A birthday cake in a reconstructed medieval town, music, dancing and fun, all with the occasion of the birthday for the Wawel Dragon. The one-of-a-kind festival will take place on Sunday, August 14, in Błonia Park in Krakow. The celebration will start at noon and will last until 18.00.
50 years old sculpture!
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the sculpture of the Wawel Dragon by Bolesław Chromy. The 6-meter-high, fire-breathing dragon – the symbol of Krakow – can be seen every day at the foot of the Wawel Castle, it is one of the city’s greatest tourist attractions.
Did you know that he was supposed to be underwater?
According to the original concept, the dragon was to be partially submerged in the waters of the Vistula. However, it was found that the rubbish carried by the river current would settle on the sculpture. That is why, in 1972, it was placed in a block on the Vistula River, near Wawel Hill, next to the current exit from the Dragon’s Den. In the spring of 1973, a fire-breathing gas installation was installed inside the sculpture (by Feliks Prochownik).
New Expo! “Dragon Garden. Bronisław Chromy at Wawel”
On the occasion of the anniversary, the exhibition “Dragon Garden. Bronisław Chromy at Wawel” was opened in Wawel Castle in spring. Sculptures by the artist from Krakow can be seen at Wawel until the end of September this year.
Birthday Picnic 🙂
The highlight of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wawel Dragon will be a birthday picnic in the reconstructed early medieval settlement, which will be erected on Sunday in Krakow’s Błonia Park. The settlement will be built by the Team of Wisła Wojów “Krak”, the oldest in Krakow and one of the first groups of early medieval reconstruction in Poland.
“Composed of nearly 20 tents, sewn and erected according to the indications of iconographic sources, the town will be populated by teams of warriors, white-headed, craftsmen and musicians – in period costumes, equipped with weapons, tools, instruments and other attributes based on historical ones. There will also be a place for the prince. Krak – on that day he will accept applications, complaints and grievances from his subjects”– announces the magistrate.
What can you find in this settlement?
In the settlement, you will be able to stop at a blacksmith, potter, jeweller, mint maker, weaver and leatherman, and learn about the workshop and secrets of medieval craftsmen. There will also be an opportunity to try your hand at medieval plebeian games, such as spinning, twisted marches, sack races, Slavic wrestling or shoemaker and dragon games, and to compete for prizes. There will also be a skirmish between the dragon armies in the entertainment area.
There is also music!
There will also be music, the folk band “Daj Ognia” will be playing, and before the evening the final concert will be played on the main stage by Percival – a band that was created with a fascination with the history and culture of ancient Slavs and which successfully introduces the modern audience to the musical traditions of the former Slavic region.
For the competitive souls…
There will also be competitions, dance workshops, theatrical performances “The True Story of the Wawel Dragon”, and a dragon procession will pass through the main square of the settlement. And, as befits a birthday, there will be cake and dragon baked goods.
Timing
The dragon’s birthday will last from 12.00 to 18.00.
Enjoy yourself wisely 🙂
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug
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