Published: 16 July 2024
The Urban Highline Festival 2024
Get ready for a thrilling fusion of circus and aerial feats in Lublin this July! The renowned Carnaval Sztukmistrzów joins forces with the Urban Highline Festival from July 25th to 28th, 2024. Witness daring slackliners on taut lines strung high above Lublin’s Old Town and City Centre, adding a spectacular aerial stage to the vibrant carnaval atmosphere.
About
More than just a spectacle, the Urban Highline Festival is a vibrant gathering of slacklining enthusiasts. As the oldest festival of its kind in Europe, and one of the largest worldwide, it’s attracted thousands of participants from over 70 countries since its inception in Lublin back in 2009. While spectators marvel at the highliners traversing taut lines strung high above, the festival truly comes alive for those taking part. It’s an annual celebration where passion, knowledge, and experience are shared amongst these daring athletes.
“The Urban Highline Festival is a passion project, created by and for slackliners,” explains Wojciech Sieńko, a representative of the festival. “For the past 16 years, it’s attracted enthusiasts from all over the globe – daredevils who love the thrill of walking on thin lines high above Lublin’s streets. Every year, we string up the famous ‘Churchline’ – the second-most renowned highline in the world, following the legendary Lost Arrow Sparrow in Yosemite National Park (established in the 1980s, on July 13, 1985, to be exact!). Interestingly, UHF holds the distinction of being the first festival ever to host highlining in an urban environment back in 2009. Who knew this adrenaline-pumping sport could be enjoyed right in the heart of the city?”
This year, the festival is expanding across Lublin with dedicated zones offering a variety of experiences:
LCK Zone (Lublin Conference Center): Freestylers will take center stage on 50 and 70-meter lines. On Friday evening (July 26th), witness a world-first as one line is illuminated by LED lights!
Lubelskie Zone (Lublin Voivodeship Office and City Office): Experienced highliners can push their limits on lines ranging from 55 to 100 meters.
City of Inspiration Zone (Town Hall and Krakowska Gate): Prepare to be dazzled by freestyle tricks in this electrifying zone.
InterBroker Zone (Crown Tribunal): Masterful trickline performances by Filip Oleksik will leave you speechless.
Firmament Zone (Trinitarian Tower): Don’t miss the legendary Churchline – a must-see for any highlining enthusiast.
Re-Union Zone (Błonia near the Castle): This zone offers a welcoming space for both seasoned highliners and curious newcomers. Explore the highliners’ camp and try your hand at slacklining alongside local residents and tourists.
“The Urban Highline Festival has consistently been Lublin’s most international event, and last year, we were honoured to be recognised as the world’s most visited festival by the International Slackline Association! We’re incredibly proud to welcome such a diverse group of participants. To enhance their experience, we offer a comprehensive workshop programme, ranging from movement training and highline technique to essential safety education. This year, we’re expecting highliners from a staggering array of countries, including Austria, Colombia, Finland, and all the way to Australia! To help them discover Lublin’s rich history, we’ve even organised a special tour following the trail of the Union of Lublin. None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of the Firmament Foundation and our dedicated sponsors like the City of Lublin, InterBroker, the Lublin Voivodeship, the Lublin Conference Centre, and countless technical and technological partners,” says Wojciech Sieńko.
Essential Facts for Urban Highline Festival Enthusiasts
Slackline vs. Tightrope: Slackliners walk on “slacklines,” not tightropes. These lines are typically 2.5-5 cm wide and made of nylon or polyester.
Ancient Roots: Slacklining traces its origins to nomadic cultures. Tightrope walking practices have been documented among communities in Central Asia and the Middle East. For these societies, slacklining was not just entertainment but also a part of tradition and ceremonies.
Pushing Limits: Some slackliners challenge themselves by attempting world records. The highline distance record stands at over 2.7 km!
Trickline Spectacle: Trickline is a slackline discipline where performers execute various tricks, acrobatics, and jumps on the taut line.
Freestyle Highline Fusion: This advanced form has slackliners walking on a highly tensioned line suspended at great heights.
Urban Highline Innovation: Lublin is the birthplace of Urban Highline, a variant practised in cities and urban areas.
For 16 years, the Urban Highline Festival has run alongside Carnaval Sztukmistrzów, Poland’s largest circus festival. Witness international artists showcase breathtaking performances that seamlessly blend new circus and theatrical elements. Prepare to be dazzled by hilarious clowning acts, gravity-defying acrobatics, and innovative, experimental presentations. The festival comes alive with vibrant busker performances, engaging workshops, and captivating circus shows. Don’t miss this chance to be amazed! Tickets for paid shows are still available at stage24.pl. Explore the full event program on our website
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
25–28 July 2024
Old Town, Błonia near the Castle
Admission free, selected events require tickets
Organisers: Workshops of Culture in Lublin. Cultural Institution of the City of Lublin, Lublin – City of Inspiration
Media Patrons: TVP Kultura, TVP 3 Lublin, Radio Lublin, Radio Centrum, e-teatr.pl
teatralny.pl, Kultura Enter. Onet
Sponsors: Ball Packaging Europe Lublin Sp. z o.o.. Browar Zakładowy
Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Under the Honorary Patronage of Krzysztof Żuk – Mayor of the City of Lublin.
