Why is it worth coming to Kokotek even from the other side of the world? The Festival of Life is the largest outdoor Christian festival for youth in Poland. A week in tents, concerts, conferences, workshops… Life, joy, God! Registration has already started.
Now, you can register for the Festival of Life in Kokotek, Poland (July 8–14, 2024). The event is compared to the largest music festivals – but in a Catholic edition. Every year in early July, it attracts thousands of young people from all over the country and abroad. The previous editions gathered a lot of positive opinions and received wide coverage in the global, and not only religious, media. Many participants consider the festival to be the best week they wait for all year!
EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BILETY.FESTIWALZYCIA.PL
The festival takes place in Kokotek, southern Poland, in a picturesque setting surrounded by a forest and a lake. Each edition theme is dedicated to a chosen biblical character. The program includes concerts given by the biggest stars of Polish music, conferences held by renowned speakers, dozens of interesting and diverse workshops, as well as an extreme run through water, mud and sand! And – in addition to that – daily Holy Masses, sharing group conversations and 24/7 adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
‘During this week, everything happens. There is time for fun, valuable conversations and making new friends. People have different needs in their hearts: meeting with God, with others, but also spending time with themselves. At the Festival of Life, you can experience all of them. What appeals to me the most is that you can see pure joy on the faces of young people here’ – says Natalia Skrzypiec, previously a participant and volunteer of the festival; now, one of the organizers.
FESTIVAL OF LIFE IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES (English subtitles available):
‘Preparations for the next festival started almost immediately after the end of the latest one. First, we collected opinions and ideas, and since September we have met regularly with co-organizers from several dioceses and orders. We already have a concept of the theme and the main character, and we are also planning small but significant changes in the program so that next year’s festival will be even better’
– announces Father Tomasz Maniura, a missionary oblate, youth pastor and main organizer of the Festival of Life.
From all over the world to Kokotek!
The Festival of Life has gained recognition in Poland and is higlhly likely to develop on an international scale. Youth and families from Australia, Canada, the United States, Great Britain, India, Togo, Colombia or Belgium have already participated in previous editions. Therefore, the organizers warmly invite young people from all over the world to Kokotek!
‘Young people come to feel this huge community with thousands of their peers who believe the same as they do, and to whom they do not have to pretend anything – just having fun and praying together. Parents with children also come sometimes traveling halfway around the world to show them the young, living Church. In their testimonies, foreign participants repeatedly point out that the Festival of Life is an exceptionally valuable experience for them that they do not have the opportunity to experience in their place of residence’
– emphasizes Szymon Zmarlicki, the Festival of Life’s spokesman.
‘The Festival of Life may be a great idea for spending summer time and an encouraging opportunity to visit Poland. Invite your friends, come to Kokotek together and experience an amazing time with God and thousands of young people full of life, joy and faith!’ – encourage the organizers.
The Festival of Life in Kokotek – the Christian Summerfest Festival?
In the first years, the event took place under one of the largest tents in Europe, brought from Belgium, and now the festival has completely become an outdoor event, as the main points of the program moved to a huge, several dozen-meter stage.
Previously, the festival stage hosted – among others – Golec uOrkiestra, Tribbs, Luxtorpeda, 2Tm2,3, Roxie Węgiel, Kamil Bednarek, Arka Noego or TGD and the speeches were given by Monika Hoffman-Piszora (@monika_i_dzieciaki_cudaki), Wojciech Modest Amaro, Jan Mela, Tomasz Samołyk, Ania Golędzinowska and brothers from the Taizé Community.
The main organizer of the Festival of Life is Fr. Tomasz Maniura, a missionary oblate and the founder of the NINIWA Youth Ministry, known for leading the NINIWA Team bike expeditions (including the ones to Jerusalem, Morocco, Nordkapp, Siberia) and creating a thriving retreat and recreational center in Kokotek.
Since 2023, the Festival of Life has received honorary patronage from the Polish Episcopal Conference. Several Polish dioceses and orders are involved in organizing the event. During the last edition, Pope Francis addressed the festival participants in a special letter, giving them his greetings and a message.
Festival of Life is the largest outdoor Christian festival for youth in Poland. Every year in early July, the event attracts thousands of young people from all over the country and abroad. For many participants, the festival is the best week they wait for all year. The program includes concerts, conferences, workshops and an extreme run through the forest, as well as daily Holy Masses, sharing groups and 24/7 adoration. The event takes place in Kokotek, Silesia. For young people from abroad, it’s a great option to spend their vacations and an encouraging opportunity to visit Poland. The next Festival of Life will take place July 8–14, 2024. Tickets available at www.bilety.festiwalzycia.pl.
