Here is the list of annual events.

January

The New Year celebration in Krakow is always a big event in the Main Square. Concerts and fireworks light up the sky. It’s loud and crowdy but, on the plus side, very energetic and you can always meet people and simply have fun. Polish cities always try to invite the hottest bands and you can count for high quality music. For more demanding public there could be a Philharmonic concert, or a theatre play. Also, most of the pubs, clubs organize whole night parties.

February

Not the liveliest month of the year – it’s usually cold and gloomy. There are events though – International Shanty Festival. Also there is something called and Fat Thursday. Good excuse to eat as many doughnuts as possible – if you’re up for that kind of fun feel invited.

March

The month for classical music fans – the Bach Festival and the Organ Festival. Another one could be Easter with its classical music festival – Misteria Pashalia.

April

Well … not much is happening. But we’ll be back with more information.

May

The city gets into its stride this month, not least with the Krakow’s Marathon. The Krakow International Film Festival is a longstanding feature, joined by a newcomer, The Krakow Month of Photography. For music lovers, there is the Encounters with Orthodox Church Music Festival.

June

The most internationaly known is the International Festival of Jewish Culture. Also late June is marked by the ancient Wianki (Floating of the Wreaths) custom, nowadays backed up by a major concert on the River Vistula. Finally, there’s the International Festival of Military Bands.

July

There are festivals galore this month. Here are the main runners for your perusal:

The Summer Jazz Festival
International Street Theatre Festival
Crossroads Festival of Folk Music
Summer Organ Festival

August

An August highlight is the Music in Old Krakow Festival, which draws classical acts from foreign shores. Staying on the musical tip, Krakow’s Academy of Music organises its own shindig. Finally there’s the festival of Court Dance.

September

The Sacrum-Profanum Music Festival offers more musical delights. This is backed up by another classical number, the International Competition of Modern Chamber Music. And of course, the legendary Dachshund Parade brings a welcome dose of silliness.

October

The International Festival of Early Music is a regular this month. Lovers of literature might check out the Krakow Book Fair, nationwide event most interesting for books lovers.

November

The last flickers of Autumn are taken to magical heights by the All Saints and All Souls Vigils (November 1st and 2nd). The Zaduszki Jazz Festival lightens the melancholic tone. November 29th is the Polish celebration of Andrzejki, when you can read your future, especially regarding your marital plans and possibilities, in wax.

December

The Christmas Market starts promptly (stalls are usually up by the end of November). And on the first Thursday of the month, the time-honoured Christmas Crib competition begins. This is complimented by a range of yuletide customs. Lately, the Opera Viva Festival has also been a December feature.

5th Krakow Mountain Film Festival

The 5th Krakow Mountain Film Festival is probably by far the biggest annual mountaineering event in Poland. Between 5 and 9 December 2007 there will be an opportunity to admire the best mountain film productions, participate in meetings with the greatest Polish and international climbing stars, watch climbing competitions and also to take part in numerous workshops. For those who would be especially interested, here is a list of the films qualified for the contest:

* Dosięgnąć dzwonka, director: Maciek Książko
* Gulmit Tower Expedition 2007, director: Bartłomiej Latasiewicz
* Inwigilacja krzona, director: Dominik Pamuła
* Karambar, director: Piotr Pawlus
* Karawana marzeń, director: Marek Kłosowicz
* Matt, director: Marek Dudek
* Nangie wilki, director: Robert Szymczak
* Niematotamto, director: Marcin Tasiemski
* Smak wielkiej góry, director: Wojciech Ostrowski
* Swiss Bajbors, director: Tadeusz Kieniewicz
* Ścieżka Góry, director: Marek Kłosowicz

The festival offers an interesting selection of several Polish climbing films, but it also gives an opportunity to catch up with the programmes of the Banff (Canada) and Kendal (UK) Mountain Film Festivals. This year’s guest stars will be three world class climbers: Mick Fowlers, Steph Davis and Dean Potter.
Additionally, numerous and varied events like workshops, attempts at breaking the world record in jumps, slideshows, outdoor equipment fairs and first aid course will certainly make the festival worth visiting by anyone whose passions are mountains and extreme outdoor sports.

Etiuda&Anima 2008 (14 Nov – 21 Nov)

12th Krakow Book Fair (23 Oct – 26 Oct)

6th Sacrum-Profanum Festival (13 Sep – 21 Sep)
Music Media – 4th Music Equipment Trade Fair (25 Sep – 27 Sep)
Researchers’ Night (26 Sep)

6th Pierogi Festival in Krakow (15 Aug – 16 Aug)
Music in Old Krakow Festival (15 Aug – 31 Aug)
Coke Live Music Festival 2008 (22 Aug – 23 Aug)

Summer Jazz Festival (5 Jul – 3 Aug)
Visegrad Summer School (6 Jul – 19 Jul)
10th Crossroads Traditional Music Festival (24 Jul – 27 Jul)

The biggest event in late June early July is 18th Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow June 27th 2008 – July 6th 2008 – here is the program of that event

