POLKA, PIEROGI and POLAND

POLKA, PIEROGI and POLAND

10th annual Polish-American Heritage Day

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

The 10th annual Polish-American Heritage Day will take place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Anne’s church, 4310 Kirk Road.

The event will feature Polish food, two polka bands, folk art vendors, Polish language and cultural workshops and authentic folk dance performances by the Harmony Polish Folk Ensemble of Buffalo, N.Y.

Admission is $5 (free with YSU student ID and for children age 12 under). Discount coupons are available at Kravitz Deli in Liberty and Krakus Polish Deli and Bakery in Boardman. Go to polishyoungstown.org for information.

The day will begin with a Mass at 11:30 a.m.

The festival has doubled its food options this year.

Several varieties of pierogi will be available, along with toppings. Also on the menu will be mizeria (cucumber salad), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), krupnik (mushroom soup with barley) and Zakopanem kebab mieso i cebulki (mountain-style grilled beef kabobs with onions).

Desserts will include nalesniki (crepes) and sernik (cheesecake dipped in chocolate). The bakery will offer Kiederowski’s nationally famous paczki and many other Polish delicacies, all of which will be available for takeout.

Some highlights include:

Performances by the Harmony Folk Ensemble, a Polish-American dance and cultural ensemble, at 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Lecture on “The Jewish Resurgence in Today’s Poland” by Sean Martin, associate curator for Jewish history at Cleveland’s Western Reserve Historical Society, at 2 p.m..

Pierogi-eating contest at 4:30 p.m.. This annual contest is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. The contestant who eats the most in three minutes is the winner. There is an entry fee of $10 with each contestant receiving a pierogi T-shirt. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded. Get an entry form at polishyoungstown.org or at the ticket booth.

There also will be a free hands-on craft workshop area and a vendor marketplace with beautiful gift ideas. Vendors will include Krystal in America, Toledo; European Folk Art, Pittsburgh; and Polish Arts Club of Youngstown.

Krakus Polish Deli and Bakery will be the deli vendor.

Polish Day will include music by DJ Walter Bielski all day in the outdoor tent.

Also performing will be Ray Jay and the Carousels at noon, 2:15 and 4:30 p.m.; and Jimmy K and the Mostly Honky Combo at 1, 3:15 and 5:15 p.m.

The final polka and toast will take place at 6 p.m.

Other scheduled events include:

2:45 p.m.: Polka demo and lessons .

1:45 and 4 p.m.: Harmony Polish Folk Ensemble.

3 p.m.: Polka line dancing and lessons.

Cultural workshops will include:

All day: The Artistry of the Polish Village.

1 p.m.: The Many Faces of Pierogi Chef Tad Siembida.

2 p.m.: Jewish Resurgence in Today’s Poland lecture.

3 p.m.: Say it in Polish, with Stanley Gerchak.

4 p.m.: Starting up the Family Tree, by Frank Kishel.

5 p.m.: Travel by Teaching in Poland, with Jennifer Yurosko.