Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.

May Day Festival Brings Music and Celebration to Toruń

Giraffes, colorful characters, acrobats and musical soundscapes - this is what May Day will look like in Toruń. From April 30 to May 3, the Street Theatre Festival, and from May 1 to 18, the Baltic States Music Festival "Probaltica". There will be no shortage of patriotic celebrations, picnics and many other attractions.

This year, the Street Theatre Festival is in a new edition. We want to fill the May Day weekend with theatre - said Krystian Kubjaczyk, director of the Toruń Cultural Agenda. - In Toruń, you will be able to see as many as 45 performances from 6 countries around the world. A total of 77 artists will perform at the festival. The leading group is definitely from Compagnie OFF from France, which will present the performance "Żyrafy". It will be a giraffe parade, which can be watched for two days on 1 and 2 May at 8:00 p.m. The parade starts from the new Town Square. A very large event, attractive not only visually, but also musically, because seven 8-meter giraffes accompanied by 25 artists will travel through the urban jungle.

Groups from Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Italy and even Japan will come to Toruń. The most spectacular show will be presented by French artists from Compagnie OFF, who will be visiting Poland for the first time. In "Les Girafes", huge 8-meter red giraffe figures will be introduced to the streets of the old town, which, under the influence of animation, will give the impression of living creatures. A singer accompanied by numerous clowns will take care of taming the unruly herd.

The Street Theatre Festival will take over the entire city. Performances will take place in various spaces in the city: on the boulevard, on the Old Town Square or in the Valley of Dreams. Some performances will be repeated, so that everyone can take advantage and watch a chosen performance at a time convenient for them.

The combination of circus arts with the Far Eastern tradition will be the performance "Oh! Sushi" by the Japanese duo Sublimit. In the 20-minute show, we will see, among other things, juggling with umbrellas and fans and numerous acrobatics. All the props used in the performance were made by hand. The atmosphere of a new circus will also be present in "OnTheRoad" by the Czech group BoCirk. Walking on a tightrope, aerial acrobatics on a wheel, belts and a cube - all in order to overtake the rival in the race for the heart of the charming AcroBetka - the audience will certainly leave this performance with admiration and a smile. Tales of family, identity and travel in time and space will be spun with the help of hand-carved marionettes by Rašid Nikolić from Italy. The characters brought to life with the help of strings and the puppeteer's skillful hands will evoke a lot of emotions - from laughter to nostalgia and emotion.

If you are already dreaming about a vacation, you can go on it with the Jay Toor band from Germany. However, you have to prepare yourself for a journey full of crazy adventures and unexpected events. When the heroine of the show Giselle la Pearl appears on the beach, anything can happen.

The Polish festival proposals are also promising. Elements of juggling, pantomime and acrobatics can be found in Łukasz Witkowski's "Bill Bombadill Show". The artist will not let the audience remain idle during the performance and will ensure good fun for both the young and the old. We will meet a human-sized moth, a mosquito and a fly and other, not always liked, creatures in the performance of "Insect Hunters" by Teatr Sztuka Ciała. The show will not only appeal to the sense of hearing and sight, but also to smell and touch, and all this in order to get to know the insect world better. The Muzikanty group will invite the audience to a traveling silent cinema. So that the projections are not completely silent, three cameramen will do everything to fill them with sound. As the artists announce, they will create live music, but also dialogues, sounds and even special effects.

Juggling potatoes? Why not! Teatr Na Walizkach will invite viewers to an extraordinary feast in the play "Ristorane". This is a place where cuisine takes on a new, funny dimension: flying vegetables, the sweetest cakes and clumsy waiters who will make you laugh endlessly. Although the chef does not promise that you will satisfy your hunger, he does guarantee a unique laugh up to your armpits! - the creators of their play advertise their play. In turn, the Sztukmistrze Foundation will provide the audience with close encounter with aliens in the play "Solarsi". The visitors from another planet must not be entirely bright, since instead of on Neptune (as they intended) they land on Earth. Apart from the cosmic perspective, the show's advantages are the lighting and pyrotechnic effects.

Two festival events have local themes. In the butoh performance “Urazone Guru” by the WoRaZu Group, Toruń artist Rafał Iwański is responsible for the electroacoustic layer of the performance. He will accompany Wojciech Matejko, who in an original form talks about issues such as manipulation, control and giving up responsibility.
Under the auspices of the Art Connections Foundation, the performance “Drogi” was created, written and directed by Paweł Paszta. Toruń actors Damian Droszcz and Joanna Rozkosz take part in it. The performance, performed in a bus, is intended for viewers over 12 years of age and will have its premiere at the festival. We write more about it in a separate article.

