An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/132139
New York and John Gorá & Gorále from Canada. Performers on the Sobieska Vodka Cultural Stage include the Syrena & Syrenka Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, Polanie & Wislanie Dance Ensembles and Lajkonik Song & Dance Ensemble. Also firing up the audience will be Firebeat. The Children's Stage keeps youngsters busy with top acts like Polish Falcons Tumbling Troop and Julie Sobanski, Princess of Magic. Great food, vodka tastings,Tyskie Beer More than 20 different restaurants are represented at the festival, offering ethnic specialties like Polish sausage; pierogi made of meat, cheese and potato; potato pancakes and hunter's stew. Well-known Milwaukee restaurants like Old World Deli and Mader's will be represented, with others like Saz's State House providing variety. Tyskie beer, shipped to Milwaukee from Poland, quenches festgoers' thirst through a cooperative arrangement with MillerCoors. Polish Fest is the only ethnic festival to directly import beer for its event. Some of Poland's finest vodkas, including Sobieski, as well as meads and liqueurs, tantalize at tastings. These ethnic specialties also will be available for purchase throughout the festival. At cooking demonstrations, expert cooks will prepare Polish favorites. Cultural delights At Polish Fest's popular Cultural Village, artists demonstrate traditional crafts including woodcarving, paper cutting (wycinanki), decorating eggs (pisanki) and metalworking. Polish painters display their work in a market square. Back again are Polish Sheepdogs, including Highland (Tatra). Experts from the Polish Genealogical Society of America help visitors trace their roots. At the Polish Forum, local historians speak about Polish related history in Milwaukee and abroad. At the Sukiennice or outdoor marketplace, tempting treasures for purchase include beautiful amber jewelry, Boleslawiec pottery, blown glass ornaments, Polish crystal, hand-carved wooden boxes and many festival souvenirs. The 15th Annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition will be held on Sunday from 5-9:30 p.m. and provides a unique performance opportunity for talented young pianists to showcase the music of Poland's beloved composer. For more information, call 414-529-2140 or visit PolishFest.org. Admission deals for festgoers "50-CENT FRIDAY" opens Polish Fest June 14. Admission will be only 50 cents from noon5 p.m. and only $5 from 5:01 p.m.-midnight. The regular Saturday and Sunday admission rates are still economical: $12 general admission at the gate & $10 for seniors (55+), with children 15 and under free. For information about $10 advance tickets, see PolishFest.org. On Sunday, a traditional Polish Mass will be celebrated at 10:15 a.m. For Mass attendance, gates open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 11 a.m. The Mass is free, with a musical prelude at 10 a.m. Entrance into Polish Fest is $4 following the Mass to noon. Anyone can come purchase $4 tickets from 9:30 a.m.-noon. Also, to celebrate Father's Day Sunday, dads are admitted free from 4-6 p.m. with a child of any age. All weekend there is free admission to U.S. military personnel who present an active military I.D. at the Main Gate. On Saturday, June 15, there is free admission from 7 p.m.-midnight with a donation to the Hunger Task Force of three or more food items. 9