Stan and I had 4 days of dancing fun at the Pulaski Polka Days from July 23rd to July 26, 2009.
Thursday was dollar day and brought all the locals out to race, skip and hop around the floor like a roller derby. It was refreshing to see so many young people hitting the floor with great pep and energy.
Friday at $10/day more oldies came and less of the youngsters until late in the evening. Music was contagious with trumpets playing the strong Polish beat abd Concertinas carrying the melody. This will really take it out of you is you are not use to the pace. The dress is casual. It was fun to dance in our loafers and sandels instead of getting all geared up in skirts, nylons and dancing shoes.
Food was interesting and cheap. Three bucks would buy fresh lightly deep fried pirogies in cheese or pototoes. My three favorite food groups; cheese, pototoes and donuts. We found the best bakery (Smurawa's) with plenty of donuts and other delightful pastries two blocks from the outdoor polka fest. They had bigger and different textured pirogies filled with pototoes, saurkraut and/or mushrooms along with choices of Polish sausage, pulled pork and hamburgers. No one went hungry in this town during the Polka Days.
Saturday 11 different bands played at the park under two tents switching off every 45 minutes or so. It was a logistically feat to see the bands change over with all the cords tied up to their equipment. Zielinski's ballroom about half a mile downtown had 4 more bands playing. You could ride a hay ride pulled by a tractor for a 50 cent donation. We had heard all those bands so we optioned to stay at the park.
When the rains came all polka goers moved into the tents. Sometimes the rains were so heavy the side flaps had to be dropped. Dancing and playing continued on and on.
Sometimes a sleeper band emerges that really sets itself apart from the rest. Stephanie - America's Polka Sweetheart was one of those. She sang Polish tunes from ages past with heart and played the Concertina like nobody's business. If you saw her on the street you might think twice about approaching her with her dishoveled hair and straight-forward nature, but she really could get the crowd going. Music had a driving polka beat that made it easy to dance. The floor filled up with watchers so the gaint dance floor decreased. It was still fun - fun - fun.
After her the Polka family took the stage. Wow - they clearly are the showman of the evening. Hank, the leader and heart of the band is of Polish-Mexican ancestry. He learned to play that trumpet with the best of them and has a voice to melt hearts.
Sunday we went to the Polka Mass which is always inspiring with the hint of polka flavor to the music. Well really no hint - it was polka music with religious words.
We were then treated to an old fashioned parade down main street. High School and military bands played while antique tractors putted by. Big rigs carrying some of the polka bands we have heard the day before brighted the crowds lined up along the street. These crowds are great about one or two deep laughing and smiling holding sweet children in their arms. One of the highlights was the Mayflower Nursery's float that carried a piano all decorated in baskets of flowers with Chopin music playing with a cast of characters in period dress to delight the audience. Jan Wos is a real talent in creating this atmosphere on a float.
More Stephanie and Polka Family music to delight the crowds at the Polkad days. One more stop to visit Elizabeth at Smurawa's for a walking taco (sour cream, cheese, salsa in a bag of fritos hold the meat) and a Polish sausage and saurkraut. Delicious. By that time the bakery was closed but Elizabeth still had a couple of creme puffs in her display case. We bought one of them. The fresh whipped cream was to die for.
By the way Elizabeth was about 12 with lots of freckles. We have a few freckles discussions. Of all the people she waited on, she remembered us by name.
Great fun and frolick.
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