What to do in Warsaw with children: December 7-9, 2018
The list of family-friendly weekend events in Warsaw
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Jump to Friday, December 7
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Friday, December 7
Wielka Fabryka Elfów / The Great Elf Factory – indoor Christmas playing areas for children aged 3-10
Location: PGE National Stadium, Al. Ks. J. Poniatowskiego 1 Street, gate number 5 and 6 (Praga). 10 playing areas with attractions for kids (eg. inflatable playground) – children help elves to create a Santa Claus Elixir, at the end, they meet Santa. Online tickets. Website in Polish. The Elf Factory runs until December 22, 2018.
Arts & crafts workshop for children aged 6-12
Location: ‘Królikarnia Cafe’ located in the Królikarnia Museum of Sculpture, Puławska 113a Street (Mokotów), 4 pm – 7 pm, tickets 10 PLN, send an email to book a spot: krolikarnia@artbookstore.pl. Facebook event in Polish.
Outdoor Christmas Market in the Old Town
Location: Warsaw Old Town, the Warsaw Barbican area, next to the Castel Square (Plac Zamkowy), 11 am – 9.30 pm. Souvenirs, gifts, local crafts and food like pierogi, hot chocolate or… ice-cream. Facebook event in Polish. The Market runs until January 6, 2018.
“The Royal Garden of Lights” – illuminations festival in the Wilanów Garden
Location: Wilanów Garden, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, 4 pm – 9 pm. It can be crowded during weekends, buy tickets online to skip the line. Mappings (illumination, picture, and sound) on the Palace façade: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm. Click here to read our tips in English on visiting the Wilanów Palace and Park, including “The Royal Garden of Lights”. The festival runs until February 24, 2019.
Location: Music Hub Academy, Al. 3 Maja 5b Street (Powiśle), Melofun (dedicated to children aged 3-4, 55 PLN per class), 1 pm – 1.45 pm; Intro Band (dedicated to children aged 5-6, 65 PLN per class), 12 pm – 12.55 pm; Band (dedicated to children aged 7-11, 95 PLN per class), 2 pm – 3.30 pm. Send an email in English or Polish to sign up: kontakt@musichub.pl. Click here to learn more about Music Hub music classes for children in Powiśle and Wilanów.
Location: The English Playhouse’s new location in Syta 78 Street (Wilanów/Zawady), 10 am – 1 pm. Hand-made crafts and decorations, Christmas cards, jewelry, wreaths, English books for children, preserves made by The English Playhouse students. Attractions for children include Santa grotto, face painting, soft-play area, arts & crafts table, gingerbread workshop. Facebook event in English.
The lights will be switched on gradually throughout Warsaw starting from dusk, from around 3.30 pm. The main attractions will focus on “The Royal Route” – Castle Square/Plac Zamkowy (including the Christmas tree), Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Nowy Świat Street, Trzech Krzyży Square, Aleje Ujazdowskie Street to Belweder next to the Royal Łazienki Garden. Other locations include The Old Town, Aleje Jerozolimskie Street (from Warszawa Centralna Railway Station to Rondo Waszyngtona Roundabout and Poniatowskiego Bridge), Mokotowska Street, Bankowy Square, Marszałkowska Street (from Królewska Street to Konstytucji Square), Świętokrzyska Street (from ONZ Roundabout to Marszałkowska Street), Targowa Street, Solidarności Street (from Bankowy Square to Wileński Square, including Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge). New locations this year include Miodowa Street and Plac Krasińskich. Facebook event in Polish.
Location: Skwer Dywizji Pancernej (the area between the Old Town and Vistula), free entrance. Starting from December 8, the holiday illuminations at the Fountain Park will be on every day from 3 pm. 15-minutes shows with music: 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm. More in English.
Location: Plac / Square Narutowicza. Free entrance, 5 pm. The event includes a concert. Facebook event in Polish.
Location: Walecznych Street (Saska Kępa), free entrance, 6 pm – 7.30 pm. The event includes a concert of Christmas songs and carols. Facebook event in Polish.
Location: Krakowskie Przedmieście 66 Street, close to St. Anne’s Church. Free entrance, 12 pm – 7 pm. Workshops – decorating Christmas gingerbread cookies. Sending Christmas cards presenting Warsaw in a Christmas image (cards and stamps will be available for free, there will be also available a special seal – your postcards can be sent right away). Children will have a chance to meet Santa and elves and take photos with them. Facebook event in Polish. The Christmas tent will be open on the following Saturdays and Sundays: December 8-9, 15-16.
