The halfway point of the Gdańsk Christmas Market brought the results of two competitions: the Christmas Treasury of Ideas and the Grand Prix. In both, the best were honoured in two categories, decided by the votes of Market visitors as well as a jury. Both took place for the first time in the history of the Christmas Market. We invite you to see the results and to keep celebrating in Gdańsk!
The vibrant Gdańsk Christmas Market is not only about culinary hits. There are hits among the exhibitors with crafts and regional products too. Which of them did visitors to the Market, and in particular to Zbrojownia Sztuki, where the Christmas Treasury of Ideas is located, like best?
A practical and elegant gift
Visitors voted for the best gift inspiration in the display case in Zbrojownia called the Christmas Treasury of Ideas. All you had to do was scan a QR code and vote in a survey for the item you liked best. This produced a ranking that made it possible to award two honourable mentions and a main prize.
First place, with the largest number of votes, went to the handmade leather wallet by Vericone, represented by Anna Rasmus. Visitors clearly appreciated a gift that is practical
and elegant.
Honourable mentions were awarded for: the owl necklace presented by Gutowska Jewelry, and the embroidered cushion inspired by the Gdańsk Maiden in the Window, exhibited by Biały Kot.
The vote for the best Christmas inspiration was accompanied by a competition for a slogan inviting people to next year’s Gdańsk Christmas Market. The Market jury was delighted with the slogan: “Have fun with us, whole families together”. Its author is Paula Błajet.
The Market Grand Prix in winter too
For more than 20 years, during the summer St Dominic’s Fair, the organisers have presented the Grand Prix award to exhibitors. This year, for the first time, the same was done during the winter Christmas Market. The Grand Prix awards were presented in two categories:
The Competition Committee decided to award both a main prize and two honourable mentions in each category.
The Grand Prix in the Good Idea category went to Glassware Art Studio Przemysław Huras for making, by a traditional method, glass-blown and hand-painted baubles.
Honourable mentions went to Bartłomiej Siedlikowski for fruit and Christmas scented decorations and to Ivan Korchevny for hand-painted lanterns.
In the Good Taste category, the Grand Prix went to MANAT Mirosław Liss for Kashubian fish delicacies. Honourable mentions went to: Pszczelarska Wyspa Alina Bylicka for honey products and Robert Kaczkan for game-based food products.
The winners in both Grand Prix categories received, among other things, vouchers worth PLN 3000 towards a stall at next year’s Christmas Market. The prizes in the competitions were funded by: Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie, Polferries and the AmberSky Observation Wheel.
The illuminations lit up Gdańsk
Let’s Light Up Christmas in Gdańsk! The popular and well-loved campaign has returned. It will light up even more places than a year ago, thanks to more than 160 light figures that can be admired in 13 locations in Gdańsk. From 5 December we can see most of them. The illuminations will be with us until 2 February 2024.
In various compositions, the illuminations have appeared at Targ Węglowy and ul. Tkacka, in Park Oliwski, Park Oruński, Park Kuźniczki and Park Jana Pawła II, on the promenade in Brzeźno, at Zielony Most and on ul. Stągiewna. They are also not lacking at Skwer Heweliusza and Skwer Kobzdeja.
The illuminations comprise more than 160 figures, among which we see both forms already familiar to residents and tourists, and new ones. For the first time in Park Oliwski you can admire the Floating Lilies. On the promenade in Brzeźno stands the Port Gantry Crane, almost 8 metres wide, accompanied by the previously familiar shipyard cranes, 11 and 12 metres high. The sponsor of this light composition is Zarząd Morskiego Portu Gdańsk. On ul. Tkacka a fairytale Rocking Horse has appeared. You can walk through the Gate with a plant motif near Zbrojownia, and in Park Oruński there are the Lightships and a romantic, illuminated Little Bridge. The Gate Illumination greets you right at the entrance, and it has also appeared in Park Kuźniczki.
