CATALOG OF CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

MUSICAL FINAL OF THE GREAT ORCHESTRA OF CHRISTMAS HELP

As in all of Poland, also along the Augustow Canal, at the beginning of January, a number of events and auctions related to the largest charity campaign in Poland take place. Cultural institutions, non-governmental organizations and volunteers join the action. The collection is accompanied by concerts, happenings, sports and recreational events.

MARCH ALONG THE BYSTRY CANAL – AUGUST’OW MARCH FOR THE SENIORS

On one of March Saturdays , fans of Nordic walking gather on the boulevard by the Bystry Canal in Augustow to use poles to traverse the walking loop around the Canal. More than once! Participants have the opportunity to meet experts, obtain professional advice, and, above all, spend their free time actively outdoors. At the finish line, there will be diplomas, tea and sweet surprises.

EASTER CAKES – HANDCRAFTS FAIR

The aim of the fair is to familiarize residents and tourists with the state of modern folk art and traditional crafts and artistic craftsmanship. As well as maintaining and developing the existing artistic creativity and enabling folk artists and handicraftsmen to sell their products. The stalls offer food, honey, jewellery, toys, confectionery, braids, fabrics, cut-outs, flowers, sculptures, paintings and graphics.

EASTER EGG FESTIVAL

The Easter Egg Festival, which has become a brand and a showpiece of the town, is held annually in Sopockin, located on the Augustow Canal. Guests of the event can visit the Easter Egg Museum, which houses a collection of over 1,500 Easter eggs decorated with various techniques, as well as participate in Easter egg painting courses. And throughout the day, local art groups perform to keep guests in a festive mood.

OPENING OF THE SAILING SEASON WITH A PARADE OF BOATS

As part of the opening of the sailing season on an April Sunday, almost all domestic vessels set sail on August waters. Ships, catamarans and gondolas set off on their inaugural cruise. And on the river Netta a parade of boats will set off, which will then go on an unusual cruise on Augustow’s lake Rospuda, whose destination is a peninsula with an intriguing name: Goła Zośka. (Naked Sophia)

AUGUSTÓW CANAL INVITES FRIENDS

This is a regional folk art festival opening the cultural and tourist season on the Belarusian side of the Augustow Canal. The programme includes a theatrical parade of festival participants, a folk art fair, concerts of folk ensembles, animation programmes and games for children and adults, entertainment performances, cuisine and a lot of excitement for all guests.

AUGUSTOW DAYS

Traditionally, on the last weekend of May, the Mayor of Augustow invites you to celebrate together the Days of Augustow. During the city birthday, there will be plenty of cultural and sporting events. The final concert in the amphitheatre will honour the star chosen by the inhabitants in a plebiscite.

ALONG THE AUGUSTOW CANAL

A cyclical tourist event organised by the Augustow Tourist Organisation. The event is addressed both to inhabitants and tourists. Its aim is to popularize active tourism, promotion of tourist routes located along the Augustow Channel and their unique values. It is an ideal opportunity to spend time actively.  Participants can choose one of four forms of activity: a horse rally, a bicycle rally, canoeing and cross-country running..

“AUGUSTOW FRESH” FESTIVAL

One of the main attractions of the year takes place in June on the Augustow Canal, in the open spaces by the Dabrowka lock. Here everyone can immerse in the unforgettable atmosphere of summer. Concerts, field games, music and dance battles, water rides, creative animations, emotions, impressions and many other surprises await the guests of the event.

MIDSUMMER (ST. JOHN’S) NIGHT ON THE NETTA RIVER

In the evening, on St. John’s Eve, a great family picnic will begin on the meadows of the Netta River. It will also be very musical – but not only! Moreover, in the programme – among other things – the most beautiful garland competition, looking for the fern flower, bonfire with sausages and… a mysterious surprise at the end of the event.

“SILVER HOZA KEYS” FESTIVAL

The natural wealth of the agricultural town of Hoza is its water springs. The festivities will include the “Hoza Angel” ceremony, concerts and entertainment, interactive games for adults and children, exhibitions, a field game and origami technique workshops. The event will end with a disco.

KUPALA FESTIVAL

On a July night, at Dabrowka Lock, a unique opportunity to take part in celebrations reminding old traditions awaits the guests. A theatrical performance with elements of old Kupala rituals will help all guests to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the most mysterious and charming festival. Participants will go through the ritual of purification in the fire, let go of Kupala garlands on the water, take part in the Magic of the Wonderful Flower quest. They will also sing songs and perform folk dances with the best amateur bands of the Grodno region!

AUGUSTYNKI

This is already a traditional handicraft fair organised in the Sigismund Augustus Square. It is also the most colorful fair in the region. The numerous stalls set up in the park are always full of delicious regional delicacies – honey, breads, buns, cured meat, goat cheese and even liqueurs. In addition, the stalls sell hand-made toys, jewellery, paintings, sewn bags and macarama decorations. You can not only do your shopping, but also listen to music presented by various performers.

