Cheektowaga Polish American Arts Festival – BIGGER & BETTER

This year’s Cheektowaga Polish American Arts Festival is a three-day event that will take place from Friday, July 26, through Sunday, July 28, at Cheektowaga City Park on Harlem Road. The festivities will begin with a grand entrance march by community organizations and families, celebrating their ancestry in what was once the second largest Polish colony in the world after Warsaw.

Even today, Buffalo’s Polish heritage remains strong, as evidenced by the many festivals and events that celebrate Poland’s strong traditions. This particular festival, which began in 1979, has become a recognized event and is considered one of the largest ethnic festivals of its kind in North America, attracting visitors from all over the United States and Canada.

Everyone is invited to visit the Cheektowaga Polish American Arts Festival, whether it’s for the arts, the food and drink, the people, or just the culture that ties it all together.

Here are some of this year’s entertainment features:

• The Kwik Fill PolAm Amphitheatre stage at Cheektowaga Town Park will host performances by some of the biggest names in polka music, including Grammy-nominated polka favorites “Maestros Men” from Connecticut, Buffalo Touch, New Direction and a very special tribute to the legendary G-Notes featuring Johnny Karas of the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra.
• With an exceptional polka lineup, this year’s festival is delighted to present ‘Polky’, a group of extremely talented musicians and singers who blend traditional Polish folk music with sounds and rhythms from around the world.
• Throughout the multi-day event, spectators will enjoy performances by some of North America’s finest folk dance ensembles, including the Krakowiacy Dancers from WNY, Opole from Michigan and the Lechowia Dance Company from Toronto.
• Other ethnic entertainment will take place throughout the weekend on the Polonia Platform stage with performances by Dave Gawronski of the Forgotten Buffalo Orchestra, International Polka Association member Al Piatkowski, Polka Boyz, Polish Saturday School Chorus, Polanie from St. Catherines, Ontario, Kapela Pokolynie and a retro Polka in the Park night with The Buffalo Concertina All Stars on Saturday night.
• This family-friendly celebration will feature an expanded food court, food trucks, a heritage bazaar market, old-world craft vendors, a beer and wine garden, the Saint Casimir Heritage Village with cooking and craft demonstrations and lectures, an authentic recreation of a medieval hussar knight camp and a traditional outdoor mass featuring the Chopin Singing Society.

“We wanted to continue the tradition of this highly anticipated annual event, as well as share the customs and cuisine of Poland by providing even more attractions and interactive family fun from start to finish,” said new Town Supervisor Brian Nowak, who is thrilled to be able to continue the celebration in partnership with the Polish American Congress, WNY Division. “Starting with our Grand Entrance March that everyone is invited to participate in. We want to include as many people and organizations as possible with an Olympic-style opening ceremony that allows families, friends and groups to come together and celebrate our collective heritage in a way that everyone can participate in.”

For more detailed information about the festival or to register your family or organization to participate in the Entrance Walk, visit the festival website, www.polamartfest.com or follow them on Facebook.

The festival is free to the public.