Food, dancing, music set for American Polish Century Club’s Polish Festival – Macomb Daily

America is a melting pot of cultures, but what makes it rich are the foods, customs and traditions that generations of people savor and share through community events like the American-Polish Festival.

Polka bands and dancers, golabki, pierogi, potato pancakes, kielbasa and all things Polish highlight the event on June 21-23 hosted by the American-Polish Century Club of Sterling Heights.

“This is our way of keeping our heritage alive,” said Leonard Palermino, general manager and executive chef at the Century Banquet Center. “We do this so we don’t lose it. So, we remember who we are and where we came from.”

Arnie Beller concurred.

His great-grandfather was a farmer from a little village in northeastern Poland who traveled to America with a wave of immigrants leaving Europe (between 1892-1954) in hopes of a better life in America.

“There were a lot of them who came,” said the president of the American-Polish Century Club and festival chairman for more than a decade.

Many of those who found their way to the port on Ellis Island settled in big cities such as New York and Chicago, while others like Beller’s great-grandfather traveled further to states such as Pennsylvania, where work could be found in the coal mines. His son, not wanting the same life, moved to Hamtramck, where Polish immigrants found work and but commonalities among the people, businesses, churches and schools.

It’s also there Beller grew up and married his wife of 35 years.

“My father always told me, ‘You will marry a Polish girl,’ and I got a good one,” Beller said. “She’s dedicated to her family. She’s a good Polish cook and she tolerates my passion for polkas,” said Beller, who cannot wait to hear the bands that will be performing Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

The American Polish Century Club and its Ladies Auxiliary have more than 300 members and volunteers who work to preserve their Polish heritage while also supporting other people in their community. Last year the group donated more than $22,000 to scholarship recipients and charities.

Besides a fundraiser this festival serves as a celebration for this community, its families and friends, who wish they were Polish.

“We’re so excited to be hosting our 42nd annual Polish festival,” Beller said. “We’ve had second and third generation families coming every year for all the fun and food. Our members work long hours each year preparing over 5,000 Golabki, over a ton of city chicken, 750 pounds of potato pancakes, and over 20,000 Pierogi for the Polish dinners. People can’t wait to try one of our famous traditional Polish dinners at the Polish Kitchen.”

Have you ever tried Polish street food?

The Kielbasa Kafe will be serving the festival’s trademarked Polish nacho and Polish egg rolls available in the Kielbasa Kafe.

There’s also American food, treats for the kids and beverages for the adults including a craft beer made especially for the festival, and an extensive line of Polish and premium spirits in the Polish Pub.

This year’s schedule includes:

• June 21: “TGIF After Work Party”

Festival hours: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.; craft show 4 – 9 p.m.

Music and dancing: 5 – 11 p.m. featuring “The Polish Muslims” alternating with the “John Stevens Polka Band from Pennsylvania.

• June 22: “Hamtramck Reunion Day”

Festival hours: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.; craft show 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Music and dancing: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. with the “John Stevens Polka Band,” as well as “The New Brass Express” from Ubly, Michigan and “John Gora and Gorale,” out of Toronto, Ontario.

• June 25: “P.R.C.U.A. Reunion Day”

Festival and craft show hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Polka Mass at 12 p.m.

Music and dancing by “New Brass Express” alternating with “John Gora and Gorale”

“Many people come to the festival to shop at the crafter’s booth and then have a meal while the music plays,” Beller said.

FYI

The 42nd annual American-Polish Festival is held on the grounds of the American Polish Century Club at 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights.

Admission is $5 (17 and under free)

There will be free parking shuttles running all day from Sterling Heights High School and the Career Prep Center.

For more information visit americanpolishfestival.com.