Editor’s Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.
Poznań Easter Market returns after one-year hiatus
The event will begin on Saturday, March 21st, and will last a week until Sunday, March 29th. “Freedom Square will be filled with colorful stalls, regional delicacies, handicrafts, and Easter decorations, creating a unique space for meetings, shopping, and family fun,” the organizers encourage.
“Visitors will be treated to a rich program of attractions, including culinary workshops, demonstrations of regional traditions, concerts, children’s entertainment, and encounters with Easter mascots. The event is divided into several thematic zones, including a Culinary Zone and a Highlander Zone, which will allow participants to discover the flavors and customs of various regions of Poland,” he added.
Workshops and tastings are planned for two weekends. The program includes decorating Easter gingerbread cookies, making mini mazureks, tasting highlander moskole with garlic butter, a highlander cheese making demonstration, baking mini apple pies, and live music. All activities will be free of charge.
Last year, the Easter Market was not held in Poznań. For years, the market had been held in the Old Market Square, attracting many artisans and customers. During the renovation of the square, the location was changed to Wolności Square, but the organizers hoped to return it to the Old Market Square. Last year, the organizers (the Targowiska company) were denied permission. Merchants wanted to exhibit in the Old Market Square, but the city proposed Wolności Square – however, there were not enough vendors for such a location. Ultimately, the event was canceled. This year, the fair is organized by an external company, Smaki Regionów, from Gdańsk.
Enter Enea festival prelude held in Poznań
Traditionally, the Enter Enea Festival will take place in the days leading up to Corpus Christi. However, before the audience takes their seats at the Strzeszyńskie Lake stage, it’s worth attending two concerts preceding the event. The first one will be available on Thursday, March 19th.
The “Enter Enea Presents” concerts will take place independently of the Strzeszynek event. On Thursday, March 19th, Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke will perform first in the Earth Hall, followed by Leszek Możdżer and Lars Danielsson.
Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke
Guitarist Lionel Loueke and bassist Dave Holland blend their individual musical approaches into one harmonious performance, inspiring each other and paying homage to the cultural roots of jazz and improvisation. Both instrumentalists have had a profound impact on the global jazz scene.
Loueke, known for his innovative blend of West African “Rider im Archiv!” tradition with modern jazz, has played with numerous virtuosos and renowned artists, including over 15 years as Herbie Hancock’s guitarist and collaborating with legends such as Wayne Shorter, Sting, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Miller and Esperanza Spalding.
One of the most influential bassists and composers, Holland has been shaping jazz since the late 1960s, performing with icons such as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Sam Rivers and Jack DeJohnette.
Although Loueke and Holland have collaborated many times in different bands, this album marks their first collaboration as a duo. The result is timeless—just as this concert will be timeless.
Leszek Możdżer and Lars Danielsson
Leszek Możdżer and Lars Danielsson have been working together for over twenty years.
Their stage connection is enormous, thanks to which during concerts the listener is taken on a musical journey almost from the very first notes.
Lars Daniellsson is recognizable for his lyricism and melodicism. For years, he has represented the iconic ACT Music label and is rightly called one of the most important leaders in European jazz. This classically trained cellist and double bassist is one of the most sought-after composers writing for commissions.
Danielsson shares not only a penchant for melody with Leszek Możdżer, but also a passion for transcending genre boundaries and breaking patterns. Both utilize pauses, embracing drama and mood-building in music. As musical erudites, they explore their virtuoso fantasies and whims with incredible ease. Their onstage encounter is a true feast.
Leszek Możdżer, in turn, is one of the most distinguished Polish jazz musicians. He is a world-class pianist, a bold explorer, and an original creator, distinguished by his own musical language. He has also performed and recorded with international stars such as David Friesen, Pat Metheny, Arthur Blythe, Buster Williams, Billy Harper, Joe Lovano, Archi Shepp, David Liebman, Charles Fox, Lester Bowie, David Gilmour, Marcus Miller, John Scofield, Steve Swallow, Eddie Daniels, and Tan Dun.
