Pulaski Polka Days 2009 - Our 31st Annual Event
Pulaski Polka Days are held rain or shine. 
 
Mark It Down For 2010 Too !  

What They Say About Pulaski Polka Days:

Dana Tuszke Blog on BlogHer.org :  He was a tall man with very gray hair.  I’d guess his age was about seventy-five.  He wore tan pants and a white short-sleeved dress shirt.  A pair of suspenders completed the ensemble and I suspect kept his pants from falling off as he danced. She was a young woman, no older than thirty and she wore a black skirt and red tank top.  As she twirled around the dance floor, her blond hair whipped across her shoulders. The smiles on their faces were the most genuine I’ve seen in quite a long time.  To witness the joy on the old man’s face as he danced with her brought a smile to my own face.  The woman was adorable as she danced, and she smiled and nodded at her partner with each twirl. This display of friendship between two very different generations was beautiful and it always makes me feel wonderful to know that Polka music brings people together.

This past weekend I spent my time at the 29th Annual Pulaski Polka Days celebration.  It’s been a tradition in my family to attend this event for the past eight years or more.  My parents, my siblings and now my son enjoy listening and dancing to polkas. I’ve had a love for polka music since I was a young girl.  My father played bass guitar in a polka band and my mother played the concertina as a teen.  Polka music is part of my Polish heritage and frankly, it’s in my blood.  As the Polka Family Band says, “The love for the music binds us together; all of us are part of one big polka family.” I can’t think of a truer statement.

Pulaski, Wisconsin is a town of 3,000 residents.  People travel near and far to hear the sounds of the Polka Family Band, the Polka Country Musicians, the Dynabrass, Eddie Blazoncyk’s Versatones, The Knewz, New Phaze, Dennis Polisky & The Maestro’s Men, Chad Przybylski, Aaron Socha’s Livewire, The Maroszek Brothers, The New Generation and so many more of the nation’s top polka bands. In years past, John Gora & Gorale, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, Change of Pace and Charm City Sound and the former Toledo Polkamotion have also performed at Pulaski Polka Days. 

The talented musicians that make up a polka band put so much time and effort into their craft, their music; just to put a smile on our faces and a spring in our dance step.  Many of these musicians have been members of several different bands.  They truly are a polka family.  I’d give you a timeline, but it is insanely difficult to keep up with polka gossip.  (You don’t believe me?  It’s true.  Trust me. Some of you polka maniacs reading this know exactly what I’m talking about.) 

I know that many people roll their eyes at the mention of Polka music, but it’s only because they’ve never experienced a Polish festival.  It’s an experience beyond compare.  The rumor that Polish people know how to party is true.  We do it well.  We party hard.  We party like rock stars except no one gets hurt because no one fights in the presence of Polka music!  I suppose we should rephrase that to say, “We party like polka stars.”

One of the best memories I recall of Polka music is when my father played his bass guitar along with a vinyl recording of Eddie Blazonczyk, Sr.’s song “Polka Hero”. The song is truly my favorite and it’s the inspiration for my own love of polkas.  

Silvercliff_46: Kapusta, kielbasa,  pierogi,  glumpki,  Peva(beer). Eat all you want, then polka the night away. Ya! Hey It's a good time.
Pulaski, Wisconsin

Pulaski does the Polka….very…very well mke_maddie

Thousands and thousands of people travel across the country by train, plane, or RV to come to a festival for all ages. And this festival is based around a huge polka party, believe it or not. Pulaski Polka Days, located in Pulaski, Wisconsin, holds one of the largest polka festivals in the USA. It is by far my favorite festival of the year to attend. Placed on the Festival Grounds, Polka Days has two tents. Each tent has two stages where the best national polka bands play from Thursday to Sunday the second to last weekend every year in July. The music is just absolutely phenomenal, and the food is on par. Here you can enjoy a fantastic pierogi or treat yourself to a sundae. You can’t go wrong with anything you eat here. And on top of all of this, everyone is incredibly friendly and consistently have smiles on their faces. It’s a very refreshing feeling. The festival ends the final day with a parade. Now this isn’t the best parade you’ll ever see…it’s definitely no Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade…as you should expect to see some tractors and combines, but it’s fun….and parade participants love throwing out candy.