Houston’s 3rd Annual Polish Festival is a celebration of all things Polish – the food, the music, the language, the customs and the culture of the Polish people. The Festival is held on the grounds of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church conveniently located at 1731 Blalock Drive, in the Spring Branch area, about 1.5 miles north of the Katy Freeway. The festival will run from 10:00 am to 10:30 pm on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Featured at the Festival is a large sampling of traditional Polish foods such as pierogi (stuffed dumplings), golabki (cabbage rolls), bigos (hunters stew) and kielbasa (sausage) and a huge assortment of traditional cakes, rolls and desserts lovingly prepared by the parishioners of Our Lady Of Czestochowa Catholic Church. There will be plenty of ice cold beverages to go along with the food.
A really talented entertainment lineup this year includes:
- Traditional Polish songs and dances will be performed by the children’s choir throughout the day.
- Dunajec Polish Song and Dance Ensemble from Sterling Heights, MI.
Performances at
12:25 pm, 2:35 pm and 8:10pm - Slavic Heritage Band – Polka and Waltz
11: am – 12:20 pm - Brian Marshall and the Tex-Slavic Playboys will bring their special brand of dance music to the stage. Brian will be joined this year by Bradley Jay Williams, Tim Walsh and Mark Rubin from the Fabulous Polkasonics, an Austin based Polish-American Polka band.
Performances at 4:20 pm – 5:55 pm and 7:05 pm – 8:05 pm - Chris Rybak, noted Texas accordionist and his lovely wife Edita will close out the festival.
Performances at 9:15 pm – 10:10 pm
You have to admit, that’s a pretty good entertainment package for an admission price of *free*. I can tell you from first hand experience that Brian Marshall’s band playing with Bradley Williams and Tim Walsh is a combination not to be missed and Chris Rybak always does a good job entertaining the crowd.
As part of the festival, visitors will be able to tour the beautiful church constructed in the traditional Polish style and will be able to see the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the Polish Black Madonna, and learn of Our Lady’s 600 year old history as protector and defender of the Polish nation.
In addition, the festival provides a supervised, safe and fun children’s area complete with games, face painting, kids’ snacks and other fun activities to keep the kids entertained. Inside the beautifully decorated parish hall, visitors will find a silent auction full of unique items on which to bid while being entertained by a fine classical pianist. The entire parish community of Our Lady of Czestochowa extends an invitation for everyone to come and celebrate all things Polish with them or as they would say ? Zapraszamy! (We welcome you!).
James Smock has always held an interest in his Polish ancestors and heritage. He is a native Houstonian with Polish roots in Bremond, Marlin and New Waverly, Texas.