The Ceramic Festival is the city’s flagship event, promoting Bolesławiec and, above all, selling ceramics. Every year, ceramic companies set new sales records. It is the only point. Concerts, parades and exhibition openings are merely an addition to the commercial fair. Nevertheless, the organiser will work on the festival’s artistic setting until 14 July—and even then he stipulates that he does not rule out introducing changes after that date.

“(...) Until 17 June 2025, we are accepting proposals for the Festival programme from partners and external entities. By 14 July 2025, we will present a programme combining all segments of the ceramic festival. We care about making these offers attractive, so we do not rule out changes introduced after the stated deadlines (emphasis—editor), which may improve the quality of this largest outdoor event in Bolesławiec.”

Kornel Filipowicz Director of BOK-MCC

Artistic programme without local ceramic companies

Perhaps because the artistic programme is not important here, for years the city has failed to involve all local ceramic companies in organising the festival. Let us recall that more than 20 companies are members of the Bolesławiec Ceramic Brotherhood.

In previous years, only the largest of them took part in the ceramic parade: Ceramika Artystyczna, Manufaktura and Zakłady Ceramiczne. Gradually, however, they withdrew from participating in the parade in favour of organising sales with additional attractions on their own premises.

The mayor abolishes the ceramic parade

The festival programme has also remained unchanged for years: a ceramic fair in the Market Square, a flea market, concerts, and additionally organised activities, exhibition openings and exhibitions. Until 2024, the Festival opened with a large ceramic parade. Last year, the mayor, who approves and consequently creates the festival programme, abandoned the parade.

The reason was the mayor’s lack of acceptance of the slogan “We are all made of the same clay” against a rainbow background. The official’s homophobic undertones during last year’s opening of the Ceramic Festival were widely and extensively discussed in the national press after the festival.

In 2025, the mayor appointed Bolesławiec resident Bogdan Nowak to organise a parade together with his theatre. Nowak’s event has already been included in this year’s festival programme, but its cost is not yet known. Last year, the city spent almost PLN 100,000 on organising the parade.

Outline programme of the 31st Ceramic Festival, 13–17 August 2025

We present the outline programme, which has not changed for a decade.

Ceramic fair 13–17 August – 10:00–21:00

Flea market 13–17 August – 9:00–19:00

Funfair 13–17 August

Star concerts

  • 15 August Oskar Cyms
  • 16 August “FILMOVE LOVE” – film music concert
  • 17 August, the band IRA

Other attractions

  • Stage at Piłsudski Square: performances by BOK–MCC studios and the MDK vocal studio, as well as the Bolesławiec Municipal Wind Orchestra and concerts by bands
  • Opening ceremony of the 31st Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival
  • Opening of the post-symposium exhibition from the 60th International Ceramic and Sculpture Symposium
  • Opening of the exhibition “Contemporary Design in Bolesławiec Ceramics”
  • Clay workshops and more for adults and children. Ceramic Garden behind BOK–MCC
  • Workshops by the Centre for Old Pottery Techniques
  • Museum activities at the Museum of Ceramics
  • Pottery wheel demonstrations
  • Family workshops by the Municipal Public Library—Knowledge Centre

Sport

  • Ceramic obstacle race and cycling attractions

Accompanying events

  • Zakłady Ceramiczne “BOLESŁAWIEC”: from 7:00 until the last customer, sales of hand-decorated products from current and new collections. Workshops in decorating ceramic products
  • “Ceramika Artystyczna” Artistic Handicraft Cooperative, square in front of the plant—sales of hand-decorated ceramic products and the ceremonial opening of the Ceramic Garden.
  • Manufaktura in Bolesławiec: an open-air market with unique promotions. Food outlet, games and activities for children, free tours of the plant and ceramic workshops for those interested.
  • “Centrum Ceramiki Tyrcz.” A picnic with ceramics—decoration and pottery-wheel demonstrations, clay modelling and refreshments for customers.