Kurt Elling in April
On April 13th, Grammy Award-winning Kurt Elling will perform at the Adam Mickiewicz University Auditorium. He will once again join forces with producer and guitarist Charlie Hunter, accompanied by the multi-instrumental duo of drummer Corey Fonville and bassist-keyboardist DJ Harrison.
The Enter Enea Festival and its concerts are organized by the European Art Forum Foundation. The project is co-financed by the City of Poznań and the Wielkopolska Voivodeship.
Detailed information about the festival and the series can be followed on the Enter Enea Festival website and on their social media .
Poznań resident wins Oscar
Poznań-born animator Maciej Szczerbowski won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Subject alongside Chris Lavis for “The Girl Who Cried Pearls.” After accepting the award, the artist greeted Poland and his hometown at a press conference.
“The Girl Who Cried Pearls,” directed by Maciej Szczerbowski and Chris Lavis, won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Subject. The film tells the story of a poor boy who falls in love with a girl whose sadness turns into pearls.
Maciej Szczerbowski was born in Poznań in 1971. Just before martial law was imposed in Poland, his family decided to emigrate. He eventually grew up, received his education, and pursued his artistic interests in Canada.
During his studies, Szczerbowski initially focused on theater. He was interested in set design and costumes, which was also connected to his family’s artistic traditions. According to Culture.pl, he grew up in a creative environment in Poznań – his uncle was a theater set designer, and his aunt designed costumes and posters.
Animation later became his most important artistic medium and way of telling stories. Today, Szczerbowski is one of the most recognizable creators of this genre in Canada, and winning an Oscar for “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” is one of the highlights of his career.
Despite many years spent abroad, Szczerbowski emphasizes that he still feels a strong bond with Poland. After receiving the award, he extended greetings to his home country and his hometown of Poznań at a press conference.
“People of Poznań, I love you!” Szczerbowski said. “Thank you for inviting me over from time to time,” he said in Polish.
Szczerbowski’s 2007 film “Madame Tutli-Putli” won two awards at Cannes and an Oscar nomination for best animated short film.
In 2012 he was a juror at the Animator International Animated Film Festival in Poznań.
New swimming pool near base nears opening
The building, which was built on the site of the former Olimpia swimming pool on Taborowa Street, will soon be open to water enthusiasts. Cleanup work is underway in the main hall and exterior. Additionally, the project has expanded to include the construction of a sauna with a separate entrance.
“Work is in its final stages; the swimming pool, eagerly awaited by the residents of Łazarz and Grunwald, will be open by the end of May. This is an investment in active recreation and the health of many generations. The decision to expand the facility with a completely new space dedicated to sauna enthusiasts is also good news. This is made possible by repurposing part of the swimming pool’s basement. This is an ambitious and necessary project; the left-bank part of Poznań lacks this type of space. We plan to open the sauna area this summer,” says Marcin Gołek, Deputy Mayor of Poznań.
Riots and clean-ups
A large pool with eight lanes has been built in the main hall of the Grunwald Swimming Pool. A smaller pool, consisting of two interconnected basins, will be recreational in nature. A jacuzzi has also been installed there.
“The first commissioning phase has begun, aimed at verifying the proper operation of all installations. Almost all finishing work, including flooring and walls, has been completed not only in the pool hall but also in the administrative area. The necessary fixtures have been installed in the restrooms and bathrooms with showers, and the locker rooms have been equipped. The area around the swimming pool is currently being landscaped, parking spaces and sidewalks are ready, and new plants have been planted,” describes Justyna Litka, CEO of Poznańskie Inwestycje Miejskie.
The main attractions are planned for the main hall, which features a large eight-lane swimming pool, a smaller recreational area, and a jacuzzi. The building also houses fitness and rehabilitation rooms, a steam room, and a Finnish sauna. The administrative section houses offices and a conference room. Rooms for instructors, trainers, and medical staff are also included. There will also be space for essential storage and utility rooms, some of which are located in the basement.
A wide range of saunas
The saunarium will also operate in the same building, but with a separate entrance. This expansion was made possible thanks to the savings generated by the city’s successful tender process. The winning bid was significantly lower than the amount intended to finance the contract. Finishing work in this section will last until summer but will not impact the operation of the main hall with swimming pools. All necessary utilities connected to the rest of the facility have already been installed, so there is no risk of disruption. The interior partition walls and plaster are already complete. The contractor will soon begin tiling the floors and walls.
