Described by the city as 'Święto Muzyki' (Music Holiday), Kraków's annual Wianki (Wreaths) celebrations combine traditional folk customs with the French formula of 'Fête de la Musique' with free outdoor concerts. Once taking place on a grand scale across the city (culminating in a fireworks display), today Wianki is concentrated primarily around the Wisła boulevards below Wawel Castle, where a large outdoor stage is set-up on ul. Powiśle. Here free concerts by top Polish musicians will be taking place all evening, beginning at 17:00. From 16:00 local bands will also be performing street concerts throughout the west side of Planty Park between Plac Szczepański and Wawel.

The tradition of Wianki in Poland actually has Slavic roots, the pagan rituals of which were repackaged as 'St. John's Eve' with the arrival of Christianity. Some of these pagan traditions are still in practise today, however, most notably the weaving of flower garlands which you will see worn by young maidens during this time. These garlands were then traditionally placed in the river (sometimes with candles) and floated downstream, where young men would attempt to capture them in hopes of capturing the interest of the young woman it belonged to. Each year during Wianki you can participate in a competition for the most beautiful flower garland (14:00 at the Powiśle stage in 2023), weaving one yourself during workshops at different points along the west side of the Planty.

Check out the full Wianki programme here.