Riverhead Polish Hall To Host 1-Day Polish Festival In August

RIVERHEAD, NY — Polka music and pierogies will live again in Riverhead this summer: The Riverhead Polish Hall announced a one-day Polish Festival, with traditional food, music, and more, on Saturday, August 21.

The announcement from the Polish Hall followed news that the Polish Town Civic Association was planning to cancel the well-known 2021 Polish Town Fair for the second year in a row, due to ongoing uncertainty and concerns over COVID-19, and lack of time to organize an event for this year.

The Polish Town Civic Association has hosted the Polish Town Fair for nearly 50 years, and, according to their website, plans to bring back the fair again in August, 2022.

Every year, during the Polish Town Fair, the Polish Hall has offered traditional Polish fare, such as kielbasa sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, pierogis, and babka, organizers said.

In the past, a large tent was sent-up, to accommodate a live polka band, with plenty of room for dancing.

"This year, in keeping with the third, full weekend in August tradition for a date, Saturday, August 21 was chosen to present a Polish Festival at the Polish Hall," organizers said.

Raffle tickets, with proceeds to benefit the Polish Hall’s building fund, will be available for purchase; a drawing will be held on Sunday, August 22.

Details are still to come about the event.

The Polish Town Civic Association announced that there would be no fair again this summer, following last year's cancellation due to the pandemic.

"The fair has always been held on the third weekend of August. Because of this crazy world we live in, last year's fair was canceled to observe to mandates of New York and to make sure that all our patrons stayed safe and remain healthy. We hope that everyone continues to be well," the announcement said.

"Unfortunately, it looks like the 2021 Polish Town Fair will be canceled as well. Again, we want to make sure the health and safety of our vendors and patron is our number one concern. Thankfully it looks like things are improving however it takes many months to organize a fair this size and we begin preparing for the next year's air almost immediately following the end of the fair," the post said.

However, organizers of that event added that next year, the fun-filled fair will be back: "Don’t give up hope; we haven’t! We will be back in August of 2022 with the same fair you have enjoyed with your families for many years, hopefully with more great crafts, great Polish food, new and exciting vendors — and don’t forget the Polish music being played all day long."