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, multigenerational Polish folk dance troupe that has performed at the Portland Polish Festival since its beginnings in 1994. Sobotka Youth is the troupe’s youth division.
Lajkonik is a Polish folk dance group from Tucson, Arizona, performing since 1998 and representing traditional dances from various regions of Poland.
Demolka Band is a youth band from the Portland Polish School performing Polish music in fresh, contemporary arrangements, including traditional songs and popular favorites.
Zabavva Band is an energetic Polish cover band based in Portland, performing at festivals and cultural events throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Susse Fusse is an international folk dance troupe based at a Waldorf school in Oregon.
Paweł Kluza is a music teacher at the Portland Polish School who performs Polish songs on guitar.
SATURDAY
11:00 AM — Polish Music
Enjoy Polish music as the festival gets underway.
11:30 AM — Festival Opening
Join us as we officially open the 30th Portland Polish Festival.
11:40 AM — Paweł Kluza, Polish Songs
Polish School music teacher Paweł Kluza performs a selection of his favorite Polish songs on guitar.
12:00 PM — Süsse Füsse
The Waldorf School dance group performs multicultural dances.
12:45 PM— Demolka, Youth Band
Young musicians from the Portland Polish School perform Polish music in fresh, contemporary arrangements.
1:15 PM - Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs Kujawiak & Oberek, traditional Polish dances from the Mazovian and Kujawy regions.
1:20 PM - Polish School, Songs & Dances
Students from the Portland Polish School perform songs and dances, including Gaik, polka and Lajkonik.
1:50 PM - Sobotka (Youth dancers)
Sobotka Youth performs performs Dances from Three Corners, traditional dances from three regions of Poland.
2:10 PM – Sobotka (Adult dancers)
Sobotka performs Kujawiak & Oberek, traditional Polish dances from the Mazovian and Kujawy regions.
2:15 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs Suita Spiska, traditional dances from the Spisz region of southern Poland.
2:30 PM – Sobotka (Adult dancers)
Sobotka performs Polka Warszawska, a lively Polish dance associated with the Warsaw region.
2:40 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs Przeworskie dances, traditional dances from the Przeworsk region of southeastern Poland.
2:50 PM – Sobotka (Adult dancers)
Sobotka performs Hej Sokoły, a popular Polish-Ukrainian folk song and dance.
2:55 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs Rzeszowskie dances, traditional dances from the Rzeszów region of southeastern Poland.
3:00 PM — Festival Recognition Ceremony
Celebrate individuals and organizations who have helped make the Portland Polish Festival possible.
3:40 PM — Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs traditional dances from the Podlaskie region of northeastern Poland.
3:50 PM — Sobotka
Sobotka performs Polka Warszawska, a lively polka associated with Warsaw and Polish urban folk tradition
4:00–7:30 PM — Oregon Polka Beats
Dance along to live Polish polka and folk music from Oregon Polka Beats.
5:00 PM — Children’s Polka Contest with Oregon Polka Beats
Young dancers can join the fun and show off their best polka moves.
5:30 PM — Pierogi Eating Contest
Watch contestants compete to see who can eat the most pierogi.
6:00 PM — Adult Polka Contest with Oregon Polka Beats
Adults take the floor for a lively polka competition.
7:30–10:00 PM — Street Dance with Zabavva
Dance in and around the street to live music from Zabavva.
10:00 PM — Festival Closes
SUNDAY
12:00 PM — Festival Opening
12:40 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs Kujawiak & Oberek, traditional Polish dances associated with the Kujawy and Mazovian regions.
12:45 PM – Portland Polish School
Children from the Portland Polish School perform Polish songs and traditional dances, including Gaik, polka and Lajkonik.
1:20 PM – Sobotka
Sobotka performs the Polonez, Poland’s stately national processional dance.
1:25 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs Suita Spiska, a traditional medley of dances from the Spisz region of southern Poland.
1:40 PM – Sobotka Youth
Sobotka Youth performs Dances from Three Corners, a lively selection of traditional Polish folk dances.
2:00 PM – Sobotka
Sobotka performs Kujawiak & Oberek, traditional Polish dances associated with the Kujawy and Mazovian regions.
2:10 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs traditional Przeworskie dances from the Przeworsk region of southeastern Poland.
2:20 PM – Sobotka
Sobotka performs Polka Warszawska, a lively polka associated with Warsaw and Polish urban folk tradition.
2:30 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs lively traditional Rzeszowskie dances from the Rzeszów region of southeastern Poland.
2:40 PM – Sobotka
Sobotka performs Hej Sokoły, a popular Polish-Ukrainian folk song and dance.
2:50 PM – Lajkonik
Lajkonik performs traditional dances from the Podlaskie region of northeastern Poland.
3:00–6:00 PM – Oregon Polka Beats
Enjoy live Polish polka music throughout the afternoon.
3:30 PM – Children’s Polka Contest
Young dancers take the floor for a lively polka contest. Come cheer them on!
3:45 PM – Raffle Drawing
Find out who takes home this year’s festival raffle prizes!
3:55 PM – Lajkonik Dances with the Public
Lajkonik invites festival-goers to join them on the dance floor.
4:00 PM – Pierogi Eating Contest
Watch contestants race to see who can eat the most pierogi.
4:30 PM – Adult Polka Contest
Adults take the floor for a lively polka contest.
6:00 PM – Festival Closing