Polish Festival

Polish Festival: mission, history, and programs Our mission is to promote Polish culture, language and heritage, and to support the Polish community at large. To achieve this we present the annual Portland Polish Festival, which supports our Polish Cultural Enrichment Program, Polish Music at Polish Hall, and maintains two historical buildings: Polish Hall and Polish Church. We also support community members facing financial hardship and sponsor some local Polish culture related events. Polish Festival dates from 1994. It launched as a small fundraising dinner event to support the local Polish Community in Portland and Vancouver. Within 26 years it has grown into an organization of 300 volu... read more Polish Festival: mission, history, and programs Our mission is to promote Polish culture, language and heritage, and to support the Polish community at large. To achieve this we present the annual Portland Polish Festival, which supports our Polish Cultural Enrichment Program, Polish Music at Polish Hall, and maintains two historical buildings: Polish Hall and Polish Church. We also support community members facing financial hardship and sponsor some local Polish culture related events. Polish Festival dates from 1994. It launched as a small fundraising dinner event to support the local Polish Community in Portland and Vancouver. Within 26 years it has grown into an organization of 300 volunteers supervised by 25 coordinators. Polish Festival is now attended by over 15,000 annually. In 2010 Polish Festival established 501(c)(3) non profit status. The Festival collaborates closely with Polish Library Building Association (established 1911) and St Stanislaus Polish Church (established 1907). Polish Festival is for families and singles, adults and children, food connoisseurs, music lovers, dance enthusiasts-an outing for everyone. The festival offers non-stop stage performances, including dance groups, musical bands, a polka contest, Saturday/Sunday evening street dancing to Polish dance bands, plus delicious Polish food and imported Polish beer. Polish Festival is held at 3900 N. Failing Street between the two historic buildings of the Polish Library (incorporated 1911) and St. Stanislaus Church (built 1907), at the corner of Failing St. and N. Interstate Ave., Portland, Oregon. The Polish Cultural Enrichment Program, otherwise known as the Polish Saturday School, was established 25 years ago. The program's goal was, and continues to be, preservation of the Polish language and culture in families of Polish heritage living in the Portland area. Our students practice the Polish language, learn about the history and geography of Poland, learn folk dances and songs, and create art. Polish Music at Polish Hall is a music performance series. Included are performances, lectures and demonstrations by top-shelf regional and international performers. Traditional Classical repertory, history and insights are the main offering. Some presentations focus on traditional folk, cabaret, poetry and Polish theater. All musical offerings are programmed around the unique aspect that at least half of every concert is Polish music.