Świnoujście hosts Wiatrak maritime singing festival

The Wiatrak festival, a 41-year tradition of maritime singing, took place in Świnoujście. This year, organizers moved the event from its traditional indoor theater setting to an open-air concert shell to provide a fresh seaside atmosphere and attract tourists.

The musical program included a children's dedication titled ‘Wiatraczek’ on Friday, followed by more powerful performances on Saturday. Notable acts included the group ‘Keja’, led by Barbara Okoń with soloist Halina Nowak and supported by the ‘Chwaty’ choir. The event also featured the Wolin-based group ‘Queen’s Anne Revenge’ from Green Wood, led by Marek Piguła, which performs music inspired by Irish maritime themes.

While the performers aimed to uphold the tradition established by the late Jurek Porębski, the transition to an outdoor venue presented challenges in building the specific atmosphere of a traditional sailing vessel with the seaside audience.