The biggest non-commercial festival in Europe is three days of music and culture extravaganza.
Pol’and’Rock Festival is considered to be the largest non-commercial music and arts festival in Europe. This free festival will see its 24th instalment play out in August this year, and it enjoys an ever-growing cult following among music-lovers from all over the world. This year the festival will, for the first time in its history, be held under a new, original name. Formerly known as Woodstock Festival Poland it drew inspiration from the illustrious Woodstock Music and Arts Fair in 1969. The festival, held in Poland since 1994 continued to nurture the ideals of peace, love, and friendship, becoming a seminal event in central Europe.
Photo credit: Anna Migda, Marcin Michon, Igor Kochutnicki
Festival line-up is a vibrant mixture of emerging talent from all over the world and ultimate festival headliners, taking over 5 festival stages as well as cultural, educational, and social awareness campaigns. The festival hosts over 75 NGOs presenting their initiatives and teaching the festival goers about their mission. The spheres of activities span from sports and recreation to human right, equality, and LGBTQ rights. The Academy of the Finest of Arts hosts meetings with esteemed public figures, authorities in different fields: scientists, travellers, activists and artists. All meetings at the Academy of the Finest of Arts are interpreted into sing language.
This home is for everyone, don’t let anyone feel less than welcome! Our doors are open to everyone! You are our strength, you built this Festival. Give us your positive energy and we will do all in our power to be the roof over your heads that saves you from harm
Jurek Owsiak to the crowd gathered at the opening of the festival
Festival initiatives
Festival initiatives for 2018 include promotion of ecological activities, as the promoters of the festival push to limit the amount of waste. Each year the festival-goers produced 400 tons of rubbish. The organizer of the festival will be providing guests of the festival with free rubbish bags which can be taken to over 30 recycling points located across the festival grounds.
Another festival-wide initiative is creating a more inclusive and open space for disabled guests of the festival. The motto of the initiative is: when music unites us, nothing stands between us! The promoters strive to build a truly inclusive and open festival, where everyone is welcome. For the first time, we invite disabled guests of the festival to watch concerts at the Main Stage from a viewing platform. Other disabled facilities at the festival site include disabled ramp access to AFA tents, medical points and food stalls, disabled facilities and sing language translation of all AFA meetings.
Another festival-wide initiative is creating a more inclusive and open space for disabled guests of the festival. The motto of the initiative is: when music unites us, nothing stands between us! The promoters strive to build a truly inclusive and open festival, where everyone is welcome. For the first time, we invite disabled guests of the festival to watch concerts at the Main Stage from a viewing platform. Other disabled facilities at the festival site include disabled ramp access to AFA tents, medical points and food stalls, disabled facilities and sing language translation of all AFA meetings.
