‘Polish Woodstock’ festival wraps up
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
03.08.2014 12:15
Around 500,000 revellers descended on the small border town of Kostrzyn nad Odra, Saturday, to take part in the final night of the 20th anniversary edition of Przystanek Woodstock.
Photo: PAP/Lech Muszyński
The festival, one of Europe’s largest, saw over 70 bands play. Saturday night saw performances from Polish rockers Coma, Piersi as well as Spanish ‘alterglobalist’ Manu Chao La Ventura.
The free festival is held by one of Poland’s key charitable foundations, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, and the event was originally conceived as a way of thanking the organisation’s many volunteers who collect money during the winter holiday period.
However, it quickly became one of the biggest open-air events in Europe, drawing festival-goers from across Poland, Germany and beyond.
Meanwhile, on the final night, a 41-year-old man died during Saturday night’s festivities. “Everything points to exhaustion joined with excessive alcohol consumption as the cause of death,” said Slawomir Konieczny from the Lubuskie regional police force.
Police say that no other serious incidents occurred during this year’s festival, citing around 100 cases which include 27 reports of theft and 76 reports of narcotics possession. (jb)
Source: PAP
Photo: PAP/Lech Muszyński
Photo: PAP/Lech Muszyński
Photo: PAP/Lech Muszyński