A procession of beautiful winter and Christmas characters, the premiere of the fanfare, and the speech by Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk Piotr Grzelak that crowned the Opening Ceremony. On Saturday afternoon the Gdańsk Christmas Market lit up Targ Węglowy. It was a great invitation to celebrate in Gdańsk together with exhibitors and visitors. The partner of the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Christmas Market was Zakład Utylizacyjny in Gdańsk.
A beautiful winter and Christmas parade set off from ul. Tkacka towards ul. Długa, to pass through the Golden Gate onto Targ Węglowy and head to the Market stage. The fairytale procession put visitors to the Market in a magical mood. Stilt walkers and actors of Teatr GAK performed little everyday scenes, engaging passers-by in the Opening Ceremony parade. The Christmas characters were accompanied by children from two artistic and creative ensembles of Pałac Młodzieży and children from Zespół Pieśni i Tańca GAK. Everything took place with the assistance of Garnizon Gdański, the “Taraban” ensemble and a group of instrumentalists.
When the procession reached the Market stage, which this year stands by the Wybrzeże Theatre – positioned so as not to obscure the theatre’s beautiful, renovated façade – the official Opening Ceremony began. The audience’s favourites, Mr and Mrs Orzechowski, were already waiting there. The fairytale atmosphere was created by the children’s music groups Superband and Smile – and during the ceremony also by Dorenutki and the GAK dance ensemble. Silver Lady Winter and Snowflake Pralinka guided the audience through the next parts of the event.
One of the main parts of the Opening Ceremony was the presentation of the fanfare of the Gdańsk Christmas Market. This year a competition was announced for a composition that would be the leitmotif of the pre-Christmas event. The co-organiser was the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. The competition jury, not knowing the authors of the compositions, were delighted by the work of Magdalena Garbecka. The graduate of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk won first prize – PLN 4,000, and the fanfare she composed will sound every day of the Market. It was premiered on Saturday afternoon from the stage by students of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk.
– The idea for a Christmas Market fanfare is an initiative of the rector of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Ryszard Minkiewicz. There was a long discussion about it. St Dominic’s Fair has its own fanfare, which grows by a note every year, so why not try it with the pre-Christmas Market. Now I can say that I am pleasantly surprised by the composition. Thank you very much to the university and to Ms Magda – says Andrzej Bojanowski, President of the Management Board of Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie.
More than one composition could be submitted to the Market fanfare competition. As a result, 2nd
and 3rd place went to Szymon Janiszewski, who received PLN 3,000 and PLN 1,500 respectively for his honourable mentions. A total of 7 composers took part in the competition.
The 2023 Gdańsk Christmas Market was officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk, Piotr Grzelak.
– I am glad that, as every year, we meet at Targ Węglowy, at one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in all of Europe. Last year, many thousands of votes from internet users led to the Gdańsk market being named the second most beautiful in Europe. We have 150 exhibitors, 50 of them from Gdańsk. It is worth adding, however, that people from all over the world exhibit with us. Let us enjoy ourselves, visit the stalls, smell the beautiful Christmas scents and taste the best treats – says Piotr Grzelak, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk.
A moment after the Deputy Mayor’s words, the procession of winter and Christmas characters set off for Targ Węglowy and ul. Bogusławskiego to continue celebrating the start of the Market with visitors.
The partner of the Opening Ceremony of the Christmas Market 2023 was Zakład Utylizacyjny in Gdańsk.
The delight at the beautiful Christmas arrangement of the Market is possible thanks to, among others, the State Forests, which supplied the Christmas trees. Thanks to this, Targ Węglowy was green and smelled of Christmas from the very first day.
Discover the Gdańsk Christmas Market programme
The Opening Ceremony was the first item in the rich artistic programme that fills almost every day of the Market. On Tuesdays music fans will be able to listen to Christmas concerts. Performing will be the band Słowiańska Dusza Świątecznie, Gospel Carol Singing and Carol Singing with the GUMED Choir. On Wednesdays visitors can grab the microphones and sing the most beautiful Polish and international Christmas hits at karaoke. On Thursdays there will be surprises to delight the eye: Fire Theatre and Parades, and the ear: Fairy-tale reading with the Wybrzeże Theatre and the Wojewódzka i Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna. On Fridays the organisers will invite little ones to activities with Akademia Zabawy i Edukacji Wykrzyknik, and older visitors to an evening dance party with Christmas DJ sets. On Saturdays there will be a Christmas mix: performances by Zespół Pieśni i Tańca Gdańsk and Neptun, or Winter Adventure with the Trefliki.
