Swinoujscie Local Customs

CULTURE, SPORT, RECREATIN

The special nature of Swinoujscie is reflected in the schelude of cultural and sport evens. Every yeay, mainly in summer, participants of many cultural and sport events flock to the city. As with any major seaside city, Swinoujscie is a place where sailors come in June, July and August for a number of saoling events. The summer spotr and cultural period begins much earlier, howewer. In May, we have Bieg Konstytucji 3 Maja (the 3rd of May Constitution Race) and Otwaryt Turniej Tenisa Ziemnego (the Tennis Open Tournament) Tourament. Swieto Sledzia (the Herring Festival) started by Towarzystwo Przyjaciol Swinoujscia (the Friends of Swinoujscie Association) in another of the traditional May cultural events which emphasise the sea character of the City. It is one of the first festivals of the season. Every year great interest is created by Dni Morza and Dni Swinoujscia (Yhe Sea Days and The Swinoujscie Days), traditionally celebrated at the end of June. The so-called Naptunalia, Noc Swietojanscka (St.John’s Night), and the celebration of Swieto Marynarki Wojennej (the Navy Festivbal) are an established part of the programme, with seasonal exhibitions, concerts and festivals. Dni Morza last for a few days and they are enriched with a number of attractive sport and recreational events, including teh „Beach Ball Tour”.
The largest range of cultural events for the city inhabitants and guests is prepared by the city for the two holiday months. Scheduled at that time are the following events: Festiwal Artystyczny Mlodziezy Akademickiej (the Academic Youth Artists Festival)in July, Swinoujski Piknik Ludowy (the Swinoujscie Common Picnic) also in July with a folk art. Fair. In addition are numerous cultural and promotional events organised under the heading of „Lato w muszli”(Summer in the Band Shell) in July and August. In August are the famous promenade concerts, performed by well-know orchestras. Also, almot every day attractive concerts are held in the amphitheatre, with 3,500 seats for guests.
In September, Morskie Dni Kultury (the Sea Cultural Days) are celebrated with references made to sea traditions, with the help of exhibitions, concerts, literary evenings, and fish feasts. The „Wiatrak” Ogolnopolski Festiwal Piosenki Morskiej (the All-Poland Sea Song Festival) constitutes an integral part of these festivities. The most important sport event in this month is a marathon run with participants from many countries: the „swinoujscie-Wolgast Marathon”.
In the off-season period, attractions are more of a cultural and educational nature, addressed to younger and older generations of city inhabitians as well as to the visitors who prefer autumn and spring flavours of Swinoujscie. Guests visit the museum, the library, and cultural education centers, with their year-round interesting programmes of exhibitions, recitals, performances and concerts. The „wyspiarz” Osrodek Sportu i Rekreacji (the Sport and Recreation Centre) provides recreational and sport activities with sports fields, tennis courts and swimming pools, which are open all year round. Sport clubs also are looking forward to visitors with more proffesional tastes, offering venues in which one can train in and practice volleyball, basketball, football, acrobatics, athletics sport, aikido, karate (Kyokushin and Shotokan), boxing, body building and other.
Of course, Swinoujscie remains a popular health resort, where guests can actively relax get in better physical shape, and improve their place of mind in beautiful, natural surroundings.