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Toledo Polish American Festival – Holland, Ohio – My Experience

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The festival’s name became the Northwest Ohio Polish American Festival in 2020.

This post documents my experience on May 18, 2019.

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Entrance at the Toledo Polish American Festival

This weekend, I took my kids to the Toledo Polish American Festival

Another down the path photo at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…where we first walked down a pathway lined with vendors offering special deals…

State Farm booth (Julie Spann Johnson) at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…the potential Plinko-styled game (Julie Spann Johnson/State Farm)…

Polish Shirt Store at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…and a slew of Polish gift shopping opportunities, including T-shirts (Polish Shirt Store)…

Polish pride gifts at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…jerseys, flags (Martin Przybylski)…

Wood vendor at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…wood carvings with the Polish eagle (Routerville USA)…

3 Wise Busias booth at the Toledo Polish American Festival

… pottery, earrings (3 Wise Busia’s)…

Gifts from Europe booth at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…and plenty more (Gifts from Europe).

Down the path at the Toledo Polish American Festival

While I felt the distant Polka music drawing me in…

Pony rides at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…the kids suddenly delayed our progress, thanks to pony ride possibilities…

Inflatables at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…and a large inflatable area.

Food court area at the Toledo Polish American Festival

Eventually, we made it to the food court area…

Tropical drink vendors at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…where there were tropical drinks…

Elephant ears and egg rolls at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…funnel cakes served alongside egg rolls…

Stanley's Market booth at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…and Polish food options that included Kielbasa sandwiches on fresh baked rye buns (Stanley’s Market)…

Tata's Pierogi booth at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…handmade pierogi and Polish sausage from the Chicago area (Tata’s Pierogi)…

…some Italian “pierogi” (aka ravioli) with kielbasa and hot busia bread (The Rolling Chef)…

Strawberry pierogi and sweet cream at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…and even some special strawberry pierogi with sweet cream (Babcia’s Lunchbox)…

Strawberry filled pierogi at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…which made for a rather interesting dish.

Brandywine Country Club booth at the Toledo Polish American Festival

And, speaking of interesting dishes, if I had been a little more observant, I would have also stopped at the Brandywine Country Club‘s booth…

Duck Blood Soup at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…for a bowl of duck blood soup or czerina since I’ve never had it before (photo from the Toledo Polish American Festival’s Facebook page).

Resurrection PNC Church selling coffee cake at the Toledo Polish American Festival

But most likely, I was distracted by the Polish coffee cake booth and its free samples for the kids to try (Resurrection PNC Church)…

Quilt raffle at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…by the beautifully made quilt that was raffled off…

The tent at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…and especially by the vibrant music coming from the tent…

People sitting under the tent at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…where people grabbed a table…

Beer booth at the Toledo Polish American Festival

…perhaps with a one of two Polish beers brewed particularly for the festival (Patron Saints Brewery)…

Dancing at the Toledo Polish American Festival under the tent.

…and Polka’d to such glorious melodies…

…as the Beer Barrel Polka (Duane Malinowski Orchestra).