Riverhead’s Polish Town Fair will mark 50 years of family fun on Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, with plenty of perogies, polka and Polish beer.
“It’s going to be a great weekend. It looks like the weather’s going to be beautiful. It’s free to come in and enjoy, purchase from vendors, enjoy the activity and experience some culture that maybe you haven’t before,” said Stephanie Galka, vice president of the Polish Town Civic Association, which sponsors the fair.
Held rain or shine, the event promises kielbasa and other native cuisine, craft vendors, an opening day parade and much more.
In addition, there will be new children’s activities, including a petting zoo, pony rides, a variety of kids’ games and crafts, along with a fire truck encounter courtesy of the fire department, Galka said. Find the fun in Kids Corner at the east corner of Pulaski Street.
While the fair is free, some of the activities, like the petting zoo, would require a fee, added Shannon Clifford, corresponding secretary for the Polish Civic Association.
Each street festival day runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the additional opportunity on Saturday for a party under the tent from 6 to 10 p.m. at Polish Town Civic Association headquarters, 300 Lincoln St. Admission to this after party with Windstar Band in the Civic Beer Garden is $20.
While no match for pre-COVID attendance, Galka anticipates that this year’s Polish Town Fair will be “getting us back to the groove” with approximately 20,000 participants daily.
Ironically, the founders of the first Town Fair, back in August 1975, never imagined they had hatched such a popular event until the crowds came—approximately 20,000 on a rainy Saturday, according to a history of the event. Then they responded by hosting the Polish Town Fair on the third weekend of each August, with the Polish Town Civic Association—and an army of volunteers—having a key role in its success. They had previously traveled to Poland to capture the spirit of the quaint villages in Polish Town USA in Riverhead.
Those attending this year’s Town Fair need not go home empty-handed. “We have over 100 vendors this year with authentic Polish items and authentic Polish food and a variety of other types of merchandise as well,” Galka said. “We’re going to have Polish beer and American so you can really explore some new tastes and flavors…Last year we experimented with Polish beer, and it was a huge hit.”
Galka noted that the festival’s appeal transcends the Polish community. “We have people coming from out of state. We have people that are coming that have been coming here since they were kids. Some Polish, some not Polish.”
In any case, it is a celebration of culture that will include traditional folk dancing, polka time, a performance by the Polish School, a Polish wedding and parade, as well as a perogy-eating contest. Live music is a big part of the festivities, from Windstar, DJ Artur Kowalewski and others. See the schedule for complete activities.