Upon entering the park, the smells of the Polish kitchen welcomed everyone, with the hint of Polish music playing in the background. After a dinner of kielbasa, pork loin, pierogi, nalesniki, potato pancakes, coffee and cakes galore, everyone was ready to either relax under the trees and listen or kick up their heels to the music of “Muza Mix”.

                Children were encouraged to partake in games such as a water slide, a hula hoop contest, breaking a piñata, and rope tug, while adults could try their luck at the dunk tank, and several raffles. The Polish Scouting Association also had a table of books for sale.

                The surprises of the day were the performances of two of Detroit’s finest folk dance ensembles: “Polanie Song & Dance Ensemble” and the “Wawel Song & Dance Ensemble”. Each group presented dances from several regions of Poland, complete with costume changes. The barn filled with music, song and dance that showed that the Detroit area will be well represented in Poland at the Rzeszow Polish Folk Dance Festival next summer.

                The evening concluded with an empty kitchen and bar, and thoughts of “what can we do next year?” So mark your calendar for the last Sunday in July, 2011, and we’ll see!