Play all audios:
THE FESTIVAL IS PLANNED BY A TEAM OF FEMALE VOLUNTEERS WHO FIRST CONNECTED THROUGH A FACEBOOK COMMUNITY GROUP 20:29, 27 May 2025Updated 21:35, 27 May 2025 A team of women who first connected
through a thriving and inspiring Facebook community group are gearing up to host the first North East Polish Festival in a matter of weeks. Taking place from 11am on Saturday, June 7, at
the Polish Centre on Maple Street in Newcastle city centre, the free event open to the public promises to deliver a wide range of Polish arts, culture and family-fun activities. Attendees
can expect to be wowed by children's performances, a gallery of Polish artists, live music and a series of lectures discussing Polish culture. There will also be an opportunity to take
part in group dance, yoga and Pilates classes and art workshops. An exhibition area from entrepreneurs and craftsmen will be selling items at the festivals mini market, and workshops from
creating plant pots to flower crowns will be taking place. A dedicated food zone will be serving up delicious Polish delicacies, alongside quizzes, games and face-painting. But it was a
Facebook community group that first brought together the team of women volunteers organising the event. Dziewczyny North East was first set up in 2020 by co-organiser Joanna. Since then, the
group has evolved into a thriving community of almost 2000 members and is seen as a safe place for women to talk, support, create, share and meet with others. Daria Szymonowicz,
co-organiser of Polish Fest told ChronicleLive how the idea for the first festival came about. "Myself and Joanna thought it would be a great idea to launch a free course for the group
on how to organise events as we saw so much potential from the creative people in the group to connect. But when we shared ideas we quickly realised the ideas were bigger than our
expectations. "Another member was planning to create a Polish heritage day so we decided why not create a huge event for the Polish community and beyond as there's so many talented
people and we want to showcase that to others. "We're all local and it will be a very inspiring and amazing initiative from a community of volunteers that's evolved from just
a little cause to now something huge. We felt something was missing from the area to rally the community together and we want to show others our ambition. Daria, who has called Newcastle
her home since 2012, first moved to the North East from Poland aged only 21. Despite plans to stay for only three months, Daria says she: "fell in love with Newcastle, the kindness, the
architecture, the energy, diversity and beautiful surroundings." "I cam here for college. It was always my dream to study in England since a little girl and so when I arrived my
cousin who was in the UK too encouraged me to sign up for art and design at Newcastle College. I've since finished my degree in graphic design and never looked back." Daria now
feels completely at home in the North East, adding: "I feel safe here. I love the people of the North East they have welcomed our community and I've only had pleasant experiences.
"Thanks to that we can grow and contribute together and create an amazing place. I've met fantastic women through the group and its nice to have the opportunity to make form new
friendships." The Polish School of Native Subjects in Newcastle upon Tyne has officially taken the festival under its patronage. At the festival, Head teacher, Deputy and fellow
volunteers Katarzyna and Dorota will lead the Polish Heritage Day ceremony, present the school, and serve homemade Polish food. For more information on the event, you can follow the North
East Polish Fest Facebook page for regular updates on guests, sellers, speakers and more attending or check out the website. Article continues below WE HAVE A DEDICATED NEWSLETTER FOR WHAT’S
ON NEWS AND REVIEWS. IT’S FREE AND YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. It will keep you up to date with all the latest updates on food, drink, entertainment and events in and around the
North East.