Record Crowd Attends Annual Little Poland Festival
By Robin Vinci | Editor at April 28, 2024 | 6:00 pm | Print
Everywhere you looked on Broad Street Sunday was a line of people. Nearly 20,000 were in attendance to celebrate what may be the biggest event held in the City in this century.
The Fifth Annual Little Poland Festival featuring Polish foods like pierogi and potato pancakes, music and dancing, a Packzki contest, a carnival and nearly 100 booths. It was an event that people as far as Buffalo, NY came to see.
“I expected 10,000 and we got 15,000 to 20,000,” said Lucian Pawlak, festival director. “I had a couple of older people tell me they never saw a crowd like this in New Britain. Everything was excellent.”
Pawlak said the City was extremely cooperative. He said despite the mess left by the event, by Monday morning Broad Street was back to being “clean as a whistle.”
“The public works department, the police department, the fire department, the EMS, was just like a finely tuned watch,” said Pawlak. “People came from Buffalo, NY, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine and Long Island. I heard it all. One after another told me where they were from.”
There were 30 food booths and people still waited for food, but the lines were much smaller than last year.
“People got served pretty quickly,” said Pawlak. “The big news was ‘who has beer’ as everybody was running out. The restaurants, package store and beer garden (the committee ran) all did very well.”
The festival closes at 6 p.m., but at 10 p.m. at night the restaurants and bars on Broad St. were still packed with festival-goers.
“It was phenomenal. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Daniel Murphy showed up. Everyone realizes this is the place to be,” said Pawlak. “The place was mobbed. There were cars parked everywhere. It was a very rewarding day for me.”
Those in attendance said they enjoyed the Polish heritage as well as the food and events.
“It was a pleasure to see a community come together to celebrate it’s heritage. Kudos to the Polish community and the city of New Britain for hosting such a well organized, family friendly event that attracted people from all over the greater New Britain area,” said Dennis Morrell. “Broad Street is a little slice of Europe and one of New Britain’s gems. A great day was had by all.”
Christina Ann Rosenblatt said, “It was a great day. So many things to look at. So much food you couldn’t leave hungry.”
“I loved it,” Donna Koermer. “A lot of people, but the lines waiting for food weren’t too bad.”
“I think they will need to expand again next year. Awesome pierogis at Cracovia,” said Marcia Pucinski Janusz.
Pawlak said he is already preparing for next year.
There were only 8 bathrooms and next year it will doubled. Also recycling will be looked into.
When the event began five years ago it was in Haller Post and Pol-Mart. Since Pawlak became organizer three years ago it has doubled in size each year.
“The success of the Little Poland Festival is the result of EVERYONE in the community coming together to achieve one goal…to take back the street from the gangs and drugs. It has taken many years to get Broad Street back as a vibrant street full of merchants and residents, for people to feel safe when they walk the street,” said Alderman Carlo Carlozzi. “Thank you to the Polonia Business Association and its leadership, to the residents, the merchants, city government, police, fire and media working all together. Great team effort. It also helped that God blessed New Britain with great weather. It was a great day for Broad Street and a great day for New Britain.”
“All I wanted was for my city to look good and for everybody to have a good time,” added Pawlak.
