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Rousing weekend set for Polish Fest
By John J. Hopkins
Cheektowaga's own Jerry Darlak, Polish triplets, a rocking polka band and other local favorites and returning acts will highlight this weekend's 28th Annual Cheektowaga Polish-American Arts Festival in Town Park.
Times
The festival draws thousands of people from across Western New York and southern Ontario.
The festivities kick off at 7 p.m. Friday with a performance by the Krakowiacy Polish-American Dancers.
Grammy-nominated Jerry Darlak and the Buffalo Touch will trade sets Friday night with Brave Combo, a Texas-based Grammy-winning band known for its unique approach to polkas.
While Darlak and the Touch are known to play traditional polka music, Brave Combo mixes polkas with Tex-Mex, rock, jazz, blues and more.
Darlak told the Times that he's glad to share the stage with Brave Combo.
"It's going to be a lot of fun. Brave Combo's from Texas, and they play a different style of polka than we do," Darlak said. "But it should be a nice contrast between the two bands. I'm looking forward to it."
Brave Combo performs at 8 and 10 p.m.; Darlak and the Touch take the stage at 9:15 and 11:15 p.m.
Darlak's new CD, Jerry Darlak Live in Vegas, is expected to be released Friday, but Darlak said Wednesday that he's still waiting for confirmation.
If the CD, a live set recorded in Las Vegas in 2003, is released as expected, copies will be available for purchase at the festival.
Darlak said that his fans can expect a performance that mixes new tunes with local favorites. He also noted that the Town Park Cultural Center is a great place to perform.
"It's nice at night with people being able to dance on stage, while the others can watch from the seating area," Darlak said. "It's just a nice, comfortable type atmosphere to play in."
Saturday's lineup of music includes Alizma, better known as the Okapiec triplets (Aleksandra, Izabela and Monika) from Zagan, Poland. The trio will use voice, violin and other string instruments to perform classical-pop music.
Alizma performs at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and will also take the stage of the Cultural Center at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Other performers Saturday include the New Yorkers, who perform two sets, at 3 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.; and Maestro's Men.
Based out of Colchester, Connecticut, Maestro's Men performs two sets at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Brave Combo returns Saturday for a pair of sets as well, at 7:30 and 10:45 p.m.
Bishop of Buffalo Edward U. Kmiec will celebrate Mass at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The Mass will include the Quo Vadis choir and the honor guard from St. Maximilian Kolbe Assembly.
Sunday's performers include Polish Festival veterans Eddie Biegaj and the Crusade from Toledo, Ohio and Buffalo's City Side.
The Crusade kicks off Sunday's action at 3:30 p.m. and returns for a second set at 7:30 p.m. City Side offers performances at 4:45 p.m. and closes the festival with an 8:45 p.m. trip to the stage.
Sunday's also marks the return of Ania Piwowarczyk with Radosc and Friends. Their presentation is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Sunday's activities will be preceded by the annual General Casimir Pulaski parade, which assembles at Thruway Plaza and begins marching up Harlem Road to Town Park at 1:30 p.m.
Folk artists demonstrations will be featured throughout the weekend in a tent near the Cultural Center, and vendors will offer Polish merchandise and music.
The Cheektowaga Patriotic Commission will provide a beer tent for thirsty customers.
No ethnic festival is complete without food, which will be available through Alice Nowak and Ray's Catering. The caterers have been preparing for the festival since June.
The Cheektowaga Times is a sponsor of the Polish Festival.
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