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.
Toruń hosts Eurohockey Club Challenge for first time
For the first time, Toruń will host the international Eurohockey Club Challenge tournament. The host is HK Rustico Pomorzanin Toruń. The opening match will be played on Thursday, May 21st at 5:30 PM, with Pomorek taking on Eagles HC. Admission is free.
The Eurohockey Club Challenge will be played from May 21st to 24th at the field at 75 Szosa Chełmińska Street in Toruń. The stadium has undergone nearly PLN 4 million in modernization in recent months.
Eight teams will participate in the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A will feature Eagles HC, Swansea HC, Valhalla Landhockey Club, and the hosts, Pomorzanin, while Group B will feature Grammarains HC, HC Siauliai, Soroksari HC, and Zurrieq Wolves.
Pomorzanin is the favorite to win the tournament. Last year, Patryk Karamuz's team won the Eurohockey Club Challenge in Šiauliai, Lithuania. " We're the favorites, but we don't underestimate our opponents. Our advantage will definitely be the field, which we've only recently had at our disposal, but we've already familiarized ourselves with it. If we play to our full potential, I'm confident of the result ," says Radosław Popowski, president of HK Rustico Pomorzanin Toruń .
The opening match will take place on Thursday, May 21st, at 5:30 PM. The host team, Pomorzanin, will play, hosting Eagles HC. Admission to the match is free. " This is a unique opportunity to see European-level hockey live in Toruń. There will certainly be plenty of excitement, and there will be a food court for fans, " adds Popowski.
Meeting schedule
The Pomeranian team will play four games at the Eurohockey Club Challenge – three in the group stage and one on Sunday in the knockout stage. Admission to all matches is free.
May 21
11 a.m. Siauliai vs. Grammarians
1:15 p.m. Hotsticks vs. Soroksari
3:30 p.m. Swansea vs. Valhalla
5:30 p.m. Pomorzanin vs. Eagles
May 22
11 a.m. Grammarians vs. Soroksari
1:15 p.m. Hotsticks vs. Siauliai
3:30 p.m. Eagles vs. Valhalla
5:45 p.m. Swansea vs. Pomorzanin
May 23
10 a.m. Siauliai vs. Soroksari
12:15 p.m. Grammarians vs. Hotsticks
2:30 p.m. Eagles vs. Swansea
4:45 p.m. Pomorzanin vs. Valhalla
May 24
8:30 a.m. 3rd place Pool B vs. 4th place Pool A
10:45 a.m. 3rd place Pool A vs. 4th place Pool B
1 p.m. 1st place Pool B vs. 2nd place Pool A
3:15 p.m. 1st place Pool A vs. 2nd place Pool B
Nightskating Toruń 2026 event scheduled to begin
The evening ride through the streets of Toruń is back in style! On Saturday, May 23, 2026, hundreds of roller skaters will once again take over the city during the first edition of this year's Nightskating. Starting at 7:30 PM from the CH-R Toruń Plaza parking lot.
This is the perfect opportunity to spend an active weekend, feel the unique atmosphere and experience an unforgettable night of roller skating!
Start: 7:30 p.m., Toruń Plaza Shopping and Entertainment Center parking lot
Route: about 10 kilometers through the streets of Toruń
Music, city lights, sporty energy, great atmosphere!
The skaters will ride together along the following streets: Szosa Okrężna, Gagarina, Św. Józefa, Żwirki i Wigury, Szosa Chełmińska, Polna, Legionów, Podgórna, Bema, Matejki and Mickiewicza, before finishing the ride again at Toruń Plaza.
Nightskating is an event for everyone, regardless of age or skill level. Organizers guarantee a relaxed pace, professional course security, medical care, support from volunteers, police, and municipal guards, and surprises at the finish line.
Participation is completely free.
No registration required.
All you need is your roller skates and a good mood.
Don't miss the most atmospheric roller-skating event this spring!
Gather your team, put on your helmet and join the roller peloton that will light up the streets of Toruń!
Thousands of Mercedes fans gather in Toruń
Nearly 2,000 cars could arrive at the Pomeranian Aeroclub airport on Sunday, May 24, 2026. This promises to be the largest Mercedes rally in the world this year.
This year's edition will be absolutely unique. The 140th anniversary of the automotive industry is a tribute to the history of the brand created by Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler – pioneers of the global automotive industry. Mercedes enthusiasts from Poland and many European countries will gather in Toruń, creating an extraordinary atmosphere of passion, style, and automotive excitement.
Attendees can expect a spectacular exhibition of cars spanning over a century of the brand's history – from legendary classics to the latest models. One of the biggest attractions will be a replica of the world's first car – the Benz Patent Motorwagen Number 1 from 1886. Unique automotive gems will also be on display, including an extremely rare 1914 Benz 8/20 Tourer and the legendary 1938 Mercedes 540 Cabriolet A.
There will be spectacular Mercedes drifting shows, quarter-mile test drives, competitions for participants and spectators, a Polish car audio championship, and a Retro Oldtimer zone for classic cars. Special guests from the world of motorsport and media will also appear on stage, including renowned racing driver Jan Kisiel.
The event was also designed with families in mind. Organizers have planned a food court, children's attractions, automotive stands, road safety simulators, and helicopter flights.
The Mercedes-Benz Gathering 140th Anniversary is more than just a rally – it's a true celebration of motoring, combining history, excitement, and modernity in one place. On May 24th, Toruń will be a must-see for every car enthusiast.
The gates will open to the public at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are priced at PLN 32.90 and are available at eBilet.pl . Children under 10 are admitted free of charge . A large, free parking lot for spectators will be available at the airport on the day of the event.
The organizers of the Mercedes-Benz Gathering 140th Anniversary are: the event agency Tomasz Niejadlik MEDIA and the Mercedes Toruń Club association.
