The 53rd International Festival of Highland Folklore in Zakopane will start on August, 19. Zakopane is proud to host this week-long annual event that appreciates the love of native tradition and ancestral heritage. The participants from all over the world will share their genuine culture with all the visitors. Everyone is invited. The free-access events are all there to fill your holidays with smiles, colors and joy.
- It is an honor and pleasure for me to invite you all to join this year’s Festival. The highlanders from all over the world will keep the festival village brimming with colors and life. The audience can’t wait to feel this unique atmosphere. The joy, the energy and unforgettable impressions are something to take away along with the traditional holiday souvenirs -. I would like to invite you to the heart of Zakopane – the Dolna Równia Krupowa. The highlander music will sound most beautiful here at the foot of Mount Giewont – says Mr.Leszek Dorula, the Mayor of the City of Zakopane in his official invitation.
The International Festival of Highland Folklore is the oldest, largest and most prestigious festival in Zakopane, recognizable not only in Poland and Europe, but also around the world. For over 50 years, this unique highlander festival has been attended by nearly 600 foreign groups of artists and performers from several dozen countries as well as over 200 groups from Poland.
The most important part of the Festival is the competition for the Golden, Silver and Bronze Axe Awards. This decision is up to the international jury of the Festival. The audience will too have the chance to pick their favorite performers. Along with the fascinating presentations of rituals, songs, music and dances all the visitors can take part in workshops, animations, exhibitions, fairs, competitions and even dance games - emphasizes Mrs.Agnieszka Nowak-Gąsienica, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Zakopane.
The performers during this year's festival come from India, Mexico, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Macedonia, Slovakia, Greece and the Czech Republic. There are four highlander groups from Poland that qualified to participate in the Festival by winning the 53rd Festival of Polish Highlanders Folklore in Żywiec: the ‘Biołodunajcanie’ Regional Group from Biały Dunajec, the ‘Dolina Dunajca’ Song and Dance Ensemblefrom Nowy Sącz, the ‘Owcok’ Regional Group from Jabłonka and the ‘Podegrodzie’ Regional Group from Podegrodzie.
Top-class violin virtuoso Mr.Roby Lakatos together with the Beethoven Orchestra will open the Festival with the ‘In the land of the Gypsy Baron’ concert. Next, the Trebunie Tutki and the Urmuli Quintet will appear on the festival stage with the unique project ‘Duch Gór’ (‘The Spirit of the Mountains’). We will also listen to the winners of the New Tradition Festival - the Hajda Banda band. For the second time in history a special concert will be held to celebrate the ‘Power of the Roots’ award winner. The festival will also feature the laureates of the Złote Kierpce Tatra Mountains Festival of Highlander Groups with the ‘Mali Górale’ (‘The little highlanders’) concert.
- During this year's Festival, we will take up the topic of motherhood. We are treating this oldest and most important task as the theme of the festival. We will analyze the role of a woman in the household. We will emphasize woman’s great importance in family and social life. Motherhood is a timeless experience that connects generations. - this is the message of this year's festival as explained by the artistic director Mrs.Hania Rybka.
A scientific conference will also be devoted to the topic of motherhood – please check the Festival Programme for more information.
There is a grand choice of events accompanying the Festival: the Grand Parade along the streets of Zakopane, the Podhale Driving Championships, the Fiakier of the Year Competition, a traditional highlander wedding ceremony, the Podhale Sheepdog Exhibition, the Władysław Trebunia Tutka Competition of Bands, Instrumentalists and Folk Singers, the National Days, the St. Cecylia’s Folk Art and Craft Fair, the ‘The Element of Folklore’ photo competition, many regional workshops including the workshops dedicated especially to the youngest visitors.
- This is an extremely important event for our city. It is a huge partof the city’s holiday offer. It is promoted under the slogan of ‘Good Emotions Zakopane’. The event is a great opportunity to show the diversity and the heritage of the capital of the Tatra Mountains. A holiday in Zakopane is all about good emotions. It is the atmosphere of the city and the hospitality of the local people that makes it one of the most popular destinations. It is a perfect place for everyone looking for either an active holiday, contact with nature, or an experience of history and tradition - adds Mrs.Beata Majcher, the Director of the Zakopane Cultural Center.
The International Festival of Highland Folklore has been organized under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Mr. Andrzej Duda and the President's Wife, Mrs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda.
The organizers of the event are the City of Zakopane, Zakopane Cultural Center
The event was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund - a state special-purpose fund
Main Partner – Małopolska
Festival Partners -PGNiG, LOTTO Brand
The partner of the event is the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage, Polskie Tatry Inc., the Association of Highlanders - Zakopane Branch, the Dr.Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Mountains Museum.
The event is under the honorary patronage of the National Center for Culture
The event is under the Scientific Patronage of the Jagiellonian University and the Pontifical University of John Paul II.
Media Patrons: POLSKIE RADIO PROGRAM PIERWSZY, RADIOWE CENTRUM KULTURY RODZIMEJ, TVP, TVP 3 , TVP KOBIETA, TVP KULTURA, TVP3 KRAKÓW, TVP 3 KATOWICE, Radio Kraków, Radio Dla Ciebie, Polska Press Grupa
Gazeta Krakowska, Dziennik Polski, Kwartalnik TATRY, Elity, Gość Niedzielny, Tygodnik Niedziela, Pismo Folkowe, Folk 24, Kultura Ludowa, Tygodnik Podhalański, 24tp, Góral Info
Kultura Podhala, Małopolska Online, Nowy Targ 24, Serwis Informacyjny Watra, Podhale24, TV Podhale, Zakopiec Info
Special thanks to: Społem Zakopane, Gama Zakopane, Top Brand