Other events taking place in June 2008

Krakow Festival (6 Jun – 8 Jun)
The Great Dragon’s Parade (7 Jun – 8 Jun)
2nd Krakow Theatre Night (13 Jun – 14 Jun)
12th Summer Festival In Krakow (15 Jun – 11 Jul)
Wianki at the Vistula embankment (21 Jun)
XXXVII Organ Music Recitals in Tyniec (22 Jun – 24 Aug)
Jewish Culture Festival 2008 in Krakow (28 Jun – 6 Jul)
Celine Dion Concert (28 Jun)

June 2007 in Krakow

17th Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow June 23rd – July 1st 2007

It’s 17th time a Jewish Cultural Festival is being held in Krakow. Every year it’s a big event. Audience from all over the world is gathering to commemorate Jewish Culture as it once was in Poland. With music and accompanying events it’s one of the best things to see in Krakow. Even though last years showed that the Festival’s officials turned conservative in picking up artists and are simply repeating what already has been, it’s still an important event.

In the news section we publish the program of 17th Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow.

Here you have the comprehensive list of all the events that take place in Krakow in May 2008

Krakow Screen Festival (2 May – 4 May)
Celebration of the Third of May (3 May)
VII Cracovia Marathon (4 May)
Juvenalia student festival (5 May – 11 May)
The Month of Photography (6 May – 31 May)
V Israel Festival (8 May – 18 May)
10th Anniversary of Art Color Ballet (8 May – 9 May)
The Gathering Concert – a dance group from US (10 May)
Moscow Days (15 May – 17 May)
Museum Night (16 May – 17 May)
Car Tuning Show in Krakow (17 May – 18 May)
Krakow District Day (17 May)
XV Festival of Orthodox Choirs in Krakow (17 May – 31 May)
Malopolska Voivodeship Beauty Contest Finale (17 May)
28th International Fencing Tournament (24 May – 25 May)
The International Soup Festival (24 May)
XI International Race Walking Meeting (24 May)
25th Festival of Children’s Songs (27 May – 30 May)
Lajkonik Procession (29 May)
1st Film Music Festival (29 May – 31 May)
City of Sound Festival (30 May – 31 May)
European Senior Golf Tour (30 May – 1 Jun)
48th Krakow Film Festival (30 May – 5 Jun)

Main events in May 2007

The Night of Museums in Krakow

When: 2007-05-18

On Friday night from 18th to the 19th the majority of Krakow’s museums welcome to a visiting of their exhibitions. Entry fee is 1 PLN, and you can buy tickets in Krakow Information Centres. To your disposal are temporary and permament exhibitions of major museums, plus special events and venues only available on that night. Even tough Night of Museums in Krakow is not so huge and organized as in Prague, it’s still worth attending, even if to see that young people are still interested in art and culture.

Especially recommended are:
- The Historical Museum of Krakow featuring a Baroque Night at the Krzysztofory Palace and the Night of Hassids in the Old Synagogue.
- The Museum of Aviation
- The National Museum
- The Museum of Urban Engineering
- The Museum of the Home Army
- The Archidiocesan Museum
- The Museum of the History of Photography
- Galicia Jewish Museum

and many others.

Event suitable for foreigners as many expositions have english versions.

A J.S Bach enthusiast would not ignore such an event – Bach Days 29 March – 4 April.

In programme:
29 March, 7 pm – concert of the Chamber Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Krakow, conducted by Maciej Tworek.
30 March, 7 pm, Polish vocal and instrumental music of the 17th century, performed by an ensemble directed by professor Bogumiła Gizbert-Studnicka
31 March, 7 pm, Chamber concert of the students of the Department of Harpsichord and Early Instruments, with a performance by Romana Agnel (Baroque dance).
1 April, 5 pm, Chamber music concert performed by Bogumiła Gizbert-Studnicka. The programme includes: J.S. Bach.
7 pm, Chamber music concert. The programme includes: J.S. Bach.
2 April, 4 pm, Concert performed by students of harpsichord classes. The programme includes: J.S. Bach, harpsichord transcriptions of works by A. Vivaldi and A. Marcello.
7 pm, Concert by professors and students. The programme includes: A. Vivaldi and J.S. Bach.
3 April, 7 pm, Vocal-instrumental concert performed by an ensemble conducted by Andrzej Zawisza. The programme includes: D. Buxtehude, H.J. Biber and J.S. Bach.
4 April, 7 pm, Chamber music concert performed by professors of the Department of Harpsichord and Early Instruments (Małgorzata Wojciechowska, Zygmunt Kaczmarski, Marcin Zalewski, Marta Czarny-Kaczmarska and Magdalena Myczka). The programme includes: J. Ph. Rameau and J.S. Bach.

Tickets cost 10 PLN, all events will be held in the Florianka Recital Hall – ul Basztowa 8

A Japanese Martial Arts Show

A Japanese Martial Arts Show will be held on 10 April, 6pm, in Manggha Centre of Japanese Art and Technology, Konopnickiej 26

For all interested in Japanese culture – a performance by Sensei Sekiguchi Komei, master of the technique of the sword, and sensei Shimizu Nobuko – specialising in combat based on the usage of the Japanese halberd. Both well known worldwide. Definitely worth visiting.