The event is held under the honorary patronage of the Mayor of Toruń, Paweł Gulewski.
More information on the organizer’s website and on the Mercedes Toruń Club Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/MercedesTorunClub/ ).
Classic Polish series 'Four Tank-Men and a Dog' filmed near Żagań
In 2026, Poland marks the 60th anniversary of the premiere of Four Tankmen and a Dog (“Czterej pancerni i pies”), one of the most beloved television productions in Polish history.
Premiering on May 9, 1966, the series became a cultural phenomenon. Generations of Poles still remember its famous opening song, while the adventures of the tank crew “Rudy 102” remain part of the country’s popular culture. What many visitors may not realize is that the first eight episodes of the series were filmed largely in and around Żagań.
A Series That Became a National Phenomenon
The show followed the wartime adventures of a Polish tank crew and their loyal German Shepherd, Szarik, during World War II. Originally planned as an eight-episode production, the popularity of the series led to its expansion to 21 episodes, with later filming taking place in other parts of Poland.
When the series first aired, it quickly became a sensation. The opening ballad was sung in schools, workplaces, and homes across the country, while the characters became household names.
Even today, “Four Tank-Men and a Dog” remains one of the most recognizable classic Polish television productions and continues to attract new generations of viewers.
Why Żagań Was Chosen
Żagań and its surroundings offered filmmakers ideal conditions for wartime scenes. The area provided military infrastructure, open training grounds, forests, rivers, and architecture suitable for recreating locations from wartime Poland.
Filming created enormous excitement among local residents in the 1960s. Tanks appeared in the streets, sections of the town were transformed into wartime settings, and many inhabitants watched the production from nearby sidewalks and windows. Some locals even appeared as extras in the series.
Today, many of those filming locations can still be identified and visited.
The “Four Tank-Men Trail”
Visitors can explore a special tourist route in Żagań known as the “Four Tank-Men Trail,” connecting locations used during filming.
Among the most important sites are:
- Bracka, Długa, and Keplera Streets — used in scenes depicting fighting in Warsaw’s Praga district
- Libelta Street — additional battle scenes from the same episode
- A house on Nadbobrze Street — featured in Episode II
- The former Dekora factory on Chrobrego Street — used as a Lublin factory setting
- The Bóbr River area near Zacisze Garden — standing in for the Vistula River
- Kościuszki Street — scenes welcoming tank crews into liberated Lublin
- The former Garrison Club on Żarska Street — transformed into a military hospital
- The so-called “Tank Road” and nearby railway viaduct — used in several military scenes
- Skwer Czołgisty (Tankman’s Square) — now home to armored forces traditions
- The Karliki training ground — one of the most important filming areas for tank scenes
- Rudawica — location of battle sequences
- Gorzupia — filming site for a river crossing scene
- Olszyniec — used as a liberated village in the series
- Fields between Żagań and Marszów — transformed into the setting of the Battle of Oksywie
The route includes 17 different points connected with the production.
Local Memories of the Production
Residents of the region still share memories connected with the filming. One local resident, Zbigniew Kowal, recalled being selected for a small role as a teenager after filmmakers discovered he could ride horses.
He later described long hours spent in makeup and costume preparation before appearing in scenes alongside professional actors. According to his recollections, his mother barely recognized him when he returned home after filming.
Stories like these became part of local folklore and remain connected to the series’ legacy in the Żagań area.
A Book Dedicated to the Series and the Region
An important publication for fans of the show is “Czterej pancerni i pies. Przewodnik po serialu i okolicach” (“Four Tank-Men and a Dog: A Guide to the Series and Its Surroundings”), written by Marek Łazarz.
Published in 2006, the 312-page book includes:
- photographs from the film set,
- behind-the-scenes stories,
- descriptions of filming locations,
- episode summaries,
- and historical information about production.
The book also documents the continuing popularity of the series and its connection with Żagań and the surrounding region.
A Lasting Part of Polish Popular Culture
Sixty years after its premiere, “Four Tank-Men and a Dog” remains an important part of Polish television history. The combination of wartime adventure, friendship, humor, and memorable characters allowed the series to survive long after its original broadcast era.
For visitors to Żagań, the filming locations offer a unique opportunity to explore both local history and one of Poland’s most enduring television classics.
Drawsko prepares for weekend of street food, motorcycles and festivals
Drawsko Pomorskie is getting ready for a high-energy weekend packed with great food, roaring engines and an atmosphere straight out of a classic summer street festival. On May 23–24, the green area at Bolesława Prusa Street will turn into a lively gathering spot filled with food trucks, motorcycles, music and outdoor attractions.
The Food Truck Festival will bring together flavors from around the world. Visitors will be able to grab juicy smash burgers, classic dry-aged burgers, ramen, loaded sandwiches with pulled meat, pasta dishes, Polish-style zapiekanki and a wide selection of street food favorites perfect for a relaxed weekend outdoors.
Dessert lovers will also have plenty to choose from, including crispy churros served with hot chocolate and pistachio sauce, as well as a sweet twist on kebab that has already become a festival favorite.
Saturday will also feature the Eska Rider Show — an event combining motorcycle culture, live entertainment and a laid-back community atmosphere. Guests can check out motorcycle exhibitions and automotive showcases, take advantage of free motorcycle service zones, join workshops and meet industry experts. There will also be a barber show with free haircuts, competitions, chillout areas and activities for families and kids, including inflatable attractions and animations.
The entire event is built around good music, outdoor fun and the kind of easygoing atmosphere that brings people together — whether for the food, the bikes or simply a great weekend in town.
Food Truck Festival & Eska Rider Show
Green area at Bolesława Prusa Street, Drawsko Pomorskie
May 23–24, 2026
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Free admission
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