Polish Fest
Encyclopedia
Polish Fest is an annual ethnic festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. One of the largest Polish
festivals in the United States, it attracts Polish Americans from all over Wisconsin
and nearby Chicago
, who come to celebrate Polish culture through music, food and entertainment.
The event, along with Summerfest
and many ethnic and cultural festivals held throughout the city, give Milwaukee the nickname "City of Festivals."
, Wisconsin, in August of 2000.
Since 1999, Polish Fest has featured the Chopin Youth Piano Competition for non-professional pianists in two age divisions, the Senior Division for ages 15 to 18, and the Junior Division for ages 14 and under.
Polish Fest celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2011.
Henry Maier Festival Park
The Henry W. Maier Festival Park, also known either as the Henry Maier Festival Grounds or as the Summerfest Grounds, is a festival park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States. The Park is named for Henry Maier, Milwaukee's longest-serving mayor....
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. One of the largest Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
festivals in the United States, it attracts Polish Americans from all over Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and nearby Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, who come to celebrate Polish culture through music, food and entertainment.
The event, along with Summerfest
Summerfest
Summerfest is a yearly music festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park along the lakefront in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The festival lasts for 11 days, is made up of 11 stages with performances from over 700 bands, and since the mid-1970s has run from late June through early July, usually...
and many ethnic and cultural festivals held throughout the city, give Milwaukee the nickname "City of Festivals."
History
By 1905, Polish Milwaukeeans were the community's second-largest ethnic group, second only to the Germans. The community built a permanent center for social and cultural promotion, and the Polish Center of Wisconsin was opened in FranklinFranklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Franklin is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Franklin is a suburb of Milwaukee with a population of 35,451 as of the 2010 census.-Transportation:...
, Wisconsin, in August of 2000.
Since 1999, Polish Fest has featured the Chopin Youth Piano Competition for non-professional pianists in two age divisions, the Senior Division for ages 15 to 18, and the Junior Division for ages 14 and under.
Polish Fest celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2011.