GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — If you love Polish food, music and culture, you'll want to head down to Calder Plaza this weekend! The annual Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival is back for another year.
The three-day event is promising seven food vendors, live music, a beer tent, cultural booths and kids' events. There will also be vendors selling things like Polish pottery, glassware, jewelry and more.
John Theisen, co-chair of the festival, said the Polish Festival is the longest-running cultural festival in Grand Rapids.
For Theisen, getting involved with the Polish Festival is all about the community.
"I'm German and Irish, but I joined this group, oh, 10, 15 years ago," he said, "and the camaraderie, the having fun, we enjoy the food, we enjoy the music. That's the biggest draw for me."
The Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival is considered a precursor to Pulaski Days, which is held each October, Thiesen said.
For anyone who might be on the fence about attending, Thiesen is encouraging them to at least walk through the festival and see what they have to offer.
"I hope that they come down, enjoy an outdoor festival," Thiesen said. "Doesn't matter what it is, but Grand Rapids, it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend. Come on down. Enjoy some music, the music's free. Our festival is a free event where some of the other ones aren't. Come on down and just wander around, enjoy it."
The festival kicked off Friday and will continue through Sunday. You can find full details on the festival's hours and schedule of events here.
If you'd like to learn more or volunteer for the festival, click here.