The International Sea Songs Festival in Krakow became one of the most popular and one of the biggest shanties festivals in Europe. Every year in February Krakow becomes the city of sailors and shanties. The festival attracts big audiences, not only from Poland, but also from other European countries. Every year performers from all over the world present their songs to approx. 10 thousands of people.
http://www.shanties.pl

The Misteria Paschalia Festival presents music related to the celebrations of the Holy Week and Easter. Enchanting concerts of performers from Poland and abroad together with interesting ancient music played on historical instruments attract thousands of people. This year among other things you'll hear Antonio's Caldara's oratorio "Il Re del dolore", Jordi Savall's unique concert - mystery play, oratorio "La Vergine dei dolori" performed by Rinaldo Alessandrini with his ensemble Concerto Italiano, baroque Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber's "Requiem", opera "Bajazet" composed by Antonio Vivaldi and presented by Fabio Bondi with Europa Galante, we'll see also performances of legendary ensembles Hesp?rion XXI, Le Concert des Nations, Les Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble, ensemble La Risonanza coducted by Fabio Bonizzoni. Furthermore during the festival you'll see performances of Accademia Bizantina orchestra and choir conducted by Ottavio Dantone, vocalists Roberta Invernizzi and Sonia Prina, counter-tenor Martin Oro, Philip Pickett from New London Consort, Vincent Dumestre with ensemble Le Poéme Harmonique and others.
www.biurofestiwalowe.pl

"Wianki" (Wreaths) it's an all-night open-air festivity celebrating the Midsummer Day. This pageant is an old Slavic tradition that dates back to Pagan times, when people believed that the summer solstice night is full of magic. Old mythical rituals were providing bumper crops, health, fertility, happiness and love. On this night maidens were floating their wreaths of herbs on the water to predict marriage, people were searching for the crock of gold which was supposed to bring happiness and wealth, and young people were predicting, dancing and having fun around bonfires all night long. Every year this festivity attracts great crowds to the Vistula river embankments. During the pageant girls float their wreaths and at the foot of the Wawel Hill live music performances are held with the contest for the most beautiful wreath and enchanting fireworks and lights show.

"Wianki" (Wreaths) it's an all-night open-air festivity celebrating the Midsummer Day. This pageant is an old Slavic tradition that dates back to Pagan times, when people believed that the summer solstice night is full of magic. Old mythical rituals were providing bumper crops, health, fertility, happiness and love. On this night maidens were floating their wreaths of herbs on the water to predict marriage, people were searching for the crock of gold which was supposed to bring happiness and wealth, and young people were predicting, dancing and having fun around bonfires all night long.
Every year this festivity attracts great crowds to the Vistula river embankments. During the pageant girls float their wreaths and at the foot of the Wawel Hill live music performances are held with the contest for the most beautiful wreath and enchanting fireworks and lights show.

Every year in the old Jewish district of Kazimierz is the scene of the Jewish Culture Festival. During this festival you can take delight in a beautiful klezmer and cantoral music, you can take a part in workshops of Jewish dance, songs and cooking. Numerous concerts, presentations, theatre performances, art exhibitions and film presentations present opportunity to meet Jewish culture. Every year the festival attracts thousands people from all around the world.
The goals of the Jewish Culture Festival are to spread a tolerance, respect and indulgence between people of different ethnic groups, and to strengthen human relations.

The International Street Theatre Festival takes place on the Krakow's Main Market Square which turns into an open-air stage for theatre troupes from Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, and other countries. This festival is one of the most interesting and one of the oldest festivals of this kind in Europe.

Every year the International Summer Jazz Academy brings to Krakow many young people from Poland and abroad. Jazz lovers from France, Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Germany and Japan take part in these workshops. As a part of the Summer Jazz Academy there are lectures about history of jazz, theory and composition, instrumental and vocal classes and jam sessions conducted by American artists, famous Polish musicians and others. Furthermore, there is a variety of great jazz concerts.

The Pierogies Festival is an exciting event of Krakow's cultural life. It takes place on the Main Market Square and every year attracts a lot of people - Poles and foreigners. During the festival Krakow's restaurants serve delightful pierogies and offer an incredible range of tastes of this dish.
The Pierogies Festival in Krakow it's a great opportunity to taste traditional Polish dishes and to participate in a number of contests, games and performances.

The Court Dance Festival "Cracovia Danza" in Krakow presents various styles of court dances. Furthermore, during this festival many presentations, workshops, art exhibitions, performances and concerts of ancient music take place.

The Sacrum - Profanum Festival in Krakow presents masterpieces of instrumental and vocal - instrumental music of composers of 19th and 20th c. of different nations. In the past years, there was presented music of Austrian, Russian, French and American composers. This year works of German composers will be performed.