FOLK GROUPS AND SINGERS FESTIVAL IN KAZIMIERZ

Folk Groups and Singers Festival, which promotes authentic folk artists, is a unique event among Polish festivals. The Festival's purpose is to present, popularise, protect and document authentic repertoire of singing and playing folk music. Every year, throughout its 38 editions, the Festival has been held in a picturesque town - Kazimierz Dolny, located on the Vistula River, 20 kilometers from Puławy. The Festival takes place on a Renaissance square market, in the open air. It begins on about 24-27 June and usually lasts for three days. The Festival consists of many different competitions: among them contest of groups, instrumentalists and folk singers who perform dance melodies and songs as they sounded one hundred years ago. The audience can also admire traditional folk outfit. During additional events of the Festival the best groups present different traditions and regional customs. Another popular event is a folk fiesta organized in the square market on Saturday night, during which folk groups perform. Simultaneously, National Traditional Handicraft Fair takes place, where artists present their works and also show how to make them.