The ice skating disco in the Old Town
Location: the ice skating rink in the Old Town Square (city center), free entrance, 6 pm – 7 pm. Attractions include the show of figure skating, competitions, and ice disco. Facebook event in Polish. Click here to check out our post about ice skating rinks in Warsaw.
The opening event of an ice rink at Plac Europejski
Location: Plac / Square Europejski (Wola), 4 pm – 9 pm, free entrance. Attractions include a Venetian carousel, winter train for children, games with the Snow Queen, food trucks. Facebook event in Polish. The event runs also on Sunday.
‘Once upon a time’ – storytelling in ENGLISH for children aged 3-7
Location: Tarabuk bookstore, Palace of Culture and Science (entrance from Świętokrzyska Street, the same as the entrance to Lalka Puppet Theater), 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm, free entrance, registration required (tarabuk@tarabuk.pl). Facebook event in Polish.
Coca-Cola Christmas Truck
Location: the area next to Arkadia shopping center, al. Jana Pawła II 82 Street, free entrance, 3 pm – 8 pm. Attractions include Santa’s grotto, a virtual ride on Santa’s sleigh. Facebook event in Polish.
Free Christmas event for families
Location: ‘Teatr 6. Piętro’, a theater at the Palace of Culture, entrance from Marszałkowska Street, free entrance, 11 am – 4 pm. Attractions include meeting with Santa, Christmas songs, arts and crafts workshop (decorating bombki – Christmas tree ornaments), face painting, Lego zones (Duplo, Technic, Classic). Facebook event in Polish.
Meeting with Santa – a holiday event for children
Location: Royal Wilanów Shopping Center (reception area D, level 1+), Klimczaka 1 Street, free entrance, 11 am – 3 pm. Attractions for children include meeting with Santa, arts & crafts workshops, games, theater for children (at 11 am). Facebook event in Polish.
Theater for children with live music – Choinka / Christmas Tree
Location: Fundacja Sto Pociech, Freta 20/24A Street (Old Town), 4.30 pm, online tickets – 20 PLN. Facebook event in Polish.
Free theater for children 6+ (Królowa Śniegu / The Snow Queen)
Location: Łowicka Cultural Center (Centrum Łowicka), Łowicka 21 Street (Mokotów). 11 am – 12 pm. Facebook event in Polish.
Violin concert for children and music workshop for children aged 4-7 (Smyki na Kępie)
Location: Saska Kępa Cultural Center “PROM”, Brukselska 23 Street, 10.30 am – 12 pm. Online tickets (20 PLN – family ticket for up to 4 participants). Facebook event in Polish.
Family ceramic workshop
Location: Dorożkarnia Cultural Center, Siekierkowska 28 Street (Mokotów), click here to register and buy tickets (30 PLN), 10 am -11.30 am. Facebook event in Polish.
Dog Show
Location: Sports Center in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Sportowa 66 Street, 05-100 Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, free entrance, 9 am – 5 pm. Facebook event in Polish. The event runs also on Sunday.
Oriental Christmas Bazaar
Location: Museum of Asia and the Pacific (Muzeum Azji i Pacyfiku), Solec 24A Street (Powiśle), 11 am – 6 pm. Oriental handicraft, sweets, coffee and tea from the Middle and the Far East, ceramics, decorative fabrics, jewelry, shawls, oriental cosmetics, food products from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Japan, Turkey, Lebanon, Palestine, Iran, Afghanistan, and Morocco. Facebook event in Polish. Click here to read our tips in English on visiting the Museum.
Dog Day and Cat Day – Pet Fair – Christmas edition
Location: Hala Gwardii, Plac Żelaznej Bramy 1 (city center), free entrance, 9 am – 5 pm. Facebook event in Polish. The fair runs also on Sunday.
‘Slow Weekend’ – Christmas fair
Location: Mińska 65 Street (Praga). Opening hours: 11 am – 7 pm. Over 300 brands, original clothes and accessories, unique design, crafts, ecological cosmetics, children’s items, slow food court. Facebook event in Polish. The fair runs also on Sunday.
Design fair – Christmas edition
Location: Dom Towarowy Bracia Jabłkowscy shopping center, Bracka 25 Street (city center), 11 am – 7 pm, tickets 10 PLN. Over 200 exhibitors of furniture, graphics, ceramics, and textiles. During December edition, on the second floor a special gift zone with eco-friendly gifts, delicacies, cosmetics, and jewelry. Facebook event in Polish. The fair runs also on Sunday.
Wielka Fabryka Elfów / The Great Elf Factory – indoor Christmas playing areas for children aged 3-10
Location: PGE National Stadium, Al. Ks. J. Poniatowskiego 1 Street, gate number 5 and 6 (Praga). 10 playing areas with attractions for kids (eg. inflatable playground) – children help elves to create a Santa Claus Elixir, at the end, they meet Santa. Online tickets. Website in Polish. The Elf Factory runs until December 22, 2018.
