Friday’s heavy rain destroyed many of the festival stalls, however thanks to efforts of volunteers working long hours to restore order, the event continued from Saturday as planned.
Music is always the biggest attraction of the festival, and this year’s edition of Taste of Polonia was particularly rich in this regard. On the Polish scene players among others, included: Kobranocka, Big Cyc and Czarno-Czarni, as well as local musical groups Autofobia, July Trio, Khary Laurent, Dori Koz and Przystanek Polskie Granie. Besides these a dozen groups were seen performing cover songs and folk music. Every evening the scene was taken over by DJs with traditional polkas serving the latest dance hits. You could recharge your energy to dance with Polsih food and cold beer Tyeskie at popular stands on the site.
Taste of Polonia, with a comprehensive cultural program on the stage insde the Copernicus Foundation building, is not just food for body but also for the spirit. Mieczyslawa Wazacz, author of the movie “No Ordinary Countess” took part in the movie’s screen. Polish Baroque music was presented by the New Comma Baroque, and admired groups on stage were Jump, Wawel, Polonia Ensemble and Akademia PaSO, Polish Scene Theatre and Bocian Cabaret.
The festival had a lot to offer all generations, with a specially dedicated children’s playground which had inflatable slides and a climbing wall. Children had their own Krakus scene with dance workshops and demonstrations of fighting, with performing artists of Theatre Workshops “Little Stars” and other theatre groups from Polish diaspora schools. For the first time this year a competition was organized with Krakus prizes for young chefs who had to prepare the tastiest and the most creative sandwich. The children’s stage was cared for by volunteers from the foundation “You Can Be My Angel,” who prepared face painting, balloon twisting and games with always-smiling clowns for the youngest. This foundation is very active in Polish abroad communities and is raising funds for the treatment of sick children in Poland.
Taste of Polonia organizers would like to thank everyone for coming and having so much fun, and for people involved in the preparation of the festival, sponsors (including Tyskie, Krakus, Stereo club, Country Financial, LOT and PNC) and media partners for their help and contributions in making this event one of the most popular street festivals of our state.
See you next year!
Photos © IntegraCommunications