Polski Day is an annual festival in Kansas City, Kansas, that celebrates Polish heritage and traditions while raising funds to help preserve historic St. Joseph’s Church built by Polish immigrants.
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Dwindling resources threaten the future of Polski Day. Your generous donation will help us attempt to continue Polski Day and its efforts to preserve the historic St. Joseph’s Church. The 35th anniversary event is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2019.
History: The first Polski Day was organized in 1984 by a group of Polish descendants for their Polish Hill neighbors in Kansas City, Kansas. Lively from the very beginning, the celebration commemorated the signing of the Polish Constitution of 1791 and the community’s heritage with a day of traditional food and festivities.
The inaugural event gave unanticipated publicity to the neighborhood and St. Joseph’s church, now All Saints Parish. Much like today, the festivities began on Saturday afternoon with a parade featuring colorful floats sponsored by families, lodges, and businesses who tossed candy to spectators. Concluding in the church parking lot, the parade was followed by a packed “Polka Mass” and then food, drinks and dancing into the night.
Present Day: Now in it’s 35th year, passionate Polski Day volunteers and attendees have kept the festival alive while the surrounding neighborhood has evolved. Although many Polish families have moved and the neighborhood’s patriarchs and matriarchs have passed away, the area is experiencing a revitalization.
New families have moved in, businesses are popping up, and new and old ethnic festivals-- Mexican, Polish, Argentinian, Croatian, Slovenian-- bring all generations together to share cultural traditions. Polski Day and All Saints Parish help represent why Kansas City, Kansas continues to be a microcosm of America's melting pot. Help us share our Polish heritage with this vibrant community!
This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of parish "matriarch" Mary Stark (1919-2018). As a founding committee member she hoped the festival would ensure Polish traditions were passed on to future generations.
Your donation will help us fund:
Event proceeds will be directed to the parish building fund, including ongoing renovation of the church hall kitchen.
More Information:
Donations by mail:
Pat A. Waliczek, Treasurer
255 Orchard St, Kansas City, KS 66101
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