Outdoor Christmas Market in the Old Town
Location: Warsaw Old Town, the Warsaw Barbican area, next to the Castel Square (Plac Zamkowy), 11 am – 9.30 pm. Souvenirs, gifts, local crafts and food like pierogi, hot chocolate or… ice-cream. Facebook event in Polish. The Market runs until January 6, 2018.
“The Royal Garden of Light” – illuminations festival in the Wilanów Garden
Location: Wilanów Garden, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, 4 pm – 9 pm. It can be crowded during weekends, buy tickets online to skip the line. Mappings (illumination, picture, and sound) on the Palace façade: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm. Click here to read our tips in English on visiting the Wilanów Palace and Park, including “The Royal Garden of Lights”. The festival runs until February 24, 2019.
Sunday trading ban – stores are closed
In December, there is only one Sunday trading ban: December 9. December 16, 23, and 30 are shopping Sundays. Trade ban does NOT include cinemas, restaurants, cafés, small local stores where the owner can work, stores at gas stations, flower shops, pharmacies. Shopping malls can be open but most of the stores inside will be closed (only cinemas, restaurants, pharmacies in shopping malls can be open). You can always do basic shopping at the gas stations (24/7).
Christmas Party with ‘International Friends of Warsaw’
Location: Intercontinental Hotel, Emilii Plater 49 Street (city center), 12 pm. ‘International Friends of Warsaw’ (a multi-national social group of individuals and families from around the world living in Warsaw) invites for a Christmas Party packed with attractions for children (games and activities for kids, Santa, live music, raffles, buffet brunch), open to non-members. Tickets and more info: ifwarsaw@gmail.com. More in English about ‘International Friends of Warsaw’.
‘Warsaw, sweets, Christmas cards, and ginger treats’ – an outdoor event for children in the Old Town
Location: Krakowskie Przedmieście 66 Street, close to St. Anne’s Church. Free entrance, 12 pm – 7 pm. Workshops – decorating Christmas gingerbread cookies. Sending Christmas cards presenting Warsaw in a Christmas image (cards and stamps will be available for free, there will be also available a special seal – your postcards can be sent right away). Children will have a chance to meet Santa and elves and take photos with them. Facebook event in Polish. The Christmas tent will be open on the following Saturdays and Sundays: December 8-9, 15-16.
Winter illuminations and shows – the Multimedia Fountain Park
Location: Skwer Dywizji Pancernej (the area between the Old Town and Vistula), free entrance. Starting from December 8, the holiday illuminations at the Fountain Park will be on every day from 3 pm. 15-minutes shows with music: 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm. More in English.
St. Nicholas’ Day (Mikołajki) with LEGO – free event
Location: Arena Ursynów, Pileckiego 122 Street. Free entrance, 11 am – 4 pm. Attractions for children include meeting with Santa, building Lego, Lego games, sports contests, theater for children. Facebook event in Polish.
St. Nicholas’ Day (Mikołajki) at the Stegny ice skating rink
Location: Stegny ice skating rink, Inspektowa 1 Street (Mokotów), 3 pm – 5 pm, free entrance. Attractions include figure skating show, contests, Santa on ice. Facebook event in Polish.
The opening event of an ice rink at Plac Europejski
Location: Plac / Square Europejski (Wola), 4 pm – 9 pm, free entrance. Attractions include a Venetian carousel, winter train for children, games with the Snow Queen, food trucks. Facebook event in Polish. The event runs also on Saturday. Click here to read more about ice skating rinks in Warsaw.
‘Adventurous Nature Walk’ – educational walk for children and adults guided IN ENGLISH
Location: Wilanów Palace Garden, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, 11 am – 12.30 pm, meeting point at the ticket office (small yellow building). Click here to buy tickets online (10 PLN, you do not need to print your tickets if you have a smartphone). In December: ‘A winter meeting with the birds’. Click here to read more in English. Facebook event in English.
Railway/Trains Modeling Event
Location: Warsaw Railway Museum (Stacja Muzeum), Towarowa 3 Street (Wola), 10 am – 2 pm (the Museum is open on Sundays 9 am – 5 pm). A chance to buy model railways and trains and meet railway modeling enthusiasts. During the event reduced tickets for everyone (6 PLN, children up to 7 free entrance). The Museum website in English. Facebook event in Polish.
Theater for children 3+ and meeting with Santa
Location: Śródmieście Cultural Center (Dom Kultury Śródmieście), Smolna 9 Street (city center), 11 am – 1 pm, online tickets (15 PLN). Facebook event in Polish.