Throughout all the festival days, there will be a Circus Town on the Old Town Square. The youngest, under the watchful eye of animators, will try their hand juggling, walking on stilts and on a tightrope. There will also be a zone of giant soap bubbles.

Admission to the performances is free.

Toruń Boulevard Goes Car-Free on Weekends for Pedestrian Enjoyment

From Wednesday, April 30, 2025, every weekend, the Philadelphia Boulevard on the section from Ślimak Getyński to Łazienna Street will be closed to traffic. The weekend promenade will operate until the end of August. Traffic will be restored on Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM.

On April 30, 2025, from 7:00 p.m., the first closure of the Philadelphia Boulevard will take place. It will be closed on weekends until the end of the holidays - says the deputy mayor of Toruń, Adam Szponka . - The boulevard is a place that gathers many Toruń residents. It is a place for family walks, which is also eagerly used by tourists visiting our city. The opening of the boulevard for pedestrians will be beneficial for all those who want to take advantage of the beautiful weather. We are starting on April 30, because we have a May Day full of attractions in Toruń ahead of us, and we are launching a city bike. We will have 360 ​​bikes at our disposal. There will also be 20 electric bikes and 5 cargo bikes available. The Cosmopolis fountain will also be launched on May Day.

At the height of Ślimak Getyński and Łazienna, there will be protruding posts and mechanical barriers. Additionally, during this time, increased patrols of the Municipal Guard and police are planned, which will support, help and serve residents and tourists.

Information about the closure of Philadelphia Boulevard will appear in the urban space – boards will be hung at the height of 500-lecia Avenue and Warszawska Street. Additionally, in the Old Town buffer zone, there is a system of 22 boards directing free parking spaces for individual vehicles, alternating with information about street closures.

Pedal Power and Patriotism: White and Red Cycling Rally Rolls Through Toruń

On Flag Day, let's get on our bikes! Let's spend Friday, May 2, 2025, actively, with friends, under the White and Red Flag.

On the occasion of the Flag Day of the Republic of Poland, the City of Toruń and the Marshal's Office of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship invite residents to participate in the "Bicycle Rally under the White and Red Flag", which will take place on May 2, 2025. This is a proposal for all those who want to celebrate this day in motion, in the company of other residents, with space for common time and conversation.

Start: 12:30 p.m., Philadelphia Boulevard (at anchor)

Finish : Barbara

Family Picnic : 1:30–4:00 p.m.

The rally route will be adapted to the abilities of all participants. The pace and result do not matter – the most important thing is the presence, the common path and a good atmosphere.

Flag Day is a good opportunity to show community in a simple way. The event is open - everyone can participate, regardless of age or condition. What counts is your presence and willingness to spend the day together in white and red colors.

The first 100 people who register on the website and take part in the rally will receive T-shirts in national colors at the start, prepared especially for this event.

After the bike ride at Barbarka there will be a family picnic with free attractions, including: face painting, artistic workshops on patriotic themes, photo mirror, Blender Bike, treat.

Participation in the event is free of charge.

To facilitate the organization of the event, we ask those interested in participating to register in advance using the form and via the websites: kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/rajd or torun.pl/rajd .

Over 70 Years of Service: The Rich Legacy of Bolesławiec Scouts

It began in April 1946, when Phm. Hubert Bonin, a teacher and educator, founded the 97th Scout Troop named after Prince Józef Poniatowski at Primary School No. 1. It was the first post-war scout troop in Bolesławiec, which initiated the reconstruction of this movement in the city. Thanks to his merits, Bonin is considered the father of Bolesławiec scouting.

Three years later, the Bolesławiec Scouting Association was established, with Bolesław Wilkosz as its first commander. Unfortunately, at the beginning of 1951, as a result of political reforms, the Association was disbanded. At that time, Scouting was ideologically subordinated to the Union of Polish Youth.

Instead of learning about God, honor, and the Fatherland, the scouts absorbed values ​​consistent with the communist party line – the most important thing was the state and common work. Traditional symbols, such as the Scout Cross and the Scout Promise, disappeared. In their place, new ones were introduced, corresponding to communist ideology.

