This post documents my experience on May 6, 2021.
It’s been over a year since I have been able to attend a festival, so I can’t tell you how happy I was to drive out to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds (wrong entrance, of course – go to the Eastland Road entrance)…
…and bring my pre-purchased ticket to the Northeast Ohio Pierogi Party and Polish Marketplace.
At check-in, guests were reminded of safety requirements as volunteers took their temperatures…
…gave them $5 worth of food vouchers to use toward food…
…and allowed them the opportunity to purchase one of these hand crafted pierogi hats…
…which were very stylish.
Immediately behind the check-in table were two pierogi vendors (Pierogi Pantry/Jilly Jeans)…
…some Kettle Corn…
…and a beer tent…
…while the majority of the festival attractions could be found inside the surrounding buildings…
…where there was plenty of seating to eat, as well as ample space to shop among vendors…
…who offered all sorts of jewelry (Cindy’s Creations)…
…apparel encouraging positive change (Craftivist).
…beautiful pottery (A Matter of Taste Pottery)…
…Polish foods to take home that included pierogi, potato pancakes, kielbasa, and meat sticks (Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage Co.)…
…and all sorts of tasty treats from cinnamon glazed nuts and sweet/salty puff corn (Michael’s Confections/CrackCorn)…
…to bark for people and donuts for dogs (SuziQ’s Barkery/Dunkin’ Doggies)…
…as well as all sorts of homemade Polish baked goods (Cecilia’s Sweet Delights)…
…including delectable kolachi rolls.
And, as you would have guessed, there were even more pierogi vendors inside (The Pierogi Lady)…
…sometimes offering other ethnic dishes like cabbage and noodles and potato pancakes (Old World Foods)…
…and sometimes sold as a take-home option (Krysia’s Kitchen).
I actually did take some cooked pierogi home to my family: potato for the kids and some buffalo chicken and corned beef for my wife and me (sweet farmer cheese for dessert) (Old World Foods/Jilly Jeans)…
…but not before grabbing some quick Clevelander pierogi (potato, kraut, sausage) from the Pierogi Pantry…
…and heading to the third building…
…where I could eat them while enjoying the lively performance of the Polka Pirates.