Fruit Harvest Festival in Łącko: village stands, fruit and folklore

Łącko, in the Dunajec valley between Stary Sącz and the Pieniny, is one of Poland's best-known fruit-growing areas: the slopes around are covered with apple, pear and plum orchards, and orchards and fruit have shaped community life here for centuries. Twice a year the commune holds big village festivals — the May Apple Blossom Festival (Święto Kwitnącej Jabłoni), held since 1947, and the autumn Fruit Harvest Festival (Święto Owocobrania), the second largest.

The Fruit Harvest Festival was first held in 1995; over the years it has also served as the county and Małopolska harvest festival and for a time was called the "Plum Brandy and Fruit Harvest Festival". According to the organisers — the Commune Culture Centre together with the commune authorities — it is above all a showcase of the work of farmers and fruit growers from the whole Łącko commune and of its cultural heritage. In 2026 the festival took place on 13 September.

Why go

• Village stands. Each village of the commune sets up its own stand with its produce: fruit, homemade liqueurs and baking, dishes from the village women's circles, harvest decorations. There is also a stand showing how Łącko plum brandy is made, and stalls of folk artists.
• The tractor parade. The festival starts with Mass in the parish church, from where a colourful column of decorated tractors heads to the amphitheatre on Jeżowa hill.
• Folklore. After the Łącko bugle call played by the Tadeusz Moryto brass band, regional groups perform — in 2026 these were Jazowiaczek, the Pieniny song and dance ensemble, Limanowianie and Górale Łąccy.
• Village tournament and scarecrow contest. Village teams compete in fun sports events, and families in a contest for the best scarecrow.

What to taste and buy

Best of all is what grows and is made locally: Łącko apples, pears and plums, dried fruit, juices, jams, homemade cakes and fruit dishes from the village women's circles. Łącko plum brandy is a famous local product, shown at its own stand — but mind your age and driving. Folk artists' stalls sell handicrafts.

In spring — the Apple Blossom Festival

The older "sister" festival takes place in May, when the orchards are in bloom. In its first years it was held right in the orchards of Łącko and Czerniec, in 1949–1969 in Stanisław Sopata's orchard in Czerniec, and since the 1970s in the same amphitheatre on Jeżowa. On Saturday fruit growers meet for conferences, and on Sunday after Mass regional groups and bands walk from the market square to the amphitheatre in a colourful procession led by horsemen and carriages; alongside there are exhibitions of folk artists and presentations of regional cuisine.

Practical information

When: every year in September, usually on a Sunday (2026: 13 September): Mass in the morning, the programme in the amphitheatre during the day, a concert in the evening (2026: Kapela ROY) and open-air dancing. Where: the forest amphitheatre on the slope of Jeżowa hill in Łącko, by Strażacka Street; Łącko lies on road 969 Nowy Sącz – Nowy Targ, about 15 km from Stary Sącz. Organiser: Commune Culture Centre in Łącko, Łącko 23 A, +48 18 444 61 69, [email protected]. The date and programme are announced each year on the centre's website. It is a family festival, and in spring it is worth coming for the Apple Blossom Festival too — in May, when the orchards are in bloom.

Nearby

• Stary Sącz — market square and Poor Clares' convent.
• Personall Kraft brewery in Stary Sącz.
• Dunajec rafting in the Pieniny.

Official website: gok.lacko.pl

Photos: gok.lacko.pl.