On the last Saturday of the typical Polish vacations, August 30, 2025, the surroundings of the Museum of the Opole Countryside in Bierkowice became the stage for the another international family picnic.
The event lasted from noon until 6:00 p.m. and gathered several thousand participants – including local residents as well as newcomers from other countries. The music program starred popular Polish artists. Mezo, the Polish pop-rapper brought his throwback hits and references to his biggest idol – Will Smith, while Baranovski performed his signature radio hits of recent years. There were also local acts, including some comprised of immigrants, this symbolically emphasizing the idea of intercultural exchange. Around the museum grounds, various thematic zones were arranged: the World Cuisine Zone (including food from Balkan, Georgian, Thai, Indian, Polish, and Mexican cultures), where guests sampled exotic dishes; the EDU Zone (featuring language classes, sensory and art activities, aromatherapy, mask making, and Chinese calligraphy); a children’s area (full of inflatables, games, and animation); folk craft demonstrations and sales, and a Health and Services Zone, which offered services such as mobile dental buses, free glucose checks, the issuance of European Health Insurance Cards, and free consultations with institutions like the National Health Fund and Social Insurance.
The organizers were the Voivodeship Labor Office in Opole together with the Center for Integration of Foreigners (which as was highlighted, had by then provided assistance to thousands of migrants from across the world) under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Opole Region, Szymon Ogłaza. The picnic was part of the larger project Opolskie Gościnne – Supporting the Social Integration of Third-Country Nationals, co-financed by the European Funds. The project had been running since October 2023 and will conclude in September 2025.
We would like to give special thanks to the organizers and people involved for supporting our efforts to create this retrospective. Year after year, such events are becoming more and more popular, and we hope that will also be the case in the future, if more similar projects are to come.
(photos: OPOlink.pl)
