Syabrouskaya Byaseda festival in Poland

An international festival Syabrouskaya Byaseda (A Meeting of Friends) has been held in the Polish border town of Grudek since 2000. It is an important cultural event in the calendar of the ethnic Belarusians living in Poland. This festival was started by the Prymaki band that sings Belarusian songs for the past 20 years. Every year they organize the meeting of friends – folk bands from different countries performing Belarusian songs and dances.

The 17th edition of the festival drew together more than 30 ensembles from Poland, Belarus and Romania. Among the guests of honor were music companies from Belarus such as Belyi Ptah, Krupitskiya Muzyki, Nerush, Belorusy... For ten hours, the participants of the musical marathon performed beautiful Belarusian songs. The event also featured a recitation contest, an arts and crafts exhibition, a culinary contest for the best bread loaf and a tasting of dishes of the Belarusian national cuisine.

Photo: Bely Ptakh folk band (Belarus)