Published: 16 July 2024
The Urban Highline Festival 2024
Get ready for a thrilling fusion of circus and aerial feats in Lublin this July! The renowned Carnaval Sztukmistrzów joins forces with the Urban Highline Festival from July 25th to 28th, 2024. Witness daring slackliners on taut lines strung high above Lublin’s Old Town and City Centre, adding a spectacular aerial stage to the vibrant carnaval atmosphere.
About
More than just a spectacle, the Urban Highline Festival is a vibrant gathering of slacklining enthusiasts. As the oldest festival of its kind in Europe, and one of the largest worldwide, it’s attracted thousands of participants from over 70 countries since its inception in Lublin back in 2009. While spectators marvel at the highliners traversing taut lines strung high above, the festival truly comes alive for those taking part. It’s an annual celebration where passion, knowledge, and experience are shared amongst these daring athletes.
“The Urban Highline Festival is a passion project, created by and for slackliners,” explains Wojciech Sieńko, a representative of the festival. “For the past 16 years, it’s attracted enthusiasts from all over the globe – daredevils who love the thrill of walking on thin lines high above Lublin’s streets. Every year, we string up the famous ‘Churchline’ – the second-most renowned highline in the world, following the legendary Lost Arrow Sparrow in Yosemite National Park (established in the 1980s, on July 13, 1985, to be exact!). Interestingly, UHF holds the distinction of being the first festival ever to host highlining in an urban environment back in 2009. Who knew this adrenaline-pumping sport could be enjoyed right in the heart of the city?”
This year, the festival is expanding across Lublin with dedicated zones offering a variety of experiences:
LCK Zone (Lublin Conference Center): Freestylers will take center stage on 50 and 70-meter lines. On Friday evening (July 26th), witness a world-first as one line is illuminated by LED lights!
Lubelskie Zone (Lublin Voivodeship Office and City Office): Experienced highliners can push their limits on lines ranging from 55 to 100 meters.
City of Inspiration Zone (Town Hall and Krakowska Gate): Prepare to be dazzled by freestyle tricks in this electrifying zone.
InterBroker Zone (Crown Tribunal): Masterful trickline performances by Filip Oleksik will leave you speechless.
Firmament Zone (Trinitarian Tower): Don’t miss the legendary Churchline – a must-see for any highlining enthusiast.
Re-Union Zone (Błonia near the Castle): This zone offers a welcoming space for both seasoned highliners and curious newcomers. Explore the highliners’ camp and try your hand at slacklining alongside local residents and tourists.
“The Urban Highline Festival has consistently been Lublin’s most international event, and last year, we were honoured to be recognised as the world’s most visited festival by the International Slackline Association! We’re incredibly proud to welcome such a diverse group of participants. To enhance their experience, we offer a comprehensive workshop programme, ranging from movement training and highline technique to essential safety education. This year, we’re expecting highliners from a staggering array of countries, including Austria, Colombia, Finland, and all the way to Australia! To help them discover Lublin’s rich history, we’ve even organised a special tour following the trail of the Union of Lublin. None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of the Firmament Foundation and our dedicated sponsors like the City of Lublin, InterBroker, the Lublin Voivodeship, the Lublin Conference Centre, and countless technical and technological partners,” says Wojciech Sieńko.
Essential Facts for Urban Highline Festival Enthusiasts
Slackline vs. Tightrope: Slackliners walk on “slacklines,” not tightropes. These lines are typically 2.5-5 cm wide and made of nylon or polyester.
Ancient Roots: Slacklining traces its origins to nomadic cultures. Tightrope walking practices have been documented among communities in Central Asia and the Middle East. For these societies, slacklining was not just entertainment but also a part of tradition and ceremonies.
Pushing Limits: Some slackliners challenge themselves by attempting world records. The highline distance record stands at over 2.7 km!
Trickline Spectacle: Trickline is a slackline discipline where performers execute various tricks, acrobatics, and jumps on the taut line.
Freestyle Highline Fusion: This advanced form has slackliners walking on a highly tensioned line suspended at great heights.
Urban Highline Innovation: Lublin is the birthplace of Urban Highline, a variant practised in cities and urban areas.
For 16 years, the Urban Highline Festival has run alongside Carnaval Sztukmistrzów, Poland’s largest circus festival. Witness international artists showcase breathtaking performances that seamlessly blend new circus and theatrical elements. Prepare to be dazzled by hilarious clowning acts, gravity-defying acrobatics, and innovative, experimental presentations. The festival comes alive with vibrant busker performances, engaging workshops, and captivating circus shows. Don’t miss this chance to be amazed! Tickets for paid shows are still available at stage24.pl. Explore the full event program on our website
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
25–28 July 2024
Old Town, Błonia near the Castle
Admission free, selected events require tickets
Organisers: Workshops of Culture in Lublin. Cultural Institution of the City of Lublin, Lublin – City of Inspiration
Media Patrons: TVP Kultura, TVP 3 Lublin, Radio Lublin, Radio Centrum, e-teatr.pl
teatralny.pl, Kultura Enter. Onet
Sponsors: Ball Packaging Europe Lublin Sp. z o.o.. Browar Zakładowy
Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Under the Honorary Patronage of Krzysztof Żuk – Mayor of the City of Lublin.
