The Youth Birthday of the City is a series of events as part of European Youth Capital prepared on the occasion of the 706th anniversary of granting Lublin city rights. Artistic performances on the Young Stage, a creative fun zone, guided tours of the city or a balloon fiesta are just some of the attractions that will take place from 11 to 15 August.
As every year, August 15 marks an important date for our city. In 1317, King Władysław Łokietek granted Lublin with the city charter under the Magdeburg Law, and on this day we celebrate the city's birthday. This year's celebrations will be special, because in 2023 we are the European Youth Capital, and in addition, August 12th is the International Youth Day. Therefore, the coming days will be filled with a number of attractions and events, programmed with residents and visitors in mind. I invite you to celebrate the 706th birthday of the City together. It is a reason for joy and pride and an opportunity to build a local community - says Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of the City of Lublin.
On the occasion of the International Youth Day, on Friday (August 11) at Kaczyński Square (next to Centre for Culture) a Chill&Charge young relaxation zone will be created. The activities include great jenga, slow friending, mini contests with rewards (Lublin gadgets), creative workshops and other surprises. From 14.00 to 19.00, in the space with deckchairs and hammocks, consultants from the Youth Information and Development Center and the Eurodesk Lublin Network Point and Europe Direct Lublin will answer all questions related to European exchange, volunteering and development opportunities for young people. The team of the European Youth Capital and representatives of the Institute of Activation and Social Development will also be present there. The event is carried out as part of the Youth Information and Development Center financed by the EEA and Norway Grants as part of the bilateral initiative "Youth for the City, City for Youth - projects and initiatives involving and including local communities''.
Between 11 and 15 August, the City invites you for walks with Guides of Inspiration aiming to familiarize participants with the over 700-years history of Lublin. Mysterious Lublin, Riddles of a Lublin townswoman, or Animals in the history and legends of Lublin are just some of the topics of the walks. The Youthmania creative relaxation zone is also planned, which together with the Strafa Dorastania Foundation (Growing Up Foundation) will provide entertainment in the green zone at Litewski Square. The program includes creative workshops, outdoor games, dart board, board games and speed friending. From August 12, in the evenings, the dance floor at Litewski Square will turn into the Youth Stage. Every night from 18.00 to 21.30 there will be performances by young Lublin artists. In addition, the water show on the multimedia fountain will be performed every night at 21:30.
There is no birthday party without balloons! On August 12 and 13 the Balloon Fiesta will take place at Litewski Square. There will be free tethered rides, classes with balloon flight instructors and the night show.
Lubliner Festival is another part of the City's Birthday celebrations with brilliant concerts in the Saxon Garden. This year, the festival line up includes the Grammy Award winner and one of the top klezmer musicians in the world - Frank London and Lorin Sklamber (USA), co-founders of the award-winning legendary New York band Klezmatics, as well as gospel singer - Joshua Nelson. They will be accompanied by a folk-klezmer band from Germany, Dobranotch. The concert will take place on Saturday (August 12) at 20.00. On Sunday (August 13), Darek "Maleo" Malejonek and his friends will pay musical tribute to the Ulma family, the Polish Righteous and all those who saved Jews during the war.
The climax of the birthday program is scheduled for August 15, in the very heart of the city, i.e. Litewski Square. The central square of Lublin will turn into a great Youth Stage, where young scholarship holders, talented bands and artists of the young generation will perform, while the green area will become a great zone of creative fun. Additionally, exactly at 13.17 (referring to the year 1317, when Lublin was granted city rights) we will invite you to sing "Happy Birthday" together. The city, together with the Europiek bakery, also prepared a surprise - as much as 706 pieces of Cebularz, the famous local onion and poppy seed cakes.
August 15 is also the National Review of City Bugle Calls in Lublin - trumpeters from all over Poland will play bugle calls from the balcony of the Crown Tribunal.
All events are free of charge and open to young participants.
The leaflet on the birthday events and the third season of the European Youth Capital Lublin 2023 celebrations can be found here.