The figures mentioned form compositions and can be admired from 5 December, when Christmas was officially lit up! (the illuminations at the Christmas Market had lit up earlier, in connection with its opening, which took place on 24 November). Together with the light compositions, the Christmas tree on Długi Targ also lit up.
Thanks to the popularity of the Let’s Light Up Gdańsk! campaign and the interest of further sponsors, there will also be impressive individual illuminations. On 15 December these will light up: the 6-metre-high Carillon at Skwer Młodej Polski, the Solidarność inscription on Droga do wolności and #GDN at Rybackie Pobrzeże. Three days earlier the Baltic HUB Christmas tree at Skwer Stogi will be switched on.
It is worth adding that illuminations well known from previous years also attract sponsors. GPEC is the sponsor of the modern Christmas tree at Plac Kobzdeja, GAiT of course sponsors the glowing bus and tram at Zielony Most and on ul. Stągiewna. GOT has taken a liking to Hewolion the Lion at Targ Węglowy, and Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, for obvious reasons, the aviation zone in Park im. Jana Pawła II. Lasy Państwowe is patron of the Christmas Gazebo at Targ Węglowy, nearby is a sleigh sponsored by Forum Gdańsk, and on ul. Tkacka the Wedel fountain.
For the duration of the Market, the streets of Gdańsk’s historic centre, thanks to beautiful illuminations, will turn
into a Christmas town. This is partly thanks to the Strategic Partner of the Christmas Market and Gdańsk Illuminations – Gdańskie Wodociągi.
The supporting partner of the Gdańsk Christmas Market is Grupa GPEC – sponsor of the Gdańsk illuminations.
Detailed programme of the Gdańsk Christmas Market from 9 December (Saturday) to 15 December (Friday)
9 DECEMBER / Saturday
/ Targ Węglowy, Zbrojownia Sztuki ASP
12:00–18:00 HEALTH AND BEAUTY WITH FUNDACJA OMEALIFE
Christmas is a time of sharing kindness and joy. Women, as guardians of the hearth, rack their brains to bring as much happiness as possible to their loved ones. But do they show themselves the same care? Don’t forget about yourself and your health. Together with Fundacja OmeaLife, we have prepared a place for meetings and conversations:
about health, skincare and make-up trends.
In addition, you will be able to buy a charity brick (a cosmetics set) that supports the foundation, and a starter pack for Race for the Cure in 2024!
organiser: Fundacja OmeaLife
14:00–16:00 In Santa’s Workshop: LYNX CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION WORKSHOP
Together with the Gdański Ogród Zoologiczny, you can make Christmas tree decorations inspired by Rysio the Lynx, whose guardian is AMBEREXPO.
organiser: Gdański Ogród Zoologiczny
/ Targ Węglowy, stage
14:00–18:00 WELCOME, SANTA CLAUS!
Meet Santa, take a photo and whisper in his ear what you dream of for Christmas
co-organiser of the meetings with Santa: E.Wedel brand
17:00 OUTDOOR AUCTION WITH ART
organiser: WOODLOVE
/ Targ Węglowy, Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 9
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E. Wedel brand
10 DECEMBER / Sunday
/ Targ Węglowy, stage
16:00–19:15 HERALD OF HOPE
A Day with Caritas of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk.
The programme includes meetings with volunteers, Christian bands, dance activities and quizzes. It will be cheerful and family-friendly.
Programme:
13:15 Band Wspólnota Zjednoczeni w Duchu
13:40 Activities and Games
14:00 Band Zakorzenieni w Chrystusie
14:25 EKS Volunteers
15:05 Boże Nutki
15:40 Lighting of the Caritas Candle
organiser: St Mary’s Basilica, Caritas, Archdiocese of Gdańsk
/ Targ Węglowy, Zbrojownia Sztuki ASP
14:00–18:00 WELCOME, SANTA CLAUS!
