

Summer holidays see a series of festivals and cultural events, mainly to entertain tourists. Folk festivals are held in Krakow, Rabka and Zakopane, as well as other locations throughout Poland.

30th November - St. Andrews Day. Enjoy party time at this strange pagan festival that entails dancing and divining using molten wax poured into water. Have someone interpret the shapes and predict your future for you.

6th December is the day for children of Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas to others on the continent) when gifts are dispersed. Christmas decorations in Poland tend to go up after this date and not before as is the custom in the Uk and other countries. You're likely to see displays of cribs and nativity scenes as well as really pretty Christmas lights.

December - There is a Christmas Market in the main square in Krakow with hot mulled wine for sale, hot sausages and meats, and a horde of other tempting festive things to buy, including wonderful tree decorations. This remains open until at least 1st week of January.

Public holidays to note are:

1st January - New Year's Day - organised celebrations in Krakow main square
1st May - May Day Celebrations
3rd May - Constitution Day
11th November - Independence Day