Colorful Polish Midsummer Festival Returns to National Mall
Annual Wianki Polish Festival of Wreaths will feature free live music and folk dances
Washington, D.C. – [June 10 2024] The Polish American Arts Association of Washington, DC (PAAA) is proud to announce that the 2024 edition of their annual Wianki Festival of Wreaths will take place on Saturday, June 22 at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Steps. The festival, which has been organized for over 40 years in Washington, DC, is a celebration of Polish and Slavic traditions associated with Midsummer, when the days are longest and the night is brief. Known by alternative names such as Kupala Night, St. John’s Eve, Midsummer or Wianki, this festival dates back to pagan rituals and is today celebrated with lively music, festive dancing, and wreath making.
“Wianki is a special day across Poland and much of Central Europe as communities come together to enjoy the warm summer evening and partake in merrymaking among friends and neighbors” said Matthew Stefanski, President of PAAA. “There is no grander stage in the world than the National Mall, so we’re thrilled to be able to feature excellent Polish-American musicians and folk dance groups from across the DMV who will be performing during this year’s Wianki festival.”
The event is free and open to the public. Guests are welcome to bring their own blankets or chairs to enjoy the performances in comfort. Festivities will begin at 5:30 PM and will feature performances by Ojczyzna Polish Dancers, Wislanie Polish Folk Dance Group, Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble, the Joyful Skrypczuk Duo, and sopranos Laufa Kafka-Price and Valerie Dzielski. Guests will be able to participate in a wreath making workshop and partake in a group dancing of the Polish Polonaise at the conclusion of the festival. This year’s edition of the festival is organized by the Polish American Arts Association with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the American Council for Polish Culture.
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The Polish American Arts Association of Washington, D.C. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966 and dedicated to creating public awareness of the richness of Polish culture and to supporting greater cooperation and understanding between the United States and Poland in the fields of art, culture and education. PAAA is open to all interested in supporting its work. Please visit www.paaa.us for more details.