In 1956, after political changes, the ZMP was liquidated. A year later, the Polish Scouting Association was reactivated, which took action to restore the old scouting values. The 1960s and 1970s were a time of intensive development of the teams - camps were organized, and scouts began to take part in numerous social and cultural events.

In 1977, the Bolesławiec Scout Troop was given the name Szare Szeregi, which was a symbolic return to pre-war ideals and an emphasis on the patriotic heritage of Scouting.

After the political changes, the ZHP regained greater independence. Currently, the Scout Troop includes many teams and conducts a wide range of educational, patriotic and social activities. Scouts actively participate in city celebrations, rallies, charity events and camps, continuing the tradition initiated by Hubert Bonin.

The Mystery of the Boulder at Bolesławiec Stadium: What Does It Represent?

A special place was marked out in the fence of the modernized stadium in Bolesławiec and a boulder was placed in it.

On the surface of the boulder, there are visible remnants of inscriptions. A reader contacted us with a question about the boulder.

According to the reader, the inscriptions on the boulder should be renewed and an information board should be placed there, as many people do not know why it is there and what it symbolizes.

This is all the more interesting because a special place was prepared for it, as for a monument.

We have sent an inquiry on this matter to the city hall.

Here is the response from Agnieszka Gergont , spokeswoman for the office:

The boulder is a souvenir of an unsuccessful attempt to search for water – a symbol of human efforts and striving to discover what is invisible.

As part of the cooperation between PWIK and the city office, the renovation of this place is planned. The boulder and its inscription will gain new life, reminding us of the values ​​of exploration and perseverance.

Celebrate May Day 2025 with Festivities in Bolesławiec

The Mayor of Bolesławiec, Piotr Roman, cordially invites residents and guests to the May celebrations under the slogan "Our White and Red", which will take place on May 1-3, 2025.

These unique events, combining patriotism, culture and community celebration, have become a permanent part of the city's calendar of celebrations and attract crowds of Bolesław residents every year.

Thursday, May 1, 2025 – Poland in Europe

This year's celebrations will begin in the FORUM Cinema at 12:00, where a concert entitled "Music of Europe" will take place. It will be a unique performance dedicated to the most famous vocal and piano pieces by European composers. The showcase of Italy will be opera (Libiamo duet by Giuseppe Verdi) and Neapolitan song (Funiculi Funicula! by Luigi Denza), Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany - piano music (Scherzo in B flat minor by Frédéric Chopin and Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven) and vocal lyricism (songs Prząśniczka by Stanisław Moniuszko and Struna naladěna by Antonín Dvořák). There will also be Hungarian czardas, Spanish habanera and Viennese waltz. Free tickets to the event can be collected at the FORUM Cinema box office from 22 April, from 16:00.

Friday, May 2, 2025 – Flag Day of the Republic of Poland

Rynek, at 12:00 we invite all residents to celebrate the Flag Day of the Republic of Poland together - a holiday that reminds us of our national colors and how important the symbols of unity and identity are. The ceremony will be exceptionally solemn. The Honor Guard of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, the Municipal Brass Band "Bolesławiec" and standard-bearers will take part in it. Children from Bolesławiec schools and kindergartens will also take part in the ceremony. All those gathered will sing four verses of the National Anthem together.

Saturday, May 3, 2025 – National Day of the Constitution of May 3

On the National Day of the Constitution of the Third of May, which marks the 234th anniversary of the adoption of this groundbreaking act in the history of our country, we invite residents at 10:00 a.m. to the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Castle Square, where a solemn Holy Mass for the intention of the Homeland will be celebrated with the participation of the Honorary Company of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, banner guards and the Municipal Wind Orchestra "Bolesławiec". Then, at 11:30 a.m., we invite you to the next part of the ceremony at the monument of the 100th anniversary of Regaining Independence at Bankowa Street.

After the official ceremonies at 12:30 p.m., we invite you to a patriotic gala, which will begin with the announcement and performance of the laureates of the 11th Review of Patriotic Songs and Solidarity Bard Songs. In the second part of the gala, we will listen to the concert "Music and the Polish Cause". The concert is a chronological presentation of history from the Kościuszko Uprising and the Third Partition (polonaise Pożegnanie Ojczyzny by Michał Kleofas Ogiński), through the November Uprising (scherzo in B minor by Fryderyk Chopin) and the times when Poland did not exist on the maps of Europe (polonaise in A major by Henryk Wieniawski, songs and arias by Stanisław Moniuszko, including Szumią jodły na górości) until regaining independence (finale of the violin sonata in A minor by Ignacy Jan Paderewski). Free tickets for this event can be collected at the box office of the FORUM Cinema from April 22, from 4:00 p.m.

