Events in September
September in Zakopane is a time of meetings with culture and art at its best. Music festivals, meetings of filmmakers and mountain lovers, exhibitions and museum and historical presentations gather a special atmosphere in the rays of the September sun and at the first blasts of warm mountain wind. It is a perfect time to plan a stay combining walking in the mountains with participation in cultural events. Artists, journalists, critics and all those who wait for a moment of peace after the crazy Podhale summer come to Zakopane now. It is usually still warm, although the first snow sometimes appears in the highest parts of the Tatra Mountains – a trailer of a long, beautiful autumn in October. In Poland, September is also a time of memories of World War II, the outbreak of which the 80th anniversary falls this year. Zakopane therefore joins the celebration. Of course, the Tatra capital cannot exist without regional culture and various events are also devoted to it. Really, it’s worth visiting Podhale at the meeting point of summer and autumn, we invite you!
Regional Culture
September 8, 14:00 – 22:00 XV POLANIARSKI OSOD – the end of the shepherd’s summer in the Tatra Mountains. Outdoor scene in Koscielisko on Chotarz, Nedzy Kubinca St.
Osod, or Redyk, is the return of the shepherd with the sheep from the halls. On this occasion, there will be a series of performances by regional bands, a contest for knowledge about pastoralism, and finally, at 20:00 performance of the excellent “Sokol Orchestra”. Of course, there will also be an offer of local cuisine.
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September 15 – “XIV Baca Festival” Lesnica – Gron
End of the 18th Tatrzanskie Wici – festival of regional culture. The attraction of the festival is a sheep march led by singing by shepherds from Lesnica, Gron and Białka Tatrzanska. During the event there is also the Competition for the Farmer of the Year, and candidates must demonstrate the ability to sing and dance highlanders, know about the region and various types of work on the farm.
Meetings with Mountain Film
5-8 September – Dworzec, Galeria Antoni Rzasa, Kino Sokol(Cinema), Municipal Public Library Stefan Zeromski, City Park, Plac Niepodleglosci, STRH Bistro Art Café.
A series of meetings with the most outstanding mountaineers and climbers, film screenings, wall climbing competition and many other attractions for lovers of mountain adrenaline. A detailed program of the festival is available at https://spotkania.zakopane.pl
Music festivals
September 4-18 – International Chamber Music Festival “Music on the Heights”
Festival prologue: 4 September, Witkacy Theater, ul. Chramcówki 15 – opera performance “Carmen” in an international cast, in an unusual intimate arrangement for instrumental trio and four soloists.
Program of festival concerts and details of accompanying events at http://www.muzykanaszczytach.com/en/programme/
This year, the inaugural concert on September 7 will feature one of the most charismatic string quartets in the world – Apollon Musagète Quartett. The guest from previous festival editions, the excellent cellist Marcin Zdunik, will also perform twice, concerts of vocalists, early and electronic music will take place. The highest level of performance, carefully planned repertoire are the hallmarks of the Zakopane festival. And, of course, the Conversation Club at the Heights, unique meetings with performers, led by excellent music journalists, always at 12:00 on the day of the concerts. (translated for English). This year, apart from a permanent place, the villa Dom Pod Jedlami, the hosts of the meetings will be Willa Astoria and Hotel Paryski. On the other hand, concerts will not take place in the Church of Holy Cross, but at the Hotel Belvedere Resort & Spa, Droga do Bialego St. 3. The festival is accompanied by four exhibitions:
POBIEZNIE – the fence of the University Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital in Zakopane at. Balzera 15. Available until 30 September. The vernissage will take place at Villa Kmicic, ul. Staszica 11a, September 6 at 17.00. The exhibition presents a proprietary, photographic interpretation of the works of known and unknown painters of the world from different periods – from baroque to trends in 20th century art. The authors of the photos are Monika and Emilia Stec – a duo known as the Strefa Zmiany.
MAESTRI – street Krupówki (below the pond). Available until 15 September. Joint opening with the exhibition described above. The author of the pictures is Janusz Marynowski, director of the Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra, for years its double bass player, who immortalized in the portraits of conductors leading the famous Polish orchestra.
REPEAT – the fence of the Villa Astoria in Zakopane at Droga do Białego St.12. Outdoor exhibition of Waldemar Swierzy’s music posters (he is also the author of the “Music on the Heights” logo).
CREATORS OF PODHALE 4 – the exhibition will be presented at the Municipal Cultural Center Brigadier General Andrzej Galica in Biały Dunajec at Jana Pawła II 363 street from 5 to 19 September. Vernissage on September 5 at 18.00. Works of artists from every commune of the Tatra poviat, referring to folk and traditional culture, but not only.
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September 30 – October 5 – XXIII Jazz Camping Kalatowki. Hotel Kalatowki in the Tatra Mountains. Concerts of the best jazz musicians, jam session open to everyone, celebration of the 60th anniversary of the first festival, as well as the 80th birthday of Zbigniew Namyslowski, legendary Polish jazzman and participant of the first ediotion of the festival. Returns from concerts and jam sessions take place after dusk, and Tatra National Park allows exceptionally to move around the park in the dark. However it is advisable to have your own, reliable light source, because there is no lighthouse along the stony road leading to Kalatowki (approx. 35 min). Hiking shoes will also be good idea.
Zakopane … by the sea
Batory in Zakopane. A series of events related to the famous ship “Batory”.
From 3 to 30 September – Outdoor exhibition in the City Park Marshal Jozef Piłsudski
Vernissage of the exhibition on September 6 at 18.00. Tatra Culture and Sport Center “Jutrzenka”, Grunwaldzka St. 3. Music by Kapela Jutrzenka conducted by Krzysztof Trebunia-Tutka.
September 9 at 19:00 – Author’s meeting with Barbara Caillot and Aleksandra Karkowska: “How highlanders sailed to America”. Ziebowka Restaurant, Witow 304a at the Chochołowska Valley
September 12 19:00 – Meeting with authors: Zakopianska premiere of the book “March, March Batory”. Kmicic Cafe, ul. Stanisława Staszica 11a. Events only in Polish.
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13-19 September – a series of film screenings in Virtual Reality technology on Independence Square.
A virtual cruise aboard the greatest Polish transatlantic liner MS “Piłsudski”. An attraction on the occasion of the anniversary of Poland regaining independence. Program of screenings: from 12: 00-19: 00. Online reservations at: https://mspilsudski.pl/gry-edukacja/zapisz-sie
Sport events
20-22 September – Harenda, bicycle track under the ski lift. Malopolska Joy Ride: end of the cycling season.
Warning! The tourist trail to Giewont is closed until further notice after the tragic August storm, which destroyed the chains and also killed four people. When planning trips to the mountains in September, we must also take into account the occurrence of this dangerous meteorological phenomenon. As well as local ice on the trails and morning frosts. Let’s not be afraid of the dangerous roars of animals in the Tatras – they are not bears, but deer. On the rut, of course 🙂