Meet Santa, take a photo and whisper in his ear what you dream of for Christmas
co-organiser of the meetings with Santa: E.Wedel brand
16:00–17:30 WRITING GDAŃSK POSTCARDS
Come and feel the magic of sending good thoughts out into the world. Turn them into words by writing greetings on specially prepared postcards.
Special GDAŃSK POSTCARDS will be waiting for you. You will learn their history and find out what inspired the photographers.
This will be a unique opportunity to rediscover the charm of postcards
and to immerse yourself for a moment in the art of writing. You will also discover what postcrossing is and listen to fascinating stories from different corners of the postcard world.
organiser: City of Gdańsk, Kreatywna Pedagogika
/ Targ Węglowy, Stage
16:00–18:00 Feel Childlike Joy – TEATR QFER presents…
15:30 Christmas Hyde Park: express yourself on stage
16:00 “Emergency Services in Elf Town” – games, fun and competitions
16:30 Christmas Classic, show: “A Christmas Carol”
A theatrical tale of a miser indifferent to human suffering,
Scrooge, who, after being visited by ghosts on Christmas Eve night, becomes
a good man. He longs to make amends for the wrongs of the
past, when nothing mattered to him but money, neither love,
pity nor compassion.
The story is told with the help of nine puppets and masks.
Some scenes are played in the manner of shadow theatre.
A POLISH SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER will be present during the performance
produced by: Teatr Qfer
/ Targ Węglowy / Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 10
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E.Wedel brand
11 DECEMBER / Monday
/ Targ Węglowy, Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 11
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E.Wedel brand
12 DECEMBER / Tuesday
/Here and There at the Market
12:00–20:00 ŚRÓDMIEŚCIE RESIDENTS' DAY!
On this day we are preparing a special day for our neighbours,
thanks to whose kindness we can organise our wonderful Market. We are very grateful that they host us every year, so we have prepared a few surprises!
JOIN US!
16:30–19:30 WELCOME, SANTA CLAUS!
Meet Santa, take a photo and whisper in his ear what you dream of for Christmas
co-organiser of the meetings with Santa: E.Wedel brand
/ Targ Węglowy, Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 12
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E.Wedel brand
/ Targ Węglowy, stage
18:30 GOSPEL CAROL SINGING
A concert of gospel-style Christmas carols performed by Ola Cybula’s vocal ensemble.
13 DECEMBER / Wednesday
/ Targ Węglowy, Zbrojownia Sztuki ASP
16:00–19:00 Santa’s Workshop: CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS THAT SMELL OF THE FOREST
Join us for a workshop where you can make Christmas arrangements together with Gdańsk foresters.
organiser: Regionalna Dyrekcja Lasów Państwowych w Gdańsku
/ Targ Węglowy, Stage
17:00–20:00 Let Christmas Play: CHRISTMAS KARAOKE
Anyone can sing! We are waiting for you!
Rudolph will also be present during the karaoke and will not hesitate to throw
a few of his Christmas challenges your way! Are you ready?
/ Targ Węglowy, Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 13
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E.Wedel brand
14 DECEMBER / Thursday
/ Targ Węglowy, Zbrojownia Sztuki ASP
16:00–19:00 Santa’s Workshop: CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS THAT SMELL OF THE FOREST
Join us for a workshop where you can make Christmas arrangements together with Gdańsk foresters.
organiser: Regionalna Dyrekcja Lasów Państwowych w Gdańsku
/ here and there at the Market
16:30–19:30 WELCOME, SANTA CLAUS!
Meet Santa, take a photo and whisper in his ear what you dream of for Christmas
co-organiser of the meetings with Santa: E.Wedel brand
18:00 PARADE “TO HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN THE NEW YEAR”
Christmas is getting closer, so carol singers will visit the Market and, following the old Polish tradition of going from house to house, will carry good news from stall to stall here and invite you to sing carols together. Will you set off with them? WE START AT 18:00 ON UL. TKACKA!
