The 2nd annual Polish Festival at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Houston was a rousing success. The festival was held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 on the church grounds in Spring Branch. Our Lady must have put in a good word for the parish because the weather was just about as perfect as it can get. The festivities started at 10 am and when I left a little after 9 pm it was still going strong. Everybody I talked to in the large crowd was having a good time.
There was plenty of delicious food such as pierogi, golabki, kielbasa and barbeque and lots of piwo and wino to wash it down with. There were activities for the kids and the silent auction and raffle ticket booth drew a large crowd all day. The best feature of the festival was lots of music and dancing for everyone. The children’s choir of Our Lady of Czestochowa sang, danced and entertained the crowd at intervals throughout the day. A large brass band played in the early afternoon and then the Highland Folk Song and Dance Ensemble from Chicago played their music and danced for the crowd. Later in the day, Brian Marshall and his Tex-Slavic Playboys took the stage and put on a great show. Chris Rybak, Texas cowboy accordionist and singer rounded out the evenings entertainment.
Along with all of the good people of Our Lady Of Czestochowa parish, the crowd contained a who’s who list of Texas Polonia. I got to talk to a lot of old friends and even met some new friends.
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.