A colourful procession made its way from Mostowa Street to the city's Old Market Square, where the settlers' original 1719 contract with the city was read aloud and a statue known as the Bamberka was decorated with a garland of white and red flowers.
The parade then continued to the Free Courtyard near Collegiate Square for folk performances, concerts and children's activities.
The settlers arrived in the early 18th century at the invitation of city authorities, resettling villages around Poznań that had been depopulated by war and plague.
They assimilated quickly with the local population, and their descendants are now considered an integral part of Poznań's community.
The surrounding villages where they settled were absorbed into the city in the early 20th century.
Ryszard Skibiński, head of the Poznań Bamber Society, said the city is home to many descendants of the settlers.
"A person sometimes does not realise how many of us carry a bit of Bamber blood," he noted.
Grzegorz Ganowicz, chairman of Poznań's city council, said the settlers' story remained relevant today.
"When they came here, the Bambers were poor, did not know the Polish language, spoke with a foreign accent, but they were received with kindness," he said.
A procession marks the annual Bamber Festival in Poznań on Sunday. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk
Since 2018, Bamber traditions have been included on Poland's national list of intangible cultural heritage, covering the annual festival, the wearing of traditional dress at civic processions, and the work of the Bamber Society in preserving the community's identity.
Sunday's festival capped several days of events as part of Poznań's wider Traditions Festival.
(ał)
Source: PAP