An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Milwaukee’s Polish Fest ranks as largest celebration of Polish culture in the U.S. FOR THE 30TH YEAR, Polish Fest kicks off Milwaukee’s unique series of summer ethnic festivals June 17-19 at Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) on Lake Michigan. Recognized as the largest celebration of Polish culture in the U.S., the three-day festival features music, dance and food. Hours of the festival are noon to midnight Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Non-stop music Participation is the name of the game at the AirTran Non-Stop Polka stage, with groups like Jimmy K & Ethnic Jazz from Ohio, the Polka Country Musicians from Connecticut, The Knewz from New York and numerous Wisconsin groups. Headlining the Miller Contemporary Stage are popu- lar groups like Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra from New York and John Gorá & Gorále from Canada. On Friday night, Bad Medicine, a Bon Jovi tribute band, hits the stage at 9 p.m. Performers on the Sobieski Vodka Cultural Stage include the Syrena & Syrenka Polish Folk Dance Ensemble and Krakow Polish Dancers from Milwaukee. Also firing up the audience will be 8 Ludowa Nuta and the Meqitza Quartet. The Children’s Stage keeps youngsters busy with top acts like magician David Seebach and Julie Sobanski, Princess of Magic. Great food, vodka tastings and 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, flown from Poland, quenches festgoers’ thirst through a cooperative arrangement with MillerCoors. And some of Poland’s finest vodkas, including Sobieski, as well as meads and liqueurs, tan- talize at tastings. These ethnic specialties also will be available for purchase throughout the festival. New this year is a Vodka Lounge on the elevated outdoor deck at the Harley-Davidson stage. Demonstrations in Cultural Area At Polish Fest’s popular Cultural Village, artists demonstrate traditional crafts including woodcarving,