The sauna area will occupy over 400 square meters and will include a large Finnish sauna, a bio sauna, a steam room, a saltarium with a small brine graduation tower, and an infrared sauna with infrared heaters. A relaxation room with loungers and a salt wall, a small cooling pool, and a locker room and sanitary facilities are also planned.
Like on the Baltic Sea
The saunarium’s interior design will emphasize the connection between people and nature. The theme will be “relaxing by the Baltic Sea,” with references to coastal nature: the creamy-gray sand of the beaches covered with tufts of grass and the coastal pine and birch forests. The corridor walls will be covered with undulating textured plaster, reminiscent of beaches in form and color, and coastal vegetation is also planned. The calm and subdued color scheme of the interior is intended to promote relaxation and rest.
The sauna area will be accessed via a separate external entrance from the northeastern side of the swimming pool. Two specialized platforms will be installed for people with disabilities, enabling independent access to the stairs. Accessibility is also ensured by sufficiently wide passageways to individual rooms and a separate sanitary facility.
A sauna will allow you to relax after water-based exercise. Regular visits to such places are worthwhile not only for its relaxing properties but also for a number of other health benefits. A sauna session improves blood circulation, strengthens the body, supports the cleansing of toxins, and stimulates metabolism. Athletes use saunas for good reason – thanks to a faster heart rate and, consequently, blood pumping, muscles recover more efficiently after exercise. Micronutrients and vitamins are also absorbed more easily. The sauna’s effect on the skin is also appreciated, becoming smoother and healthier thanks to improved oxygenation and toxin removal.
The investment was co-financed by the Polish Deal Government Fund: Strategic Investment Program.
Poznań begins spring cleaning
As in previous years, the City of Poznań encourages participation in a joint public space cleanup as part of its Spring Cleaning program. The program will run from April 13th to 26th. Registration is now open.
The recipe for participating is very simple: gather a team and schedule a time and place to be cleaned. Anyone can join – schools, businesses, housing communities, as well as groups of friends and neighbors. Spring cleaning can be a great opportunity for team-building.
You can clean up, for example, your own fyrtel, your dog walking route, or the area around your school or company (the “first come, first served” principle applies when choosing the area to be cleaned).
Registration is now open. You can register online by completing the online registration form . The deadline is April 20th. Each registered group will receive detailed organizational information.
The Poznań City Hall’s Municipal Services Department will provide cleaning supplies to those who sign up for the initiative, including garbage bags and gloves (these must be collected in advance from the department’s office at ul. 28 Czerwca 1956, No. 404, 3rd floor, room 311). The Poznań Waste Management Plant will collect waste collected throughout the city.
A special map , created at the initiative of Poznań City Hall in cooperation with the Department of Municipal Management, the Office of Digitization and Cybersecurity, and the Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center, allows you to track all the groups participating in Spring Cleaning. This map allows those interested in joining the initiative to see whether their neighbors have already announced such an initiative, and whether it’s worth taking matters into their own hands.
It’s been 28 years already
Spring Cleaning has become a permanent fixture in the capital of Greater Poland. The event has been running for 28 years and continues to generate significant interest. The numbers prove it. Last year, 223 groups signed up to participate in the cleanup, resulting in a total of nearly 20,000 registered participants, who collected approximately 39 tons of waste.
For the past few years, Spring Cleaning has been organized over one weekend in April (around Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd). However, to meet the expectations of Poznań residents, the event has been extended. This year, it will begin on Monday, April 13th, and last for two weeks (until Sunday, April 26th).
More information about Spring Cleaning can be found on the Municipal Economy portal .
Guide to spring activities in Poznań
What to do in Poznań in spring? Where to go for a walk and where to fire up the grill? Which places—both obvious and less so—are worth visiting this time of year? Here are the top 10 most interesting places in the capital of Greater Poland.
