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.
Michelle Obama and Sanna Marin Visit Poznań
POZNAŃ, Poland — Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin attended the Impact 24 Convention.
"I encourage you not only to engage in interesting discussions at the Impact conference but also to explore the city. Visit the Old Market Square and walk around the center. We’ve made significant renovations, and today, Poznań is thriving," said Poznań Mayor Jacek Jaśkowiak, opening the meetings on the second day of Impact.
“Impact and the participation of prominent intellectuals, politicians, and entrepreneurs guarantee world-class discussions about what should be our priorities – defending our values of democracy, a common Europe, and freedom,” he added.
Michelle Obama was a highly anticipated speaker at the convention, with several thousand attendees eager to hear her.
Impact 24 is the largest technological and economic event in this part of Europe. On May 15 and 16, leaders in global politics and business gathered in Poznań for two days of discussions on crucial global issues. The event, held at the Poznań International Fair, featured 650 of the world's top speakers on nine stages.
Weekend Full of Attractions in Poznań
POZNAŃ, Poland — The SempAIR Optimi Show was held at the Krzesiny airbase over the weekend, drawing around 20,000 attendees.
Tickets sold out days before the event, which was also streamed online to a large audience. Despite some criticism regarding ground displays and organization, the 31st Poznań Tactical Aviation Base - Krzesiny thanked participants and addressed the event's challenges. Operational activities at Poznań-Ławica Airport caused interruptions, and weather delays affected some planned elements, like parachute jumps and a formation flight of four F-16s.
Additionally, the Night of Museums took place on May 18, attracting residents and tourists to numerous museums and institutions in Poznań and the surrounding region.
Over the weekend, the Citadel in Poznań hosted a flying dogs competition and Kejtraówka, featuring Dogfrisbee contests and rescue dog demonstrations.
Poznań Distributes 5,000 Geraniums in Old Market Square
POZNAŃ, Poland — The city of Poznań gave away 5,000 geraniums in the Old Market Square over the weekend, with two even making their way to Rome.
The event marked the first urban activity under Poznań's new logo. The "Plytówka" attracted crowds all weekend. On Friday, the new logo was displayed on buildings, and on Saturday, a wooden structure in the logo's shape was erected in the Old Market Square, eliciting strong reactions from residents.
The geraniums were distributed from this structure on both Saturday and Sunday. Residents could receive a flower in exchange for a receipt from any restaurant in the Old Market Square. Ultimately, 5,000 flowers were handed out to locals and tourists. The city noted the event's international reach, as confirmed by a photo of a woman with the flowers at Ławica Airport on her way to Rome.
Upcoming Weekend Attractions in Poznań
POZNAŃ, Poland — An unusual festival will be held in Kórnik in front of the castle on May 25-26. Paweł Jafernik and his team from abICE Factory aim to set a Polish record by producing at least one ton of ice cream in 24 hours.
The record attempt, monitored by certifying authorities, starts on May 25 at 11 a.m. and concludes on May 26 at 3 p.m. Jafernik hopes to apply for a Guinness World Record next year. This event promotes craft ice cream production and aims to integrate the confectionery, ice cream, and technology industries.
The festival will also feature an educational campaign titled "Autism is not a disease," with participation from specialists and schools. Free ice cream tasting will be available.
Additionally, the Poznań Wilda district will host Juwenalia, a major student event with concerts from May 23 to 25. More details can be found at juwenalia.poznan.pl.
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