Event celebrates Polish culture

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The annual Polish Day will take place Sunday at St. Luke Church Hall, 5235 South Ave., a celebration of the food, music, art, history and culture of Poland.

The event will include polka bands, folk-art vendors, language and cultural workshops and authentic dance performances by Living Traditions Folk Ensemble.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission is $5 (free for children 12 and under and Youngstown State University students with ID card).

The festivities will actually get off to an early start with a sneak peek Saturday, and the third annual Poker and Pierogi charity poker tournament.

The sneak peek will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at the church hall.

The Poker and Pierogi tournament will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is open to novice and serious card players. The tournament will begin at noon with a $60 buy-in. A second-chance game will begin at 6 p.m. if there is interest. Players do not have to enter the tournament to enter the cash games.

Snacks, kielbasi and cocktails will be sold and there also will be basket raffles and other games.

On Sunday, Polish Day will begin with a polka Mass at the church.

The Best Pierogi Contest will begin at 2 p.m. (registration is $10). Applicants can enter in one of four categories: Homemade (stuffed with cheese, potato or cabbage), Homemade but non-traditional stuffing, Commercial (open to businesses), and Dessert.

A panel of celebrity judges will determine the winners.

The Pierogi Eating Contest will begin at 6 p.m. (registration is $10; must be 18 or older). Entrants get three minutes to eat two dozen pierogi.

For information about all Polish Day weekend events, go to polishyoungstown.com.

As always, hand-picked vendors will offer authentic Polish food and items. These include:

Badurik’s Butcher Block of Mineral Ridge, selling three varieties of kielbasa, kabanos (both regular and dry), and kiszka, and imported foods such as dried mushrooms, syrups, preserves, pickles, Polish chocolates and sweets (bring a cooler if purchasing a large amount).

Kiederowski’s Baker of Lorain, selling pƒÖczki and snoogles, as well as poppy seed rolls, nut rolls, sweet rolls, “stara babbas” and flaky chrusciki.

Dainius Zalensas of Cleveland, selling sekacz cakes and crispy waffle cookies.

Mirella of Buffalo, N.Y., selling Polish folk art, rings, necklaces, bracelets and more, plus a variety of Polish pottery.

Witold Wenc of Pittsburgh, selling European folk art, including Polish dolls, wooden treasures, Christmas ornaments, clothing items and more.