Indiana's Pierogi Fest Is The Most Delicious Way To Celebrate Summer
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published May 06, 2019
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
One of the most popular summer events in Indiana is a Polish festival that most Hoosiers don’t even know about. It takes place in Whiting, Indiana and attracts many Chicagoans, but it’s about time you check it out too.
Excellent food and unique music brings out thousands of people for this three-day event each year. Check it out:
Happening July 26-28, 2019, Pierogi Fest is an annual event that takes place in the northwest corner of Indiana, which is also known as the Chicago metropolitan area. Its nearness to the Windy City gives this area its Polish heritage, and it allows the event to draw more than 300,000 guests each year.
A crowd that big makes this the third largest festival in the Hoosier state.
This will be the 25th year for this Polish festival, which celebrates Eastern European culture with parades, dancing, markets, unique characters, and authentic foods. Locals eagerly await summer just for this three-day fest.
Special events include the wacky Polka parade and live entertainment of all sorts. You'll get to hear bands, orchestras, choruses, and other musical acts put on authentic tunes that will make you think you've been teleported to Poland.
Of course, the thing that draws people by the hundreds of thousands is the food. If you've never had a pierogi, this Polish festival is the best place to try one (or 10). It's a simple dough dumpling typically filled with potato and cheese. Sounds amazing, right?
In addition to pierogi, you'll find a slew of other Polish favorites like sausages, potato pancakes, cabbage rolls, stews, and much more. Don't forget the sweets! Our Polish friends are also known for their paczki, mazurek, and napoleoka.
In addition to the authentic eats, this is also the best place to find the most legitimate Polish home goods, jewelry, and other gifts. From traditional trinkets to souvenirs, the craft vendors market has a little something for everyone.
Fun for the entire family this Polish festival is a cultural experience that will open your mind and taste buds to a heritage that has played an important role in shaping our modern world. Mark your calendars for the last weekend in July.
