The 55th International Festival of the Highland Folklore will be held from August 16 to 22, 2024. This biggest festival organized in Zakopane is related to folk culture, which is the strength and mainstay of our region. The heritage, native culture and folklore of the mountains every year for more than fifty years have encouraged the arrival of numerous visitors eager for contact with tradition, cultivated here meticulously from generation to generation.

In the second half of August, the tourist capital of Poland, thanks to the organizers of the event, the City of Zakopane and the Zakopane Cultural Center, will transform into a colorful European capital of traditional folklore, full of music, dance and singing. It is impossible not to visit Zakopane at least for a moment during these days.

The International Festival of the Highland Folklore is an initiative that reaches back to the sources of folk culture and refers to the local traditions of mountain lands of various countries of Europe and the world. Over the past 50 years, nearly 700 foreign groups from dozens of countries and more than 200 Polish groups have participated in the prestigious folklore event. The groups participating in the festival present traditional folklore and forgotten rituals, which are a fascinating experience for crowds of tourists. The program of this year’s festival is filled with performances by regional ensembles from all over the world and Poland, but also many accompanying events and attractions.

Competition for “Złote Ciupagi” (Golden Axe)

The centerpiece of the festival is a competition with participants competing for Golden, Silver and Bronze Axe, awarded in three categories: traditional, artistically developed and stylized. During the competition we will see performances by groups presenting highland folklore from Burundi, Hungary, Turkey, Serbia, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Kosovo, Romania, Slovenia and Poland.

They will be judged by an international Jury chaired by Dr. Bożena Lewandowska. Representatives of all groups will also take part in the competition for Sabałowe Gęśle (Sabała Fiddle) and Zbyrcoki (Bells) as part of the Władysław Trebunia Tutka International Competition of Folk Bands, Instrumentalists and Singers. On stage during the “Mali Górale”(Little Highlanders) concert we will also see children’s ensembles - winners of the XIII Tatra Festival of the Highland Ensembles Złote Kierpce (Golden Slippers).

Attractive festival program, full of accompanying events

In addition to performances by regional ensembles from around the world and numerous concerts, the program of this year’s Festival is filled with accompanying events and attractions, including: Podhale Carriage Driving Championships, a parade through the streets of Zakopane, Exhibition of Podhale Sheepdogs, National Days, Folk Art and Craft Fair, Competition of Folk Bands, Instrumentalists and Singers, folk art workshops or animations for the youngest.

The Festival hosts will be: Klimek Bachleda Regional Band and the Parish Regional Band “Giewont” from Olcza.

The entire event takes place on Zakopane’s main street Krupówki and in the festival village on Dolna and Górna Równia Krupowa (Lower and Upper Krupowa Równia).

The International Festival of the Highland Folklore received honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Duda and the President’s Spouse, Mrs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

The event was subsidized by funds from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Fund for Promotion of Culture - a state purpose fund.

The Malopolska Voivodeship is the main partner of the festival.

The National Institute of Heritage and Rural Culture has also become a partner of the event.