‘Kiedy pada śnieg / When It’s Snowing’ – puppet theater for children aged 2+
Location: Scena SPATiF, Aleje Ujazdowskie 45 Street (city center), 4 pm – 5 pm. Click here to buy tickets (family ticket for 3 people 50 PLN). Facebook event in Polish.
A ball with Santa – free holiday event for children
Location: ALTO shopping center, Al. Rzeczypospolitej 14 (Wilanów), 12 pm – 6 pm, free entrance. Attractions include meeting with Santa, dancing show, arts and crafts workshops, igloo construction, snowball fight, magic show, face painting. Facebook event in Polish.
Children’s Philharmonic / Filharmonia Dziecięca – a concert of holiday songs
Location: Wilanów Cultural Center, Kolegiacka 3 Street. 12.45 pm – 2 pm. You can buy tickets (adults 10 PLN, children 5 PLN) at the reception desk of the Wilanów Cultural Center. Facebook event in Polish.
Christmas market, events for children, Christmas tree lighting in Piaseczno
Location: Piaseczno market square, pl. Piłsudskiego, free entrance, 11 am – 5 pm. Attractions include Santa’s grotto, baking gingerbread with Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts workshop (Christmas ornaments and cards), concerts, at 4 pm – the Christmas tree lighting. Facebook event in Polish.
Dog Show
Location: Sports Center in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Sportowa 66 Street, 05-100 Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, free entrance, 9 am – 5 pm. Facebook event in Polish. The event runs also on Saturday.
SHOM Annual International Charity Bazaar
Location: Marriott Hotel, al. Jerozolimskie 65/79 Street. Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm, 10 PLN entrance tickets. Gifts and foods from around the world. The Bazaar is organized by SHOM (The Spouses of Heads of Missions) to raise funds for those less fortunate in Poland. Facebook event in Polish.
Dog Day and Cat Day – Pet Fair – Christmas edition
Location: Hala Gwardii, Plac Żelaznej Bramy 1 (city center), free entrance, 9 am – 5 pm. Facebook event in Polish. The fair runs also on Saturday.
‘Slow Weekend’ – Christmas fair
Location: Mińska 65 Street (Praga). Opening hours: 11 am – 7 pm. Over 300 brands, original clothes and accessories, unique design, crafts, ecological cosmetics, children’s items, slow food court. Facebook event in Polish. The fair runs also on Saturday.
Design fair – Christmas edition
Location: Dom Towarowy Bracia Jabłkowscy shopping center, Bracka 25 Street (city center), 11 am – 7 pm, tickets 10 PLN. Over 200 exhibitors of furniture, graphics, ceramics, and textiles. During December edition, on the second floor a special gift zone with eco-friendly gifts, delicacies, cosmetics, and jewelry. Facebook event in Polish. The fair runs also on Saturday.
Christmas fair at the Botanical Garden in Powsin
Location: Botanical Garden in Powsin, Prawdziwka 2 Street, 02-973 Powsin. Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm. A chance to buy gifts, workshops, theater for children. Facebook event in Polish.
Wielka Fabryka Elfów / The Great Elf Factory – indoor Christmas playing areas for children aged 3-10
Location: PGE National Stadium, Al. Ks. J. Poniatowskiego 1 Street, gate number 5 and 6 (Praga). 10 playing areas with attractions for kids (eg. inflatable playground) – children help elves to create a Santa Claus Elixir, at the end, they meet Santa. Online tickets. Website in Polish. The Elf Factory runs until December 22, 2018.
Outdoor Christmas Market in the Old Town
Location: Warsaw Old Town, the Warsaw Barbican area, next to the Castel Square (Plac Zamkowy), 11 am – 8 pm. Souvenirs, gifts, local crafts and food like pierogi, hot chocolate or… ice-cream. Facebook event in Polish. The Market runs until January 6, 2018.
“The Royal Garden of Light” – illuminations festival in the Wilanów Garden
Location: Wilanów Garden, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, 4 pm – 9 pm. It can be crowded during weekends, buy tickets online to skip the line. Mappings (illumination, picture, and sound) on the Palace façade: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm. Click here to read our tips in English on visiting the Wilanów Palace and Park, including “The Royal Garden of Lights”. The festival runs until February 24, 2019.
Guided tour in English – the Wilanów Palace – the history and design of the Palace interiors
Location: Wilanów Palace, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, 12 pm – 1.30 pm. Online tickets (regular tickets 20 PLN, reduced tickets 15 PLN). Meeting point – a cloakroom in the Palace. More in English. Facebook event in English.
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