Spring in Poznań encourages strolls and exploration of the city. Where are the best places to go when the weather is nice? Here are 10 of the most interesting spots:
The Warta Riverbanks. Spring is the perfect time to stroll along the Warta River. You can relax on deckchairs and enjoy the sun, as well as use the outdoor gym or climbing wall. Wartostrada has been a hit for years, offering excellent cycling and rollerblading opportunities. You can also visit the River Eco-Education Garden and the Experimental Heritage Garden near the Poznań Gate. This is a great place for families with children – perfect for playing and learning about ecology. Important! In spring, you can fire up a barbecue on the banks of the Warta River. However, remember to leave the area tidy. Along the river, there are containers for glass, mixed waste, plastics, and paper, and in summer, there are also bins for ash and barbecue embers.
The Berdychiv Bridges. In spring, they’re a perfect place for a stroll and a unique opportunity to admire the Poznań panorama, including the cathedral. Two bridges connect the Old Market Square with the green spaces along the Warta River, offering a beautifully designed route for cyclists and pedestrians. In spring, they’re also easy to see after dark—it’s worth waiting until sunset, as their illumination is stunning.
Citadel Park. Where to go for a spring walk to admire nature coming to life? Of course, to the Citadel. This vast park covers a total area of approximately 100 hectares. Within its grounds are several cemeteries, two museums, and a large recreational area. Springtime offers greenery for walks, sports, and coffee. The Citadel is home to several hundred plant species. Many of them are rare or even very rare and protected – including two natural monuments. Numerous species of birds and smaller mammals live there, as well as reptiles, including the protected newt. The Citadel is also a relic of a 19th-century fortress and the largest artillery fort in Europe at the time.
Szachty is a destination for nature lovers, spring walks, and bike rides. It boasts a 25-meter observation tower, from whose terrace you can admire the panoramic view of the surrounding area. From here, you can admire the skyscrapers in the Kopernika housing estate, the municipal stadium, the houses in Górczyn, and the office buildings in the city center. The tower’s terrace also offers a view of the picturesque ponds. With a bit of luck, you might spot ducks, swans, or terns.
New Zoo. Tigers, elephants, giraffes, as well as red pandas, macaques, and cranes – in spring, the animals at the New Zoo increasingly emerge from their shelters to bask in the sun. Spring weekends are a great opportunity to see endangered species firsthand. The zoo also frequently organizes workshops and events for children, making it a perfect place for a spring trip with little ones.
Malta Lake is a unique lake in the heart of Poznań. When going for a spring walk, it’s worth exploring its surroundings – there’s a playground for the little ones, and an outdoor gym for the slightly older ones. Nearby is the Maltanka Park Railway station – in spring, the historic steam locomotives return to the tracks, once again providing fun for children and adults.
The Botanical Garden is a place where spring truly shines! During the first warm weeks of each year, it delights with the colors and scents of plants returning to life. The garden is also one of Poznań’s largest parks and a research facility of Adam Mickiewicz University.
Żurawiniec and Morasko Nature Reserves. Located north of Poznań, they delight not only in spring. Here, you can delve into the secrets of nature and appreciate the richness and complexity of the reserve’s natural environment. Żurawiniec boasts unique peat bogs, while Morasko boasts craters left by a meteorite that struck the site several thousand years ago.
Poznań’s lakes – Rusałka, Strzeszynek, and Kiekrz – are a perfect spring activity. In spring, you can admire the awakening nature there, and in summer, cool off at the city’s swimming areas. These are also great areas to explore by bike – specially prepared paths encourage spring rides. Barbecuing is also possible in designated areas.
Marceliński Forest. This is a popular walking spot for residents of the western part of Poznań. This is no surprise – it boasts numerous paths, a bicycle and horseback riding trail, and playgrounds for children. You can even light a bonfire near the forester’s lodge – after prior consultation with the area administrator, the Poznań Forest Department, of course. In 2017, Poznań residents planted over 1,000 trees there. The event was part of Earth Day celebrations.
Poznań University of Technology wins gold in international aviation competition
Students from Poznań University of Technology won the international SAE Aero Design East competition held in Lakeland, Florida, USA. The Academic Aviation Club (AKL) team took first place overall in the prestigious Regular class and also topped the podium in the Flight category.
