Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Finale in Poznań

Sunday Jan 30 10:00 Plac Powszechnej Wystawy Krajowej

Though sounding a bit like the title of a Charlie Brown Christmas Special, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (known in PL as ‘Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy’ or WOŚP) is actually one of Poland’s biggest non-profit charity organisations, successfully raising millions of złoty for the Polish healthcare system and under-funded public hospitals since 1993. Founded by Jerzy Owsiak - a man who can best be described as a force of nature – GOCC changes its beneficiary cause each year, but focusses on raising awareness and lots of money for children’s healthcare issues. In only its first year, the organisation raised over 1.5 million USD and has only gotten bigger and more organised since, never failing to set a new fundraising record every year for the past three decades!

Once a year the Great Orchestra’s grand one-day finale is organised by tens of thousands of volunteers in virtually every town across the country. If you're in Poland on this day and step outside to go just about anywhere, you'll no doubt encounter these cheery people with their cardboard fundraising boxes and iconic red heart stickers. Make a donation (of any size) and you get your very own red heart sticker - proof that you participated and a proud badge of honour; on the other hand, to not have a heart sticker on this day is almost akin to public shame, so make sure you've got some cash or coins ready, and don't hesitate - it's for a great cause.

Collecting money for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity!

WOŚP Finale in Poznań

The WOŚP finale is not just the charity's biggest fundraising day, but also a full day of events organised on stages and squares across the country. In Poznań, the biggest action has moved from the Old Town Square to Plac PWK, where you'll find a huge stage and various other attractions, as rock concerts and other performances take place over the course of the afternoon, evening and night. All the events are free, but please do dip into your pocket as much as you can. At 20:00 the collective 'Light to the Heavens' occurs - once a massive fireworks performance that has since morphed into other illuminations due to smog and noise pollution concerns; all are welcome, and encouraged to bring their own light sources - flashlights, sparklers, glow-sticks, etc. The entire day basically has the atmosphere of a music festival, so if you're in town, check it out, and do contribute to the cause. You can do so online by following this link.

Associated Venues

Streets & Squares

Plac Powszechnej Wystawy Krajowej

As part of the initiative to open the Poznań fairgrounds (MTP Poznań Expo) up to locals and tourists, this massive new public square has been built above the …

Poznan

Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Finale in Poznań

WOŚP Finale in Poznań

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Associated Venues

Plac Powszechnej Wystawy Krajowej