On 31 May, the site of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airport will be transformed into a huge zone of family adventure, learning and aviation excitement. Małopolska Children’s and Family Day, organised jointly by the Małopolska Science Centre Cogiteon and the Polish Aviation Museum, will be an event packed with experiments, demonstrations, workshops and attractions for the whole family. Participants can look forward to science shows, robots, historic aircraft, creative aviation activities and concerts — all in a unique atmosphere of discovering the world of science, technology and aviation together. FREE entry!
Science experiments, aviation workshops, spectacular displays, robots, concerts, historic aircraft and plenty of family attractions – this is what this year’s Małopolska Children’s and Family Day promises, organised jointly by the Małopolska Science Centre Cogiteon and the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, situated side by side on the historic site of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny aerodrome – one of the first aerodromes in Europe!
The event will take place as part of the ‘Kultura na 6’ programme run by the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Province and will transform the former runway into a huge zone of learning, fun and family adventure. Dozens of activities await participants, designed for both the youngest and older explorers.
The tent city and the interior of the Cogiteon will be filled with interactive educational stations, workshops and science demonstrations.
In the Reactions and Flavours Laboratory, visitors will be able to witness spectacular experiments with liquid nitrogen and dry ice, discover the secrets of chemical reactions and take on sensory challenges engaging all the senses. Nature lovers will be able to look through microscopes in the Nature Laboratory, where they can make extraordinary observations of insects, plants and bird feathers.
There will also be plenty of attractions for young builders. In the Innovation Workshop, participants will create their own electrical circuits and meet the friendly Robot Prądek, whilst in the Technology Workshop they will give a new lease of life to screws, nuts and metal parts, creating original ‘Drzewiaki’.
The Children’s Academy awaits the youngest visitors – full of creative sensory games, sandpits, water experiments and space for free play.
The attractions organised by the Polish Aviation Museum will feature prominently in the programme.
Children and families will be able to take part in model-making workshops, build plywood helicopters, construct 3D cardboard aeroplanes and create paper flying machines to test their range! Participants can also look forward to a fantastic mega-puzzle, an aviation-themed photo shoot in pilot outfits and a special outdoor game with prizes.
There will also be a wealth of unique aviation exhibits. Visitors will be able to take a souvenir photo next to the J-5 Marco motor glider, and thanks to the “Meleks Flight Line” – accompanied by a guide who will recount the extraordinary history of the former airport – visitors will be able to travel in comfort to Hangar No. 5 of the Polish Aviation Museum.
There, you’ll be able to visit the exhibition “Downwind and upwind – civil aviation” free of charge – the largest exhibition dedicated to civil aviation in Poland and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Covering an area of over 3,000 m², the exhibition features dozens of historic aircraft, unique memorabilia and the story of over a century of Polish civil aviation.
The event programme also includes dynamic demonstrations on the outdoor stage:
‘Science. Action!’ – a show in which physics and chemistry experiments will be conducted with a touch of humour and audience participation.
As part of the “Aerolaboratory”, families will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics and together discover why aeroplanes are able to take off. For those who love a bit of competition, there will be a Science Quiz and an Aviation Knowledge Quiz – with great prizes!
In the conference room inside Cogiteon, the show “What’s Hiding in the Grass?” will be staged – a musical and humorous tale about the world of insects and nature.
The event will conclude with the “Fionka for Children” concert, scheduled for 4 pm on the outdoor stage.
One of the most extraordinary attractions will be the presence of the humanoid robot Barbara, developed by the AGH Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence. Visitors will be able to see the robot up close, chat with it and take a souvenir photo.
Comfortable chill-out zones with sun loungers, a colourful Bubble House made of balloons, and a variety of food and drink areas will be waiting for visitors. The little ones are sure to enjoy the ice cream and pancakes, whilst those with more discerning palates can sample the offerings of the “Na Polu” restaurant, serving dishes inspired by modern regional cuisine.
Małopolska Children’s and Family Day will be an opportunity to explore the world of science, technology and aviation together in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. It is an event that combines education with excitement, modern technology with history, and learning with creative experiences.
The organisers invite everyone – children, parents, grandparents and young people – to celebrate together in one of the most extraordinary places on the map of Kraków – the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airport!
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Małopolska Children’s and Family Day – 31 May – PROGRAMME
TENT VILLAGE
11:00 – 17:00
11:00 – 12:00 – ‘Little Model Maker’ workshops – building plywood helicopters (from 8 years old)
11:00 – 16:00 – Meetings with the AGH humanoid robot – Barbara
12:00 – 13:00 – Building 3D cardboard aeroplanes (ages 7 and up)
12:30 – 14:30 – Fire Brigade educational stand
13:00 – 14:00 – “Little Model Maker” workshops – building plywood helicopters (ages 8 and up)
15:00 – 16:00 – Building 3D cardboard aeroplanes (ages 7 and up)
THE MELEX SHUTTLE SERVICE
11:00 – 16:30 – Hop on a melex and discover the extraordinary history of Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport – one of the first places in Europe where aeroplanes landed! The meleks run continuously (in both directions) between Cogiteon and Hangar No. 5 of the Polish Aviation Museum, home to the exhibition ‘Downwind and upwind – civil aviation’ – the largest exhibition of its kind in Europe
During the Małopolska Children’s and Family Day celebrations, you can visit it for FREE!
OUTDOOR STAGE
11:00 – Come and join the fun! – presentation of the attractions
11:30 – Science Show: ‘Science. Action!’
12:05 – Welcome address to guests by the management of both institutions
12:30 – Science show “Aerolaboratory”
13:00 – Science quiz “How does the world work?” (with prizes!)
14:00 – Science show “Science. Action!”
14:35 – Science show “Aerolaboratory”
15:05 – Aviation knowledge quiz (with fantastic prizes!)
16:00 – FIONKA DZIECIOM concert
HANGAR No. 5 – EXHIBITION: ‘Downwind and upwind – civil aviation’
11:00 – 17:00 – Free individual tours of the exhibition inside Hangar No. 5
12:45 – 13:45 – Free guided tour of the exhibition
14:30 – 15:30 – Free guided tour of the exhibition
THE INTERIOR OF THE COGITEON BUILDING
11: 00 – 17:00 – Music Game – ‘Listen to the Past’
13:00-14:00 – The play ‘What’s Hiding in the Grass?’ (EON conference room)
