LOCAL POLISH COMMUNITY PREPARES TO PARTY

BY ERIC CZARNIK eczarnik@candgnews.com

It just might be the closest thing you can get to spending a weekend in Warsaw without buying a plane ticket.

The 41st annual American Polish Festival and Craft Show will come to the American-Polish Century Club’s campus in Sterling Heights June 23-25. Festival organizers say the event typically draws crowds from Michigan, surrounding states and Ontario.

Festival organizers are inviting the public to come hungry for Polish and American meal options. The usuals like kielbasa sausage, pierogi dumplings, potato pancakes, golabki stuffed cabbage and a skewered meat dish called “city chicken” — which isn’t actually chicken — will be served. There also will be fusion dishes such as Polish versions of nachos and egg rolls. Attendees of age may wash the food down with Polish and domestic beer.

Leonard Palermino, executive chef and general manager at the Polish club’s Century Banquet Center, said he believes that food is largely what brings people to the event.

“We have traditional, authentic cooking — the way our parents and grandparents would prepare the food — and people seem to enjoy that,” he said. “We’ve been preparing since the end of April with getting items ordered and prepared and frozen. When you’re dealing with 5,000 pounds of city chicken, you need to prepare that well in advance.”

The festival also boasts having “the largest wooden dance floor” in southeastern Michigan. Scheduled music acts include The Polish Muslims, Gerry Kaminski’s Polka Network, New Brass Express, and John Gora & Gorale. Dancers are also expected to perform.

In addition, the festival’s outdoor craft show will feature more than 50 vendors. The event’s final day will host a polka Mass.

Arnie Beller, president of the AmericanPolish Century Club, said he looks forward to seeing crowds having some summer fun. He added that his favorite part of the festival is meeting people and seeing old friends.

“We’re bringing it back for the second year after COVID, and we’re expecting the crowds to come back,” he said. “It’s like a big family reunion every year.”

The American Polish Festival and Craft Show will be at the American-Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane Drive in Sterling Heights, June 23-25. Festival hours will be 4-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Craft show hours will be 4-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

General admission costs $5, though visitors who are 17 years and younger may enter for free. Free parking with shuttles will be at Sterling Heights High School and the Warren Consolidated Schools Career Prep Center.

Learn more about the festival by visiting www.americanpolishfestival.com or by calling (586) 264-7990.

Call Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at (586) 498-1058.