„LOTTO NETTA CUP”

The International Water Ski Jumping Competition “Lotto Netta Cup” Memorial of Zygmunt Kowalik is an extraordinary competition in water ski jumping on a motorboat, which takes place in the second half of July in Augustów. This event had its beginnings in the 1960’s. Its originator was Zygmunt Kowalik. For several years, an additional attraction has been the competition held at night – “Night Jumps” for the Cup of the Mayor of Augustow.

„NECKO ENDURANCE”

‘Necko Endurance’ World Motorcraft Championships – take place in the middle of July. The world leaders in motor craft, with the participation of the Formula 1 pilots, take part in the championships. It is a long distance race for motor boats which reach the speed up to 200 km/h. The crews race for 8 hours. The competition is held in three technical categories.

POLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SAILING ON ANYTHING

„WHAT FLOATS, WON’T SINK”

A spectacular and flagship event of the Augustow summer. Every year at the turn of July and August, the Netta River attracts crowds of enthusiasts of unusual water vehicles construction. It provides excitement for the competitors and a large dose of humour for the spectators. What is “Swimming on anything”? At the beginning we have to build something that will not only stay on the water, but will also look very interesting. Once we have such a vehicle, we present it during the race and make the best impression on the judges and the audience, who choose the winners.

AGRO ECO TOURIST FAIR – POLAND TASTES

On the August weekend in August, the Zygmunt August Market becomes a place to promote folk handicrafts, organic and traditional food, and regional agritourism lodgings. The program of the two-day event, apart from visiting the stands, getting to know local flavors and products, includes live folk music, culinary shows and competitions – those for the public and those in which the exhibitors’ products and the aesthetics of the stands will be assessed.

SINGING AND ENTERTAINMENT AUGUSTOW CANAL

Famous and contemporary songs will be performed on the stage at the Dabrowka lock. The playground will provide the most interesting summer social games. Thematic photo zones will provide all guests with beautiful photos and pleasant memories of the holidays. Boat trips, field games “quests”, water rides, music and dance battles, Zumba-style disco, as well as a good mood and energy will make this day really the best in the whole summer season

FEAST OF THE SEA

Visitors to the most picturesque place in the Grodno region will experience unforgettable emotions while visiting the marsh football championships and the regional sports festival “Swimming on anything”. On this day, many events with competitions, exploration quests, games and interactive programs will be organized at the Dabrowka Lock. Artists from the Grodno region will perform on the main stage for all holiday guests, and in the evening there will be a dance and entertainment program and foam games for children.

FEAST OF ZIELNA

On August 15, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary, traditionally called by the faithful “Our Lady of the Herb”. In honor of this event, all Sopockin guests will enjoy: a gala concert, folk festivals, herb fairs and related accessories, an exhibition of harvest wreaths and bouquets. According to tradition, in the city of Sopockin, the “Harvest Festival” is celebrated on the same day – the festival of the end of the harvest season. The new grain is used to make bread, which is then blessed in the church, and the main loaf is solemnly divided among those gathered. The holiday sums up not only the harvest, but also the season of collecting medicinal herbs.

“STRAW FESTIVAL”

A new event called “Straw Festival” will be held in the village of Racicze near Grodno. Here, every guest of the festival will be able to build artistic objects out of straw with their own hands, ride a horse and in a carriage, take part in workshops for making straw souvenirs, bake pancakes served with aromatic tea from “Kope’s herbs”, and watch a concert of artists from the Grodno region.

THE AUGUSTOW CANAL IN THE CULTURE OF THREE NATIONS

The flagship Augustow Canall Festival in the Culture of Three Nations – Belarusians, Poles and Lithuanians. During the event, international folk groups enchant the audience with folk music, singing and dancing. And they are accompanied by stalls with handicrafts and tasting local dishes. Twin events take place at the Dabrowka lock, the first lock on the Belarusian side and in Augustow

CAMERATA AUGUSTOVIANA

A well-known series of classical music concerts. The guiding instrument are the organs, while they are accompanied by, inter alia, violin, flute, concert cymbals, oboe. Augustow Cultural Institutes invite music lovers to participate in concerts organized in city churches

THE FEAST OF BREAD

In September, in the village of Zareczanka, the Festival of Bread – “Harvest Festival” is held with accompanying songs and dances and a market for agricultural products. Various presentations will take place at the festival, where you will be able to see harvesting and processing tools, try to mow and harvest with a sickle, weave a wreath with your own hands, listen to and dance to live instrumental music. All guests will also learn about the local traditions of bread baking, the use of various household items for baking it, and even try homemade bread watching the revived “Baking Bread” ritual. On the main stage you will be able to admire the performances of the best amateur bands of the Grodno region.