2014 Polish Fest

Each summer Milwaukee’s lakefront is home to an assortment of festivals, from Pride Fest to Summer Fest with just about every conceivable ethnic festival in between. This past weekend Milwaukee celebrated the 2014 edition of Polish Fest, America’s largest Polish festival.

Festival goers were welcomed to the Johnson Controls stage with a large sign that read, “Na Zdrowie!”, which means “to your health.”  This phrase was likely heard often during the festival as people dined on authentic Polish cuisine and washed it all down with Sobeiski Vodka and Tyskie beer imported from Poland. In addition to the authentic food and drink there was live music, performances by folk dancers, historical displays, and festival-style shopping.

Our photos capture some of the fun, food, and frolicking of Polish Fest. And if you didn’t make it this year, well, there’s always next summer. Meanwhile, you can always raise a glass to celebrate the city’s Polish heritage. Cheers!

Photo Gallery by Charles Banks