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury
/ Targ Węglowy, stage
17:00 RUDOLPH’S CHRISTMAS CHALLENGES,
Activities and games for everyone! Yes, adults are welcome too.
There are no age limits. Feel childlike joy!
produced by: Manufaktura Wydarzeń
/ Targ Węglowy, Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 14
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E.Wedel brand
15 DECEMBER / Friday
/ Targ Węglowy, Zbrojownia Sztuki ASP
16:00–20:00 Santa’s Workshop: CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS THAT SMELL OF THE FOREST
Join us for a workshop where you can make Christmas arrangements together with Gdańsk foresters.
organiser: Regionalna Dyrekcja Lasów Państwowych w Gdańsku
/ Targ Węglowy, stage
17:00–19:00 Feel childlike joy: THE SNOW QUEEN AND SANTA IN ITALY
Once again we will travel to the land of the Snow Queen, who this time has lost her sleigh and is looking for it all over the world. This time the search takes place in Italy. She is accompanied on the journey by Kai and Santa. Will you join in too?
produced by: Akademia zabawy i edukacji Wykrzyknik
19:00–20:00 Let Christmas Play – CHRISTMAS DANCE PARTY
DJ sets with Christmas hits
/ Targ Węglowy, Advent Gate
18:00 SECRETS OF THE ADVENT CALENDAR.
WE OPEN WINDOW NUMBER 15
produced by: Gdański Archipelag Kultury, Garnizon Gdańsk
co-organiser of the Advent Calendar: E.Wedel brand
The detailed programme of the Market is available on the website https://bozonarodzeniowy.pl/program/
AmberSky Christmas Travel Corner
Every day there is great interest in the Christmas Travel Corner
with AmberSky. This is a special place where attractions have been prepared: the VR simulator Santa’s Magic Sleigh, the Gdańsk Carousel, the Observation Wheel on Ołowianka and this season’s novelty: a spinning coaster – Spinning Barrels. A single shared ticket makes it easy to enjoy all the attractions. The price list of attractions is available on the website bozonarodzeniowy.pl.
MARKET ATTRACTIONS NON-STOP
– YOUNG GDAŃSK RESIDENTS' CHRISTMAS TREE
– AMBERSKY CHRISTMAS TRAVEL CORNER
– Gdańsk Carousel
– Flight simulator SANTA’S SLEIGH
– Spinning Coaster SPINNING BARRELS
– Observation Wheel
KATARZYNKA THE TALKING POSTBOX
CHRISTMAS STAGE WITH SANTA’S THRONE
SANTA’S WORKSHOP
ADVENT GATE – SURPRISES FOR CHILDREN
GPEC MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
LUCEK THE MOOSE
ANGELIC MILL
GROVE WITH A WAYSIDE SHRINE
ENCHANTED FOUNTAIN BY WEDEL
ILLUMINATIONS AT THE MARKET 20 figures!
ILLUMINATED SIGN: CHRISTMAS MARKET
LIGHT CANOPY ON UL. BOGUSŁAWSKIEGO
LIGHT CANOPY and GATE AT THE ENTRANCE TO ZBROJOWNIA
FIGURES – CLOCK, CANDELABRAS, ARMCHAIR, BAUBLE
THREE LUMINOUS GATES, GAZEBO, WEDEL CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN, WINGS
Key information:
Stalls open to visitors:
Sunday – Thursday 12:00–20:00, Friday – Saturday 12:00–21:00
Christmas Market: 24 November – 23 December
Targ Węglowy, ul. Bogusławskiego, ul. Tkacka, Zbrojownia, Zespół Przedbramia
WWW: bożonarodzeniowy.pl
FB: facebook.com/jarmarkbozonarodzeniowygdansk
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/jarmarkbozonarodzeniowy/
TIK TOK: jarmarkbozonarodzeniowygdansk
