Festival Activities
Polka Contest
Put on your dancing shoes and come polka with us! Two contests - one for children and another for adults - are held each day.
PERFORMANCES
Local and international groups perform traditional folk dances, such as the Polish polonez, mazurek and krakowiak dances.
LIVE Music
Local bands and musicians perform at the Festival each year. Listen to Polish folk, rock or polka music.
Exhibits
Learn about Polish history and culture by visiting a special exhibit inside the Polish Hall Library.
VENDORS
Visit vendor booths and admire Polish inspired jewelry, pottery, art, clothes and more.
Street Dance
Dance the night away to the music of our local Zabavva band on Saturday evening.
EVENT Schedule
FEATURED DANCE GROUPS AND BANDS
Sobotka is a Portland-based Polish folk dance troupe that performs traditional dances. Sobotka Youth is the troupe’s youth division.
Lajkonik is a Polish folk dance group from Tucson, Arizona, performing traditional dances representing various regions of Poland.
Demolka Band is a youth band from the Portland Polish School performing Polish music in fresh, contemporary arrangements. The group brings traditional Polish songs and popular favorites to new audiences.
Zabavva Band is energetic Polish cover band based in Portland that plays festivals and cultural events across the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Susse Fusse is an international folk dance troupe based in Oregon that performs at cultural events and festivals throughout Portland.
SATURDAY
11:00 AM — Polish Music
Music from the stage before the festival begins.
11:30 AM — Festival Opening
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11:40 AM — One-Man Band
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12:00 PM — Susse Fusse
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12:50 PM — Demolka Band
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1:10 PM — Portland Polish School: Songs and Dances
A selection of Polish songs and traditional dances performed by children from the Portland Polish School.
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1:50 PM — Sobotka: Polonez
A formal Polish processional dance traditionally performed in pairs.
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1:55 PM — Lajkonik: Suita Spiska
A traditional medley of folk songs and dances from the Spisz region of southern Poland.
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2:10 PM — Sobotka Youth: Dances from Three Corners
A lively selection of traditional Polish folk dances.
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2:30 PM — Sobotka: Kujawiak & Oberek
Two traditional Polish dances from central Poland.
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2:40 PM — Lajkonik: Przeworsk
A selection of traditional dances from the Przeworsk region of southeastern Poland.
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2:45 PM — Sobotka: Hej Sokoly
A lively Polish-Ukrainian folk song and dance.
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2:50 PM — Lajkonik: Rzeszów
A selection of lively traditional dances from the Rzeszów region of southern Poland.
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3:00 PM — Festival Recognition Ceremony
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3:40 PM — Lajkonik: Podlaskie
Traditional dances from the Podlaskie region of northeastern Poland.
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3:50 PM — Sobotka: Warsaw Polka
A lively polka associated with Warsaw and Polish urban folk tradition.
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4:00–7:30 PM — Oregon Polka Beats
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5:00 PM — Children’s Polka Contest with Oregon Polka Beats
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5:30 PM — Pierogi Eating Contest
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6:00 PM — Adult Polka Contest with Oregon Polka Beats
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7:30 PM — Street Dance with Zabavva
Dance in and around the street to live music from Zabavva.
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10:00 PM — Festival Closes
SUNDAY
12:00 PM — Festival Opening
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12:10 PM — Demolka Band
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12:30 PM — Portland Polish School: Songs and Dances
A selection of Polish songs and traditional dances performed by children from the Portland Polish School.
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1:10 PM — Sobotka: Polonez
A formal Polish processional dance traditionally performed in pairs.
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1:30 PM — Sobotka Youth: Dances from Three Corners
A lively selection of traditional Polish folk dances.
​
1:50 PM — Sobotka: Kujawiak & Oberek
Two traditional Polish dances from central Poland.
​
1:55 PM — Lajkonik: Suita Spiska
A traditional medley of folk songs and dances from the Spisz region of southern Poland.
​
2:00 PM — Lajkonik: Przeworsk
A selection of traditional dances from the Przeworsk region of southeastern Poland.
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2:10 PM — Sobotka: Hej Sokoly
A lively Polish-Ukrainian folk song and dance.
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2:20 PM — Lajkonik: Rzeszów
A selection of lively traditional dances from the Rzeszów region of southern Poland.
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2:30 PM — Sobotka: Warsaw Polka
A lively polka associated with Warsaw and Polish urban folk tradition.
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2:35 PM — Lajkonik: Podlaskie
Traditional dances from the Podlaskie region of northeastern Poland.
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2:45–6:00 PM — Oregon Polka Beats
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3:30 PM — Children’s Polka Contest with Oregon Polka Beats
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3:45 PM — Polish Festival Raffle Drawing ​
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4:00 PM — Pierogi Eating Contest
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4:30 PM — Adult Polka Contest with Oregon Polka Beats
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6:00 PM — Festival Closes