The Carpe Diem Festival, held on the museum grounds, offers a full slate of events from morning to night, including concerts, theatrical performances, and family-friendly activities.
“Visitors can experience everything from jazz and performance art to children’s workshops and open-air picnics,” said Marta Wieczorek of the museum’s education department.
Among the festival’s highlights is a Sunday evening concert by legendary Polish jazz vocalist Urszula Dudziak, who will be joined onstage by Grażyna Auguścik, a Chicago-based jazz singer known internationally for her genre-blending vocal work.
Dudziak, who has performed with jazz greats such as Archie Shepp and Bobby McFerrin, remains one of Poland’s most influential musical figures and a global ambassador of Polish jazz. She personally invites audiences to the concert in a special video message shared by the festival organizers.
Poetry, jazz, and summer picnics: Carpe Diem Festival opens in Czarnolas
Earlier that day, the festival features a recital by Jan Emil Młynarski, a prominent figure in Poland’s contemporary music scene, as well as a monodrama titled "Jadwiga" performed by actress Agnieszka Przepiórska, who also curates the festival.
The event closes with a concert titled “Młynarski. Bynajmniej” performed by the Myrczyk & Schmidt Quintet, a jazz ensemble reinterpreting the works of famed Polish lyricist and poet Wojciech Młynarski.
But the festival isn’t just about performances. As Marta Wieczorek explains, the Jan Kochanowski Museum is set within a ten-hectare park, making it an ideal spot for families to relax, explore, and enjoy nature. “There’s plenty of grass, fountains, a café on-site - everything you need for a full day without leaving the grounds,” she said.
Below is a short video recap of last year's edition of the festival.
🐦🌳 Już w najbliższy piątek 3. Festiwal Sztuki CARPE DIEM w Czarnolesie❗ 🎥 Zobaczcie krótką video-relację z ubiegłego roku. 📚Jeśli tęsknicie za poezją i pięknem, przyjedźcie do nas i odpocznijcie sobie. 🎙️✨ A w piątkowe popołudnie, zapraszamy na koncert: Jana Emila Młynarskiego, a także Urszula Dudziak i Grazyna Auguscik. 🌤️Chwytajmy razem dzień i wieczór! 🌳 📍 Realizacja: Michał Grabowski. #festiwalcarpediem #muzeumjanakochanowskiego #odpocznijsobie #poezja #teatr #filozofia #jazz
Opublikowany przez Muzeum Jana Kochanowskiego Wtorek, 15 lipca 2025
Carpe Diem runs through Sunday and is open to visitors of all ages.
The Carpe Diem Festival is kicking off at the Jan Kochanowski Museum in Czarnolas, a village in eastern Poland known for its literary heritage. Photo: Courtesy of the Jan Kochanowski Museum in Czarnolas
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Source: IAR/The Jan Kochanowski Museum in Czarnolas