Family, community, tradition – XXIII Family Festival in Leszczawa Dolna

Material prepared for the press.

In picturesque Leszczawa Dolna, last Sunday - June 1, the XXIII Spring Family Festival took place - an event that once again gathered the local community around family values, joy and integration. The festival, organized by Caritas of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl and the Elementary School named after Blessed Father Bronisław Markiewicz, became not only a celebration of Children's Day or another event on the occasion of the ongoing 35th anniversary of the Przemyśl Caritas activity, but also an opportunity for an intergenerational meeting in the spirit of community and tradition.

The celebrations began in the church of St. John the Baptist, where the Holy Mass was celebrated. The liturgy was led by Bishop Edward Kawa from Lviv, Secretary General of the Ukrainian Episcopal Conference. The service had a special character - thanks were also given for 25 years of priesthood and service of Fr. Artur Janiec, long-time Director of Caritas of the Przemyśl Archdiocese. After a joint prayer, a colorful, joyful procession of participants moved to the square by the Village Community Center, where the event was officially opened.

"A Family Smelling of Love and Flowers" - a program full of emotions

The slogan of this year's festival: "A family smelling of love and flowers" , was not only the main theme of the event, but also the inspiration for the artistic performance. Students from the Primary School in Leszczawa Dolna presented a moving and colourful artistic programme, emphasizing the importance of the family as a space of love, understanding and development. The programme of the event was extremely rich and varied. Bicycle acrobatics delighted the audience, presenting the extraordinary skills of young athletes. The star of the evening was the legendary band "Bayer Full", whose concert attracted crowds of residents and guests from nearby towns. The repertoire known and loved by several generations created an atmosphere of good fun. Right after the concert, there was a performance by the dance group "Stokrotki", which combined the charm and passion of young dancers. The culmination of the artistic part of the event were concerts by the band "Wysoczanie" and the band "Pełnia".

The special guest of the festival was a well-known sports journalist - Przemysław Babiarz, whose presence honored the event and aroused great interest among the participants. His warm contact with the audience and charisma contributed to building an even closer relationship between the organizers and the participants of the event. There were also historical accents. The Przemyśl Association of Reconstruction of Historical Costumes "Damy i Husary" invited the participants on a journey through the ages - presenting the costumes, customs and elements of culture of old eras. This type of initiative not only made the festival more attractive, but also had an educational and culture-forming value.

Attractions for everyone - joy for children and adults

The festival in Leszczawa Dolna turned out to be an event that united all generations. Thanks to the efforts of the organizers, there was no shortage of attractions for children and adults. The youngest enjoyed inflatables, games and fun, had the opportunity to meet alpacas and take a ride in a melex or horse-drawn carriage. For those with a sweet tooth, cotton candy, popcorn and ice cream were prepared, while lovers of the picnic atmosphere could enjoy grilled sausages and roasted piglet from a spit. On the occasion of Children's Day, each student received a gift from Caritas in the form of "Houses of Happiness". It is worth emphasizing that the entire event was organized with the integration of entire families in mind - from toddlers, through young people to seniors. Joint games, laughter, conversations and singing created an unforgettable aura and contributed to building a local identity.

The contemporary significance of family festivals

In the era of digitalization and the increasing pace of life, such events play an important social role. They are a space for direct contact, building relationships and strengthening interpersonal bonds. What's more, they show that tradition and modernity can go hand in hand - all you need is openness, commitment and a sense of community. The example of Leszczawa Dolna is proof that even in a small town you can create a high-level event that gathers hundreds of participants, promotes local culture, supports youth development and at the same time provides excellent entertainment. The 23rd Spring Family Festival in Leszczawa proved that community, joy and family values ​​still have great power. Let this message accompany us not only during holidays and festivals, but every day - at home, at work, at school and among neighbors.

We would like to express our gratitude to all those involved in the preparation and conduct of this event and thank those present for coming.

Rev. Dr. Paweł Konieczny – Deputy Director of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Przemyśl