Polish Heritage Festival

14/11/2023

Mr. Steve Kowalczyk - who has performed as a strolling minstrel accordionist at many of our past Polish Heritage Festivals - will perform at the Michigan City Public Library on November 18th (details are listed below the photo)!

Join us for International Classical Music on November 18 at 2 p.m. Classical accordionist Stephen Kowalczyk will perform a concert of international classical music. Join us for this fun and entertaining event.

02/09/2023

EXCITING NEWS FROM SOUTH BEND, INDIANA!
A new Polish School will begin classes on Saturday, Sept. 16th, from 9 am to 12 pm (Eastern Time) at the St. Joseph Young Men's Club, 408 S. Grant St., in South Bend, Indiana.
Gerry Tarka will serve as principal of the school, which is primarily sponsored by the Polish American Heritage Month Committee of the Calumet Region.
More information is available in the photos below or by calling Mr. Tarka at 708-935-1222 or Email him at [email protected]

04/08/2023

The Polish Heritage Association of Michigan City is saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Dora Natella, who created the stately bronze sculpture of Ignacy Jan Paderewski that is displayed in the Polish Garden at Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City, Indiana.

Dora - who was an Associate Professor of Sculpture at Indiana University South Bend's E.M. Raclin School of the Arts - was selected in 2016 to work on the new sculpture upon recommendation from a local student to the organization.

The original bust of Paderewski - which was made of terra cotta - was created by local artist Robert Wilcox and presented to the former International Friendship Gardens by the Paderewski Club of Michigan City on August 13, 1950. Over the years, the statue's condition deteriorated due to the elements and vandalism and was replaced in 1974; it was ultimately destroyed in a fire while in storage in the early 2000s.

The new bust of the famed Polish statesman, composer, and politician was welcomed into the Polish Garden during a dedication ceremony held May 20, 2018, at the Friendship Botanic Gardens.

The project and event were sponsored by the Polish Heritage Association of Michigan City.

Prof. Natella died as the result of a car accident this past April; we extend our sympathy to her family and friends.

04/07/2023

Hi, everyone!

This is Ann, one of the Polish Heritage Festival volunteers. It is my sincere hope that our Facebook friends could join us in recognizing another PHF volunteer who was recently selected to participate in the upcoming Honor Flight Chicago trip to Washington, D.C., on July 12th.

Mr. Leonard Kulasa is a U.S. Army veteran and served in the Vietnam War. A native of East Chicago, Indiana, Leonard is also a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in East Chicago, the Past Commander of the American Legion Post 369 in East Chicago, and Past Commander of the VFW Post 8141 in Calumet City, Illinois.

He's also served as a volunteer at the Polish Heritage Festival in recent years, mostly assisting his sister Theresa Child (who serves on the festival committee) with her ever-popular pisanki (Polish Easter egg decorating) booth. (They are pictured in the second photo with Theresa's daughter and grandson.)

Leonard and the other honoree veterans will soon travel on all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to see the WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials built in tribute to their service.

Waiting for them on the return flight is another surprise - Mail Call - the same kind of Mail Call that kept their spirits alive during the war.

Unfortunately, because of this late notice and no mail delivery on July 4th, it is pretty much too late to mail cards/letters for the veterans before the trip deadline.

However, messages of congratulations and thanks for Lenny's service to our country may be E-mailed BEFORE JULY 10th to [email protected]. (This is the E-mail for the Polish-American Cultural Society of Northwest Indiana, which has a chapter in Michigan City.) We will see to it that your kind words and regards are printed out and given to Lenny for him to enjoy.

REMEMBER! "Mail Call" will be a surprise for the Honor Flight Chicago Veterans (so if you know Lenny, don't say anything)!

THANKS SO MUCH, EVERYONE! Dzekuje Bardzo!

28/06/2023

Reminder: There will not be a 2023 Polish Heritage Festival...hope to see you in 2024!

21/09/2022

"Don't cry. I will be by your side always."

💔
Credit: Donna Shadoan

22/06/2022

Although our Polish Heritage Festival in Michigan City has been cancelled for 2022, here is another quick-trip event that may be of interest to you...


SPECIAL EVENT!
Regional Orawa’s Group “Babia Góra” Picnic
Sunday, June 26th
Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine
5755 Pennsylvania St. - Merrillville, IN
219-884-0714

Holy Mass (in Polish) at 12 pm, followed by a picnic (menu items and prices vary). There will also be vendors, traditional Polish Highlander music and dancing, and more!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!