For the 59th time, the Beskidy Mountains will become a meeting place for enthusiasts of international folklore! From July 30th to August 7th, the Week of Beskid Culture 2022 will take place in Wisła, Szczyrk, Żywiec, Maków Podhalański, Oświęcim, Ujsoły, Jabłonków, and Istebna.
Admission to the concerts is free. Not long ago, we witnessed the gathering of Jerzy Pilch's works' enthusiasts during the Granatowe Góry Jerzy Pilch Word Festival, and now we eagerly await another event that attracts tourists and folk groups from around the world. Last year, in addition to Polish bands, representatives from Chile, Canada, Georgia, and Romania visited Wisła. What does this international festival look like this year?
Week of Beskid Culture - Beginnings
The Week of Beskid Culture took place for the first time in 1964 in Wisła and was a response to the need for people to meet, celebrate, and share cultural experiences. Inspired by the people of Wisła, the event grew to a much larger scale, and today, for 9 consecutive days, folk groups from Poland and around the world perform on stages in 8 cities. In addition to band performances, singers, and dance groups, the festival features exhibitions of folk art and crafts. Residents and tourists also participate in markets, competitions, and numerous workshops.
As part of the Week of Beskid Culture, two major competitions are held: the Festival of Polish Highlander Folklore and the International Folklore Meetings. The former has been held since 1970 in Żywiec, while the latter competition was initiated in 1990.
As accompanying events during the Week of Beskid Culture, there is also the Gorolskie Święto in Jabłonków in the Czech Republic, the Istebna Festival, and the Wawrzyńcowe Hudy in Ujsoły, during which tall piles of brushwood and wood, called "hudas," are set on fire.
Week of Beskid Culture 2022 - Program
Concerts in Wisła, Szczyrk, and Maków Podhalański take place from July 30th to August 7th. In Istebna, it's from July 30th to July 31st, in Oświęcim from August 4th to August 7th, in Jabłonków in Zaolzie (Czech Republic) from August 5th to August 7th, and in Ujsoły from August 6th to August 7th.
The festival days in Żywiec begin with the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ziemia Żywiecka group on July 29th (at 6:00 PM). The following day marks the start of the 53rd Festival of Polish Highlander Folklore. From August 3rd to August 6th, the 31st International Folklore Meetings will take place in Żywiec. Admission to all concerts is free. You can find a detailed schedule on the organizers' website for the Beskid culture festival.
Concerts by groups and a procession in Wisła
The Beskid Week in Wisła starts on July 30th at 3:00 PM when a procession of groups passes through the town. At 4:00 PM, Polish and foreign groups will perform at the Stanisław Hadyna Amphitheater. Concerts will be held every day until August 7th, at 4:00 PM on weekends and at 5:00 PM on other days. Performances will also take place daily starting from July 31st at 11:00 AM on the stage at Bogumiła Hoffa Square.
Residents and tourists visiting Wisła will also see the Wisła Regional Song and Dance Ensemble, which will perform the song "Szumi jawor," considered the unofficial anthem of the Beskids. The group has been active since 1950, founded by Adam and Andrzej Niedoba. In the ensemble, women perform in Cieszyn attire, while men wear highland costumes. "Wisła" incorporates regional themes and dances into its performances, naturally referencing the Cieszyn Silesia region.
Additionally, many other folk groups from Poland and around the world will sing, play, and dance in Wisła. The detailed program of Beskid culture days in Wisła is available on the website www.tkb.art.pl.
Wisła - Where to Stay and Which Hotel to Choose?
Planning to come for the Week of Beskid Culture and wondering where to stay? Although Wisła offers plenty of hotels and accommodations with meals, it's a good idea to make reservations as soon as possible. Festival days fall in the middle of the summer holiday season, which means that during these days, vacationers from Poland and the Czech Republic also come to Wisła for their mountain holidays.
A good solution is to stay in a mountain hotel that offers not only cozy rooms, beautiful views, and a spa area but also meals. One such establishment is the Vestina Wisła hotel, located in a picturesque valley surrounded by three mountain ranges, Malinka. From the windows of our facility, you can enjoy views of intensely green spruce forests. We offer new rooms of various standards, some of which can accommodate additional beds if you are traveling with family.
Every morning in our restaurant inside the hotel, guests can enjoy a fresh and diverse breakfast with beverages, desserts, and aromatic coffee. If you opt for a hotel package, you can also take advantage of a varied dinner.
The Vestina hotel in Wisła also has a small spa area. Guests enjoy using the jacuzzi, dry sauna, and salt cave. Moreover, this spa area is reserved exclusively for one group of guests at a time, providing an even more comfortable experience.
When you come to the Beskid culture festival, be sure to take the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. Wisła is a town where you can find numerous mountain walking trails. Right across from our hotel is a path that will take you to the "Cieńków" cable car in 2 minutes, or if you go a little further, you will reach Adam Małysz's ski jump in 15 minutes. There are even more options for active tourism: cycling paths, places for mountain climbing, or hiking trips to Babia Góra. All of this awaits tourists visiting Wisła!
Photo Credit: Daniel Frank
Photos sourced from www.tkb.art.pl.
