Fasolowe Żniwa in Rożnów: the Piękny Jaś bean harvest festival

The Dunajec valley around Lake Rożnów is famous for the large white “Piękny Jaś” (Beautiful Johnny) bean. “Fasola Piękny Jaś z Doliny Dunajca” holds EU Protected Designation of Origin status, and for the Gródek nad Dunajcem commune it has become a true symbol. That is why the local harvest festival here is called “Fasolowe Żniwa” (the Bean Harvest): every August the villages of the commune gather in Rożnów to give thanks for the harvest, show their harvest wreaths and compete for the tastiest dish made from “Jaś”.

The festival has been held for many years and combines old harvest customs — a thanksgiving Mass, a procession with wreaths, honouring the farmers’ work — with folk music and a big party. It is organised by the commune with the commune culture centre and supported by the Małopolska region. Sometimes it lasts two days: in 2025, on Saturday from 16:00, the amphitheatre hosted stalls of local exhibitors, a free children’s play zone and performances by children’s and adult regional groups, followed by an evening dance; Sunday brought the thanksgiving and the main programme.

Why go

• See the harvest wreaths — large compositions of ears, grain and flowers made by the village communities; after Mass they are carried in procession to the amphitheatre.
• Taste bean dishes at the traditional contest, where rural women’s circles, schools, seniors’ clubs and even a brass band compete.
• Hear local groups: the Jan Dziedzic Brass Band of the Rożnów fire brigade, the “Małe Rożnowioki”, “Siennioki” and “Rożnowska Dolina” ensembles; in the evening, a guest headliner (in 2026, Golec uOrkiestra).

What to taste and buy

The contest shows how versatile beans can be. Dishes are judged by a jury of local food experts (in 2026 — Jan Duda, Janina Molek and Zygmunt Paruch), and stalls of local producers and farmers with home-made treats usually stand nearby. In 2026 seven teams presented, among others, a “Jasiek” bean salad (first prize — the Rożnów brass band), a bean bake (the school in Roztoka-Brzeziny), a “Dunajec pot of duck and Jaś”, “Jaś in a green quilt” from the Jelna women’s circle and a bean barszcz from the Podole-Górowa seniors’ club. Buy the Piękny Jaś beans themselves from local farmers — they are large, thin-skinned and delicate, good in soups and salads alike.

Practical information

When: every August, usually on a Sunday (2025 — 9–10 August, 2026 — 16 August). The 2026 programme: 15:00 — thanksgiving Mass in the Church of St Adalbert and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Rożnów, then a procession with the wreaths to the amphitheatre, the stage programme, and at 20:30 the evening concert. Where: Rożnów, Gródek nad Dunajcem commune, about 20 km north of Nowy Sącz on Lake Rożnów; easiest by car. Free entry. Entries for the cooking contest go to the commune culture centre (tel. +48 18 440 15 27); commune: +48 18 440 10 35, [email protected].

It is an outdoor family festival; watch the commune’s website, as the date and programme are announced each year.

Nearby

• Lake Rożnów — a reservoir on the Dunajec with beaches and water sports.
• The castle ruins in Rożnów above the Dunajec valley.
• Winnica Nowizny and Lipnica Murowana — the Plum Trail of the Wiśnicz Foothills.
• Sądecki Bartnik — an apiary and the honey tradition of the Sącz region.

Official website: gminagrodek.pl

Photos: gminagrodek.pl.