Poland (1/48)
Each June around Children’s Day, Krakow celebrates its best event of the year: the Wielka Parada Smoków (Great Dragon Parade). The festival is put on by the Teatr Groteska and features a family picnic, a parade and dragon-building competition, and an epic inflatable dragon and fireworks show over the river. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and not to be missed.
Great Dragon Parade Fireworks Show
The Parada Smoków (Great Dragon Parade) fireworks show is on the Saturday night of the event around 10pm. It’s important to arrive early to get a good viewing spot. The best ones are on the hill under Wawel Castle or the Bulwar below it at the bend near the Hotel pod Wawelem.
The fireworks show is set to music from around the world. The styles range from epic to poppy dance music.
The Great Dragon Parade (the literal Parada Smoków)
On the Sunday of the weekend is the actual parade from which the Parada Smoków gets its name. Children and community groups build their own dragons which they show off. The parade is led by more dragon balloons. It culminates in Krakow’s famous Rynek Główny.
My favorite place to watch the Parada Smoków is from the terrace at the Sukiennice. You can access this via the National Museum at the Sukiennice which is free to visit on Sundays.
Even if the Parada Smoków is meant to celebrate Children’s Day, we can all enjoy the fun and whimsy it brings to Krakow. Dragons play an important role in Krakow legends. So celebrating them is celebrating the city. And, I mean, you can’t help but smile at these ridiculous things!
So who’s coming with me next year!?
