{{Short description|Polish festival in Wisconsin}} [[Image:Polish Fest.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A couple in kontusz costumes posing in front of the Warsaw mermaid]]
'''Polish Fest''' is an annual ethnic festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was established in 1982. 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.<ref>{{cite web | last = Gauper | first = Beth | title = Polish for a day | publisher = St. Paul Pioneer Press, via MidwestWeekends.com | date = 2007-05-27 | url = http://www.midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/history_heritage/heritage_travel/polish_fest_milwaukee.html}}</ref>
The event, along with Summerfest 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.<ref>Gurda, John, "A local historian's family album," ''The Milwaukee Journal'', 7 Aug. 1994, p. J3.</ref> The community built a permanent center for social and cultural promotion, and the Polish Center of Wisconsin was opened in Franklin, Wisconsin, in August 2000.<ref>[http://www.polishcenterofwisconsin.org/history History]. Polish Center of Wisconsin.</ref>
Since 1999, Polish Fest has featured the Chopin Youth Piano Competition for non-professional pianists in two age divisions: the Junior Division for ages 14 and under and the Senior Division for ages 15 to 18.<ref>[http://www.polishfest.org/schedule/contests/chopin/ The Chopin Youth Piano Competition]. Polish Fest.</ref>
Since no Polish Fest was held in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 39th was deferred to 2021, before being cancelled a second consecutive year. In 2022, the 39th Polish Fest was held from June 10 to June 12.<ref>[https://www.cbs58.com/news/polish-fest-returns-to-milwaukees-summerfest-grounds Polish Fest returns to Milwaukee's Summerfest grounds]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.polishfest.org/ Polish Fest] *[http://www.polishcenterofwisconsin.org/ Polish Center of Wisconsin] *[http://www.polanki.org/ The Polish Women's Cultural Club of Milwaukee]
Category:Polish-American culture in Milwaukee Category:Festivals in Milwaukee Category:1982 establishments in Wisconsin Category:Recurring events established in 1982
Category:Henry Maier Festival Park