The festival was created to promote Polish regional cuisine, local products and culinary traditions in a modern and open-city format. Over the years, it has been hosted at Poznań’s Old Market Square, Plac Wolności and Plac Kolegiacki, each time filling the city center with color, life and a true feast of flavors. Visitors can explore market stalls filled with dishes from around the world, cheeses, bread, honey, preserves, craft beverages and imported specialties, while also enjoying offers from restaurants, hotels and agritourism farms. The event is enriched by live music, culinary workshops, cooking demonstrations and meetings with travelers and food journalists.

A special tradition of the festival is the prestigious Polish Liqueur of the Year (Polska Nalewka Roku) competition, initiated by restaurateur and cultural activist Jan Babczyszyn, with the late Piotr Bikont, culinary journalist and critic, long serving as chairman of the Tasting Committee. It is the largest contest of homemade liqueurs in Poland and has gained wide recognition, uniting enthusiasts and professionals alike. Since 2008 it has been judged by the “Kapituła Smaku” (Tasting Committee), highlighting the finest recipes and promoting Poland’s culinary heritage.

During this year’s Polish Liqueur of the Year 2025 (Polska Nalewka Roku 2025), held on 15 August in Poznań, 85 liqueurs from across the country competed. The Grand Prix went to a cherry liqueur by Henryk Oczkowski from Silesia, while other top awards included the innovative Raspberry with beetroot by Andrzej Kurek from Suchy Las and Mahonia with quince by Danuta Pietrusik from the Lublin region. The jury also awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, distinctions, as well as special prizes such as the Hanna Szymanderska Award and the Piotr Bikont Award. The competition was accompanied by discussions on inscribing Polish liqueur-making traditions onto the national list of intangible cultural heritage.