The SAE Aero Design East competition, organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers, is one of the premier student design competitions in the aerospace field. The event took place in Lakeland, Florida, and brought together academic teams from numerous countries.
The event’s partners are companies related to the aviation industry, including Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the F-16 and F-35 aircraft.
Success of the team from Poznań
The Poznań University of Technology team won the most prestigious Regular class, which featured 35 teams competing. The students took first place overall and first place in the flight category. They also received the Elliot & Dorothy Green Award of Excellence for their performance.
This result equals the best result in the history of the Poznań team in this competition. In 2018, the team achieved similar success in the California edition of the competition.
The Poznań University of Technology team consisted of the following students: Agata Chojnacka, Antoni Dąbkiewicz, Kajetan Michalak, Marcel Kraśniewski, Mikołaj Lewandowski (pilot), Antoni Paprocki, Aleksandra Paśko and Kacper Zabojski – team commander.
The project’s scientific supervisor was Dr. Radosław Górzeński, Eng. The Poznań University of Technology’s Academic Aviation Club team has been participating in the SAE Aero Design East competition since 2008. In recent years, the AKL has received financial support from the City.
Model prepared for competition
The Poznań team presented an unmanned aircraft with a wingspan of 304 centimeters, an empty weight of 6.5 kilograms, and a payload of approximately 15 kilograms. The structure was constructed using a truss system of 2-millimeter-thick plywood covered with foil, with aluminum spars.
The model was equipped with a Selig wing profile with winglets. It was powered by two TMotor electric motors powered by a 4S 2000 mAh LiPo battery. The aircraft had a cruising speed of approximately 12 meters per second.
Teams from numerous countries participated in the competition, including India, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United States, and Slovenia. The SAE Aero Design East competition allows students to put their knowledge of aircraft design and construction to the test and compete against teams from technical universities around the world.
Poznań named best city to live in Poland
For the fourth time, Poznań has been named the best city to live in Poland in an independent ranking by Business Insider. The capital of Greater Poland tied for first place with Rzeszów, ahead of Katowice and Lublin.
ournalists assessed cities in six categories: unemployment, average salary,
Housing availability, access to a doctor covered by the National Health Fund, crime, and air quality. Poznań ranked in the top ten in almost all of these.
“For the fourth time, Poznań has been rated the best city to live in,” emphasizes Jacek Jaśkowiak, the city’s mayor. “This is no coincidence, but the result of consistent efforts by many individuals and institutions. Winning this ranking is particularly meaningful to us because it is based on hard data and parameters. But it also motivates us to continue working hard. We know that a high quality of life, which includes the availability of jobs, housing, social services, safety, air quality, and many other areas, is crucial for Poznań residents. That’s why we do everything we can to consistently improve it. We are pleased that this is recognized, as it also sends a positive signal to investors seeking good locations for their businesses.”
The capital of Greater Poland also took first place in one of the categories: “unemployment rate” – this indicator in Poznań has been one of the lowest or the lowest in Poland for many months.
The list is based on objective, available data.
“All statistics come from official sources,” emphasizes Damian Słomski, a journalist at Business Insider Polska. “They are regularly published by trusted institutions and are widely accessible. These figures come from the Central Statistical Office (unemployment, average wages, crime, population), the National Health Fund (queues for doctors, summarized by the swiatprzychodni.pl website), the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (air quality), and the Morizon website (housing prices).”
“Housing availability” refers to the ratio of the average price of second-hand properties to the average salary of city residents. “Doctor availability” refers to the average number of days a patient must wait to see a specialist on the National Health Fund (NFZ) (allergist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist, gynecologist, cardiologist, ENT specialist, neurologist, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, and urologist). The crime rate is measured by the number of crimes per population, and the average amount of suspended PM10 particulate matter is an indicator of air quality.
This is the fourth time Poznań has topped this ranking, which is published on average every six months. Previously, the capital of Greater Poland won in February 2025, September 2024, and August 2023. It has never fallen off the podium – its lowest position was third place. Organizers have repeatedly emphasized the city’s stability: Poznań doesn’t dominate in many categories, but it has no weaknesses, and a strong job market regularly helps it reach the top spot.
More information can be found on the Onet.pl website.