In the afternoon, at Piłsudski Square, the atmosphere will change to more entertainment, without losing the holiday spirit. At 6:00 PM, the band Pop&The will perform, and right after them, at 7:30 PM, the stage will be taken over by the well-known and appreciated band LUXTORPEDA.

On May 3 and 4, Piłsudski Square will host food trucks serving a variety of cuisines.

We cordially invite you to celebrate together! May these three days be a time of joy, national pride and community for all of us.

Żagań Honors the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade: Here’s What’s Happening

This year, the celebration of the Hetman's Brigade from Żagań falls on Thursday and Friday, April 24 and 25, 2025. It will begin with the end of the 15th edition of the relay named after General Tadeusz Buk, commander of the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, who died in the plane crash near Smolensk.

Program of the ceremony

Thursday, April 24, 2025 - the celebrations will begin at 3:00 p.m. with a mass at the Garrison Church at 22 Żarska Street.

18.30 Military Orchestra concert at the Black Division Club at ul. Żarska 50 in Żagań

8:00 a.m. ceremonial tattoo on Gen. Maczek Square and laser shows

Friday April 25, 2025

8:41 a.m. End of the General Buk relay at the monument of the deceased commander at Żarska Street

11:34 a.m. Ceremonial roll call at Gen. Maczek Square

2:00 p.m. Family festival at the Black Division club

2:30 p.m. Concert of the Representative Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army at the Czarna Dywizji club on Żarska Street has been canceled.

The main day of the ceremony will be Friday, April 25, 2025, with the end of the General Tadeusz Buk relay, in front of the general's monument, on Żarska Street. The soldiers will run to the monument at 8:41 a.m., commemorating the hour of the Smolensk disaster (April 10, 2010). The relay is attended by soldiers from the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Żagań and other units in which the general served. Along the way, the soldiers stop at schools, where they talk about the army, their units and their former commander.

Jubilee of Żagań's tankmen

This year, the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Żagań celebrates its 30th anniversary (1995-2025), for which reason the ceremonial inauguration will take place at Gen. Maczek Square. The ceremonial roll call with nominations for higher military ranks, awards and distinctions will take place on Friday at 11:34, also at Gen. Maczek Square.

The celebrations will end with a festival at the Czarna Dywizji club on Żarska Street. The concert of the Representative Artistic Ensemble of the Polish Army has been canceled.

What’s On This Weekend in Żagań and Beyond? Events You Won’t Want to Miss

The weekend is set to be sunny, although cooler, with temperatures reaching 14 degrees Celsius. It will only rain on Thursday and Friday (April 25-25, 2025). Due to mourning, some events have been canceled, but that doesn't mean nothing will happen.

Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Żagań

34th Armored Cavalry Brigade Day - the celebrations will begin at 3:00 p.m. with a mass in the Garrison Church at ul. Żarska 22. At 6:30 p.m. there will be a concert of the Military Orchestra at the Black Division Club at ul. Żarska 50 in Żagań, at 8:00 p.m. there will be a ceremonial tattoo on Gen. Maczek Square and laser shows

16:00 cleaning of the Bóbr banks as part of the Clean River campaign. Meeting on the river near the Żaganny Bridge, opposite the Cooperative Bank.

Friday, April 25, 2025 in Żagań

The second day of the Hetman's Brigade holiday. At 8:41 the end of the relay named after General Buk at the monument of the deceased commander on Żarska Street, 11:34 a ceremonial roll call at Gen. Maczek Square, from 14:00 a family festival in the Black Division club.

Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Żagań

9:00 parkrun in Żagań park. Start in the moat under the palace.

From 10:00 Earth Day with Ogniwo - start of the bike trip at Wolności Square. From 14:00, contests, competitions and a bonfire on the grounds of the POW Camp Museum. We expect the celebrations to end at 15:30.

Sunday, April 27, 2025 in Żagań

The WNMP parish at Plac Klasztorny invites you on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 3:00 PM to the Mercy Sunday concert. Andrzej Chorosiński will play the organ, and Father Paweł Sobierajski - tenor - will perform the songs.