We are celebrating 80 years of Polish Szczecin

Polish Szczecin is 80 years old. We will be celebrating this special anniversary throughout the weekend. There will be a special session of the City Council, multimedia shows, a traditional birthday cake and many other events. The oldest, largest independent journalistic daily in Poland is not much younger than Polish Szczecin – “Kurier Szczeciński”, the first issue of which was published on October 6, 1945. Since then, our newspaper has been continuously in Polish hands.

On July 5, 1945, Szczecin was officially handed over to Polish authorities. It was then, after World War II and the turbulent post-war months, when the city changed hands, that Szczecin, together with Western Pomerania, found itself within the borders of Poland. From that moment on, the construction of Polish structures in the city began, the reconstruction of the city and the creation of its new, Polish identity. Over the course of eighty years, Polish residents managed to create a city of exceptional character, with a turbulent and glorious history. Today, Szczecin is a city that is developing and changing.

The eightieth anniversary of Polish Szczecin will be celebrated with great pomp. On Friday, July 4th at 10 a.m., a ceremonial session of the City Council began at the Szczecin City Office in the presence of representatives of partner cities, Honorary Ambassadors of Szczecin and former Presidents of Szczecin. During the session, honorary titles of Ambassador of Szczecin, Medals for Merit for the City of Szczecin will be awarded, as well as an artistic performance by the Choir of the Maritime University of Technology.

At 1:00 p.m., an outdoor photography exhibition “80 Years of Szczecin” will open at the square near Jasne Błonia – 36 photos showing how the city has changed over the years.

However, the biggest attractions await the residents of Szczecin on Saturday (5th July). At 12:00 at the monument of the Deed of Poles there will be a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the takeover of Szczecin by the Polish administration and celebrations of the Day of Pioneers of the City of Szczecin. The City's Bugle Call will be played by students of the OSM I degree named after prof. M. Jasiński, there will also be speeches and the laying of flowers. The celebrations will be graced by a performance by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Szczecin Region "Krąg".

From 1 to 8 p.m. at Różanka, the residents of Szczecin will be treated to two giant birthday cakes (each weighing 80 kg), an interactive play and animation zone for children, concerts and a birthday dance party. In the evening, at Armii Krajowej Square in front of the City Hall building, there will be: a historical reenactment (8 p.m.), a historical diorama (8:30-10 p.m.) and two shows entitled: "Mapping 80 years of Szczecin" at 10:30 and 11 p.m. In the last show, light, sound and image will combine into a unique story about Szczecin - a city that has changed beyond recognition.

There will also be many accompanying events on July 5. At Fabryka Wody, everyone born on July 5 (regardless of the year) will receive free entry to the Aquapark. To take advantage of the promotion, simply show an ID confirming your date of birth at the entrance. At 6 p.m., at Misia Wojtek Square in the area of ​​Żyzna streets in the Krzekowo-Bezrzecze estate, there will be the inauguration of the outdoor concert project of the Słowianin Cultural Center “Granie w bramie”. The duet “W korcu maku” (Waldemar Baranowski and Monika Frankowicz) and other young artists from Szczecin will perform. At 12 p.m. (also at Misia Wojtek Square), a city guided walk around charming Krzekowo-Bezrzecze, organized by the Słowianin Cultural Center, will begin. 14 – also in the same place – a family mini-festival will begin with artistic workshops for entire families (bag painting, rock painting, animations and colouring books for the youngest), a knowledge competition about Szczecin with prizes and an exhibition of photos of Szczecin created on the basis of applications from residents.

Walks in the footsteps of the Pioneers of Szczecin will take place on July 5 and 8 at 5:00 p.m. from Armii Krajowej Square (registration required, link to register for the event: https://tourszczecin.eu/). On July 5 and 7, a happening "Where did the Szczecinians come from" will take place in Kasprowicz Park (a slope above Lake Rusałka near the Summer Theatre).

On Sunday, July 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Helena Majdaniec Summer Theatre in Szczecin there will be a concert called “Letters to Adele” performed by Jackpot Quintet and Guests (free tickets required).

On July 4-6 the International Motorcycle Enthusiasts Festival Junak will also be held in Szczecin (ul. Arkońska 1, MOSIRR Arkonia Szczecin).

In addition, as part of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Polish Szczecin, activities such as the unveiling of the modernized "Wolne Miasto Szczecin" neon sign and the renovation of the "Victoria" mural by Marcin Papis "Kraz" are planned. They will take place from July to October 2025 on the façade of the Trafostacja Sztuki building in Szczecin and on Solidarności Square. From October to January, the Trafostacja Sztuki will host the "Retrowersje Szczecin" exhibition, organized with the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning and dedicated to the post-war reconstruction of Szczecin. ©℗

Agata JANKOWSKA