Ethnic Polish Fest Milwaukee, WI
Summerfest Grounds Party Largest US Celebration of Poland's Heritage
Jun 2, 2008
Polish Fest on the Summerfest Grounds on the lake front of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a celebration of the Polish culture. The 27th Annual Polish Fest was recently selected as on the the 2008 Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. The ethnic festival fills the Milwaukee lake front Summerfest gourds with music, dancing and festivities on Jun 20 - 22, 2008.
Milwaukee's Polish Fest is the largest Polish festival in the United States. The ethnic celebration keeping Polish culture alive through music, entertainment and food. Polish Fest was first held in 1982, making 2008 the 27th festival. Polish Fest attracts a festive crowd, particularly people of Polish heritage from the Milwaukee and the Chicago area.
Polish Fest is a festive gathering with entertainment, a cultural village, Sukiennice, vodka tasting, Catholic Mass on Sunday morning and lots of food.
Entertainment on Five Stages
Five stages of live entertainment feature music and dance. The stages are Miller Contemporary Stage, No-Stop Polka Stage, Cultural Stage, Folk Stage and Children's Stage. d, Those Darn Accordions, Neal Zunker's Music Connection, John Gora and Gorale, Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra and Rentgen. The music on the Miller Contemporary Stage ranges from classic polka music to contemporary Polish music.
Miller Contemporary Stages features entertainment including Doo-Wop Daddies, Jeff Winard, Marianna Band, Marszalek Chicago Ban
One of the highlights of Polish Fest if the 10th Annual Chopin Youth Piano competition. the competition takes place on the Cultural Stage at 12:30 pm on Sunday, June 22.
Cultural Village Exhibit Polish Pride
The Cultural Village features exhibits about the Polish culture. A special exhibit from the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature in Warsaw celebrate the life of Joseph Conrad, in "Joseph Conrad: Twixt Land & Sea.: Exhibits at the Cultural Village include Windows to Poland - Costumes and Customs, Jamestown Float, Polish Forum, Folk Art Demonstrations, Genealogy, Art in the Market Square of Kazimierz Dolny and Polish Tatra Sheepdogs.
Sukiennice Marketplace
Sukiennice Marketplace features over 40 vendors with unique Polish wares. Merchandise include Polish fest souvenirs, Polish Pottery, Glass blown ornaments, Polish crystal, amber jewelry, wooden boxes, Easter eggs, Paper Cutouts, Polish Dictionaries, Clothing, Polish dolls, wooden plates, audio tapes, Cd's, DVD's Silver jewelry, genealogy research, flags and bumpers stickers.
Stawski Imports Spirits Tasting
Strawski Imports Spirits Tasting features tastings of Polish vodkas, Mead and liqueur six times over the weekend. Stawski Imports bars are set up at the Folk Stage and near the Cultural Stage. Tastings cost $10.
Catholic Mass on Sunday Morning
Catholic Mass is held at the Cultural Stage on Sunday morning at 10:15 am. The reading and music will be in English and in Polish. Presider of the mass will be Bishop Thomas J. Paporcki, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Cardinal George's Liaison to Polonia. People who attend the Mass will be able to get into Polish Fest at a discounted admission of $4.
Food at Polish Fest
Polish favorites and festival food are featured by over 20 participating restaurants. Polish food favorites include: Krakus Polish Ham, Klement's Polish Sausage, Pierogi, Potato Pancakes, Hunter's Stew, Mushroom Soup, Duck Blood Soup, Packi, Chrusckik (deep fried pastry) and Zapiekanki (open faced pizza bread sandwiches).
Restaurants at Polish Fest include American and European Foods, Charcoal Grill, Europe Deli, Kawiarnia Bakery, Kiszka House, Mader's European Kitchen, Old World Deli, Polonez, Saz's, Almond Hut, Anderson's Corn Roast, Catalano Produce, Cedar Crest Ice cream, Country Time Kettle Korn, Cousins, Culvers, Dippin' Dots Ice Cream, Dove Bar Cart, Filippo's Pizza, Gloria Jean's Coffee, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Koepsell's Popcorn, Lemon Chill, Milwaukee Donut Co. and Roasted Nuts.
General Information
Polish Fest is held at Henry W. Maier Festival Park, otherwise known as the Summerfest Grounds. Summerfest Grounds are in Downtown Milwaukee, on the lake front of Lake Michigan. The festival runs Friday, June 20; Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22. The festival hours are Noon to Midnight. The festival closes at 10 pm on Sunday night.
Tickets at the Gate are $10. Advance tickets are $8. Senior (55+) $8. Children 15 and under are admitted free when with an adult. See the Polish Fest website for additional information about ticket specials.
Polish Fest sponsors include Miller Brewing Company, Potawatomi Bingo Casino, Stawski Distributing and others.
While in Milwaukee for the weekend, consider visiting Milwaukee Art Museum MAM Festival of Arts, which takes place on the same dates as Polish Fest.
For hotel information, read Top Hotels Downtown Milwaukee, WI which are great choices for a weekend stay.
Travelers to Poland may enjoy reading Poland Travel: Historic Sites
