The Polish Festival is one of this Portland’s best annual cultural events, and my personal favorite. It takes place this year on Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and 26.
Take in non-stop music (much of it featuring accordions!), dance performances, a street dance, and polka contests while enjoying Polish food like pierogies, kielbasa, gołąbki (cabbage rolls), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), and other delectable options – and of course delicious Polish beer! In the vendor village, check out the jewelry, clothing, Polish pottery, and sundries for sale.
Below the masthead on the festival website are the words: the best kept secret of Portland, Oregon. But the festival is not a secret anymore – it’s one of the premier fall festivals in the Portland area.
Entrance to the Polish Festival is free. It takes place Saturday, September 25th, from 11am to 10pm and Sunday the 26th, noon to 6pm, and is held on North Failing street, east side of Interstate, between the St. Stanislaus Church and the Polish Library (3900 N. Interstate). Take the 4 – Fessenden to Mississippi and Failing and then take the Failing Street Pedestrian Bridge across the freeway and you are there. Or take the Yellow Line MAX to the Overlook Stop – Failing street is two blocks north up Interstate. Check out the festival website for more information.
Heather and I both blogged the festival in 2008 and 2009:
Mile73.com
- Pierogi ruskie, Gołąbki, and My Favorite: Placki Ziemniaczane (2008)
- A Night At The Polish Fest (2009)
Dave Knows
Festival veteran tip: arrive Saturday evening after sunset to avoid the bulk of the crowd, and the ridiculously long lines. (Read more tips here!)
POTATO PANCAKES!