One of the Buffalo area's long-running ethnic festivals continues through this weekend, as the 35th annual Polish-American Festival bathes the Town of Cheektowaga with Polish food, polka music, and wraps up with the General Pulaski Parade on Sunday.
The parade honors General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish count who came to the American colonies to fight on behalf of the Continental Army and its push for independence from England. Pulaski was fatally wounded during his service. (He is just one example of Polonia's contributions to the birth and rise of America. Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko also served under George Washington and designed what is now West Point.)
Among the guests of honor at Sunday's parade is actress Loretta Swit, who is entirely of Polish-American background and best known for her role as Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the television program M*A*S*H.
Also scheduled to appear and lead the parade is Urszula Gacek, Consul General of Poland. The parade begins at 1:30 p.m.
The festival, meanwhile, continues with polka music, Polish food and also a Catholic Mass on Saturday afternoon. The celebration began on Thursday night with a concert by the Cheektowaga Community Symphony Orchestra.
A full schedule of events for the Polish-American Fesitval can be found by clicking here.
