Third Annual Little Poland Festival Set for Sunday
By Robin Vinci at April 25, 2024 | 9:45 am | Print
The Polonia Business Association is asking everyone to “Go Polish for the Day!” Sunday as the Third Annual Little Poland Festival takes place on Broad St.
“We are branching out and not limiting it to Polish only,” said Lucian Pawlak, event organizer “We are trying to diversify.”
Foods will not be just Polish fare. East Side Restaurant will offer German cooking, Angelo’s Market is well known for Italian specialties and Café Beauregard will be offering some goodies.
More than 60 vendors from across the tri-state area, folklore dancers, bands, shows, arts & crafts, Polish products, children’s attractions, rides and more are scheduled.
There will be the first Miss Little Poland contest for girls 4-12 years old. The UConn Polish Cultural Club will also be involved.
“The biggest event of the day is the Pope John Paul II will be canonized,” said Pawlak. “This makes the day even more special. There is big goings on in Rome. I don’t that there has ever been a Pole that has accomplished more or has been more loved than John Paul II.”
The festival will work with Sacred Heart in conjunction with their ceremonies on Sunday.
“I think he would be proud to know the Polish people will be celebrating that day on Broad St,” Pawlak added.
When Pope John Paul II was a cardinal he said mass at Sacred Heart and walked the area of Broad St. The event will be dedicated to Pope John Paul II.
A mini-carnival will also take place at the Pulaski Club. It will be an extension of the event.
“Kids can actually go on the Ferris wheel and a few other rides,” said Pawlak. “It will be a carnival atmosphere. This is a special treat. People might even be able to find a corn dog.”
Vendors will be setting up between 9-11 a.m. The event is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mayor Erin Stewart is the Festival Grand Marshal.
Pawlak said the most significant difference this year is that the City subsidized the whole festival last year.
“They did not this year and there were long faces in the room. We talked about postponing it,” said Pawlak. “I accepted the challenge and we were looking at $12,000 in police services. You can’t raise that in a few months. After meeting with the police chief (James Wardwell) we came up with a plan that would satisfy public safety and we cut the costs in half.”
Stages have been rented from the City and money is all in place.
“If the weather is right who knows how big it can be,” said Pawlak. “When we had Dozynki 30-40 years ago we had 50,000 people.”
The event now is being marketed via radio stations to people in New York and New Jersey.
“It is not limited to a New Britain event,” Pawlak said. “This is an opportunity for people to work together and see what we can accomplish. It’s pretty good for a street that in 1995 you couldn’t even walk on.”
The event will be held rain or shine and admission is free.