Traditionally, the Market will be visited by Santa Claus and the event’s official mascots, Mr and Mrs Orzechowski, who are just waiting to take a photo with visitors or record Christmas greetings. Sundays are a time for loved ones. Children and their parents will be able to watch performances and take part in activities by Teatr Qfer, listen to carol singing with the Carillon or have fun
with Caritas, which will promote volunteering and the joy of sharing goodness.
From 1 December, together with Wedel we will invite you to the opening of the windows of the Advent calendar, which will traditionally become part of the Advent gate.
The detailed programme is available on https://bozonarodzeniowy.pl/program-dzienny/.
Atmospheric decorations, stalls with extraordinary products and a rich artistic programme, including creative workshops – all this was organised by the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Gdańsk.
One of the special chalets of the Christmas Market is the chalet of the Gdańsk Tourist Organisation – Santa’s Gift Factory, located near the large “JARMARK” sign on Targ Węglowy. Everyone who visits will be able to buy attractive Gdańsk souvenirs, naturally of a Christmas character, but not only. A delicious surprise also awaits in the chalet. You can buy packages from the Smaki Gdańska project there, available in versions for 1, 2 or even 4 people. And that’s not all! GOT has prepared a competition for holders of the Gdańsk Resident Card. By scanning QR codes you can win fantastic prizes. The task is to hunt down 10 “cubes” with codes and scan them. All the details about the competition are available
on the website jestemzgdanska.pl.
We’re celebrating in Gdańsk!
The Market’s slogan has been on the streets of Gdańsk since Friday. The Christmas town on Targ Węglowy, ul. Bogusławskiego, ul. Tkacka, in Zbrojownia and at Zespół Przedbramia is a place where you can find inspiration and discover special, unique gifts, taste cuisines from around the world and enjoy attractions for children and adults. Simply have a nice time with family or friends. Visitors can choose from 170 stalls.
Traditionally, time is also made more pleasant by Lucek the Moose, who makes many a Market guest laugh with his “dad jokes”.
AmberSky Christmas Travel Corner
New on the map of the 2023 Christmas Market is the Christmas Travel Corner
with AmberSky. This is a special place with attractions prepared for the youngest: the VR simulator Santa’s Magic Sleigh, the Gdańsk Carousel, the Observation Wheel on Ołowianka and new this season: a spinning coaster – Spinning Barrels. In the pre-Christmas rush it is worth finding time for moments of joyful abandon and fun with family and friends. One shared ticket makes it easy to use all the attractions.
The attractions price list is available on the website bozonarodzeniowy.pl.
The Market helps
As every year, the Christmas Market invites you to take part in special and charitable campaigns. These include the “Christmas Wardrobe”, which will be used to swap toys – a toycrossing campaign. In Zbrojownia, the bookcrossing shelf known to everyone will appear again, as part of a campaign organised in cooperation with the Wojewódzka i Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna.
Grupa GPEC together with AMBEREXPO will collect funds for Fundacja Hospicyjna. In the Grupa GPEC winter chalet you can buy tickets, the proceeds from which will go to the Foundation’s charges.
Hospicjum im. Dutkiewicza in Gdańsk invites you to a special charity concert: “Let’s Sing
with Santa for Fundacja Hospicyjna”, in which artists from Cappelli Gedanensis, among others, will take part.
In the singing atmosphere there will also be a meeting with Santa and the elves.
In Zbrojownia the Smyk “Teddy Bear Gate” has been created again. At the end of the Market, when buying Market mugs, you will be able to adopt a teddy bear. The funds from the purchase of the mugs will go to the Hospice’s patients.
The organisers of the Market have also joined the Christmas with Ukraine campaign, which is being carried out
at 30 European Christmas markets, supporting the Faina.ua foundation.
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.
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
