WARSAWESOME:
WEEKEND IN WARSAW
NOVEMBER 5 – 7
This is a rare occurrence of a weekend between two long weekends. We want to celebrate it by getting blinded by the lights in the Neverland in Powsiń, bouncing at Undercity, and then relaxing with the unique films available at Korean Film Festival or Climate Film Review. Here comes our list of the TOP6 events of the upcoming weekend.
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1) Grand opening of Peter Pan’s Garden of Lights
For a month now, we have been able to enjoy light shows in the Royal Gardens in Wilanów, and in a month’s time, the Christmas Illumination of Warsaw will be inaugurated. This weekend, however, we are in for the premiere of the city’s biggest light show. After dark, the Botanical Garden in Powsin will turn into Neverland, sparkling with half a million LED lights decorating enchanted trees. In the land of Peter Pan, we can stumble upon attractions such as a multimedia Christmas tree, laser shows, and video mapping. There will also be games for kids and many photo points located throughout the garden.
When: from Friday, November 5, to Sunday, February 27; from 16:00 to 21:00
Where: PAN Botanical Garden – ul. Prawdziwka 2
The plan of attractions, map, and a link to buy tickets can be found on the Garden of Lights’ website.
2) Movies
Traditionally, long autumn evenings are a chance to delight in the repertoires of numerous upcoming film festivals. This weekend, we can choose from:
- 7th Warsaw Korean Film Festival, which consists of three sections: Korean hits, International Festival Winners, Youn Yuh-Jung’s Retrospective. We are most interested in “The Man Standing Next,” which is this year’s South Korean candidate for the Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category.
When: Friday, November 5, to Wednesday, November 10
Where: Kinoteka – Plac Defilad 1
- The 20th edition of the CINEMAFORUM festival, i.e. the International Forum of Short Films. The pictures we get to watch are the best short films awarded at leading foreign film festivals.
When: until Sunday, November 7
Where: Kinoteka – Plac Defilad 1
- Climate Film Review, organized as part of the COP26 – 26th UN climate conference. We will see the most interesting titles from recent years dealing with issues of climate change. Each screening will be complemented by a debate with experts. We recommend the movie “I am Greta” about Greta Thunberg (Saturday, November 6, at 19:00). All movies and debates will be streamed online.
When: until Wednesday, November 10
- A screening of “Hope dies last”, that is the film project of Jonathan L. Ramsey – the creator of the famous “It’s Ok to Panic” – looking for an answer to the question: what is it like to be a young climate activist in Poland at this point in history?
When: Sunday, November 7, from 17:00
Where: Ursynów Cultural Center “Alternatywy” – ul. Indiry Gandhi 9
- A screening of “Pokój”, which is an adaptation of the short story “The Seventh Journey” from Stanisław Lem’s “Star Diaries” and also the first film adaptation of this author in over 40 years in Poland. The screening will be followed by an interview with the director – Krzysztof Jankowski and the main actor – Wojciech Solarz.
When: Friday, November 5, from 20:00
Where: Muzeum Polskiej Wódki – Plac Konesera 1
3) Concerts
When it comes to big events, Undercity, the largest electronic music festival in the capital, has to win this week. We will bounce to the beats from the absolute top of international creators, incl. Hatelove, Headless Horseman, Joseph Capriati or Kas: st. Tickets for one day cost 190PLN, but the scale, musical quality, and light shows are absolutely worth it.
When: Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6, from 18:00 to 8:00
Where: Torwar – ul. Łazienkowska 6a
In the category of more intimate events, the following stand out:
- the concert of Włodzimierz Nahorny Trio featuring Zbigniew Namysłowski. Two jazz masters will meet on stage to celebrate the 80th birthday of the former. He is renowned for albums devoted to Chopin’s music and the seismic influence they had on Polish jazz.
When: Friday, November 5, from 19:00
Where: PROM Kultury Saska Kępa – ul. Brussels 23
- The first concert of this year’s edition of the International “Chopin in the heart of Warsaw” Piano Festival, during which we will listen to prof. Zbigniew Raubo.
When: Saturday, November 6, from 18:00
Where: Kościół ewangelicko-augsburski Świętej Trójcy – Plac Małachowskiego
4) Open November at royal residences
Throughout the month, free tickets to permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as special events – meetings, lectures, conferences, workshops, and guided tours await in the royal residences of the capital. The participating venues are as follows:
- The Royal Castle (Plac Zamkowy 4) – where you can see the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions. We recommend “Albums of prof. Stanisław Lorentz” documenting the history of the castle reconstruction. In addition, there will be lectures titled: “Jubilee – traces of reconstruction”, “Roberto Longhi – scholar and collector” and “Caravaggio” Supper with Emmaus “from 1606: between realism and the sacred” and an academic conference dedicated to “The Royal Castle in Warsaw in the interwar period – space state, diplomatic and residential.” more info
- The Royal Łazienki Museum, which opens the door to the Palace on the Isle, the Old Orangery, the Myślewicki Palace, the Kantonistów Barracks, and the Kubicki Stables. The exhibition “Chocim 1621” is also available until the end of the month. more info
- King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów (ul. Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16), with special guided walks and workshops, e.g. weekend guided tours focusing on the history and interior design of the palace, and three thematic walks that will take us on a journey into the world of porcelain, plants, and animals. more info
5) Grand opening of Współdzielnik
As a result of the unprecedented cooperation of the Wola Cultural Center with Wola Park, the Local Community Activity Place is opening. We value such initiatives and believe that they play an important role in building closer relations in neighborhood communities. In this space, we will be able to use:
- free store – based on the idea of the circular economy; everyone will be able to bring unnecessary things there and take what may be useful for them;
- food sharing room – with a refrigerator and cabinets that will encourage sharing food and saving food products from wasting;
- workshop room – which will host meetings and educational workshops on building ecological and climate awareness, including the broadly understood zero waste ideas;
- repair shop – a stand where it will be possible to repair everyday objects, e.g. to renew a chair or fix a minor defect in a blender;
- a haven for plants – a place where potted plants that are in poor condition are restored back to proper health and then given for adoption;
- relaxation zone – that is a place equipped with comfortable furniture.
On the day of the opening, there will be eco/zero waste workshops and consultations with experts. We can also count on a little something from Foodsharing Warsaw.
When: from Saturday, November 6, from 12:00 to 20:00
Where: Wola Park – ul. Górczewska 124
6) 1. Grassroots Dance Congress
The first edition of the festival will be devoted to violence in dance and choreography. This topic is rarely discussed outside the group of professional dancers. At the same time, it seems important to us in the #metoo era. We will learn more during expert lectures, discussion panels, and assertive communication workshops.
When: Sunday and Monday, November 7 and 8
Where: Powszechny Theater – ul. Zamoyskiego 20
To find the best places for summer walks, bike trips, dates, etc. consult our list of the 35 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN WARSAW IN 2021.
