56th International Festival of the
Highland Folklore in Zakopane
August 15-21, 2025
August 15, Friday
10:00 Podhale Championships in carriage driving, competition for Coachmen of the Year and Singing contest.
Festival Village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12.00 Conference “500th Anniversary of the Gąsienica Family”
(Speakers:Mrs. Maria Krzeptowska-Jasinek, dr Magdalena Kwiecińska representative of the Tatra Museum, dr Anna Mlekodaj)
Willa Koliba (Koliba Villa), Dr. Tytus Chałubiński branch of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane
Polish Highlanders Day:
14:00 Presentation of awards in the Children’s Festival Poster art contest.
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
14:30 Concert Mali Górale (Little Highlanders). Presentation of the winners of the XVI Tatra Festival of Highland Bands “Złote Kierpce” (Golden Slippers”):
„Mali Hamernicy” – from Kraków
„Mały Hop Cup”– from Zakopane
„Mali Skrzypnianie” – from Skrzypne
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
16:00 Record in the robber dance / Klimek Bachleda children’s team
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
17:00 Presentation of the heritage of the Polish Highlanders:
Regional Team “Podegrodzie” from Podegrodzie
Regional Song and Dance Ensemble “Pieniny” from Pieniny
Regional Team “Grojcowianie” from Wieprz
Host teams:
Parish Regional Team Giewont
Klimek Bachleda Team
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
19:30 CONCERTIN A FOLK NOTE – Barbora Botošova Band & Agata Siemaszko
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
August 16, Saturday
10:00 Scientific seminar (speakers: MariaWalczak-Stasiowska, Jan Karpiel Bułecka, Adam Matlakowski, Bernard Garaj, Stanisław Marduła)
Native Culture Center Villa Czerwony Dwór (The Red Mansion)
13:30 Mini recital performed by B. Garaj, J.K.Bułecka
Native Culture Center Villa Czerwony Dwór (The Red Mansion)
15:00 Highlander Wedding performed by the group “ Białcanie” from Białka Tatrzańska
“Wypytowiny” (“Speech”)
Plac Niepodległości (Independence Square)
16:00 Highland wedding performed by the “Białcanie” group from Białka Tatrzańska
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
20:00 CONCERT IN A FOLK NOTE - Kayah & Bum Bum Orkestar & Fiś Banda
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
August 17, Sunday
10:30 Holy Mass
Church of the Holy Cross, Zamoyskiego Street
11:30 Parade through the streets of Zakopane
Zamoyskiego and Krupówki Streets
13:30 Podhale Sheepdogs Exhibition - Kennel Club Zakopane Branch
Festival Village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
18:00 INAUGURATION CONCERT
Festival Village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
August 18, Monday
10:00 Regional workshops - Ceramic products - Ceramics Bolesławiec
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 Animations for children - ceramic decorations -Ceramics Bolesławiec
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 The Władysław Trebunia - Tutka International Competition of Folk Bands, Instrumentalists and Singers
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
15:00 Slovakia National Day
Festival village – Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
16:00Outdoor concert: Bulgaria
Native Culture Center Villa Czerwony Dwór (The Red Mansion)
17:00 Competition concerts: Greece, France, Macedonia
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
20:00 Competition concerts: Romania, Poland, Spain
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
August 19, Tuesday
10:00 Regional workshops - glass painting
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 Animations for children - glass painting
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 The Władysław Trebunia - Tutka International Competition of Folk Bands, Instrumentalists and Singers
Festival village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
15:00 Greece National Day
Festival village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
17:00 Competition concerts: Hungary, Poland, Sicily
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
20:00 Competition concerts : Bulgaria, Nepal, Poland
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
August 20, Wednesday
10:00 Regional workshops – learning to play złóbcoki (a Polish folk musical instrument from the group of stringed chordophones, being a variety of the goose).
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 Animations for children - construction of a model instrument
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 The Władysław Trebunia - Tutka International Competition of Folk Bands, Instrumentalists and Singers
Festival village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
15:00 Romania National Day
Festival village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
16:00 Competition concerts: Slovakia, Poland, Cameroon, Cyprus
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
18:00 Concert “Music of the Carpathian Arc”
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
19:00 “Music of the Mountains” concert - The Tatras and the Beskids will sound with one voice
Festival village – open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
20:30 Farewell Ball - dance party with festival highlander groups
Festival village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
August 21, Thursday
10:00 Regional workshops – Mszenie domów góralskich (the traditional sealing of all kinds of joints in log houses)
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
12:00 Animations for children – entertainment with a highland
theme
Festival village - open-air tent, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
13:00 Prayer for peace
National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Krzeptówki 14 Street
17:00 FINAL CONCERT Highlanders of the World and Music of the World
Announcement of competition results, Folk Bands, Instrumentalists and Singers competition results and
Award ceremony
Festival village - open-air stage, Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
ACCOMPANYING EVENTS:
- Folk Art and Craft Fair
Festival village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
- Post-competition outdoor exhibition – Children’s Festival Poster
Festival village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
- Exhibition of photos from the Tatra Museum collection
Festival village - Górna Rówień Krupowa (Upper Rówień Krupowa)
- Photo exhibition from the collection of the Tatra Museum,
Native Culture Center Villa Czerwony Dwór (The Red Mansion)
- Open studios of Zakopane artists, galleries and museums
