NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Thousands gathered in New Britain Sunday for the annual Little Poland Festival, a vibrant celebration of Polish heritage.
The city is home to a large Polish population, especially centered around Broad Street, where the event was held. Locals affectionately refer to the neighborhood as "Little Poland."
Darek Barcikowski said the festival, which began over a decade ago in a small parking lot, has grown into a major event, drawing attendees from across Connecticut and New England.
"We've grown to about 30,000 people that we are expecting here today. We have over 125 vendors, two stages, a packed entertainment program and just a lot of folks coming in from not just Connecticut, but all of New England," Barcikowski said.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart attended the festivities and praised the event for both its cultural and economic significance.
"It's such a great day to celebrate Polish culture but also celebrate the business community and everything Little Poland has to offer. We have over 100 small businesses over here on Broad Street alone and it really has become such an ethnic center piece for New Britain," Stewart said.
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Visitors traveled from across the state to take part in the celebration. Blake Witkowski, who came with his family from Thompson, said the festival offers a uniquely immersive experience.
"Getting real authentic pierogies and all the other kinds of food. Getting authentic Polish beer. It's awesome just to celebrate and feel like a Polish person for a day. You feel like you're in Poland but outside of Poland," he said.
Angelica Szczygiel of Pride Home Improvements, a local business, echoed the same feeling.
"I was in Poland about four months ago and being here today is reminding me of it. It's a part of me that misses," Szczygiel said.
Kacper Kulak, who makes the trip each year from Stratford with his family, said the event helps them stay connected to their roots.
"The whole family comes from Poland, so we love the culture, we love coming out here and celebrating it and connecting with everyone that's part of our culture," Kulak said.
For Mira Alicki, president of the Forever in My Heart Foundation and a longtime member of the community, the Polish presence on Broad Street runs deep.
"It's been Little Poland I think for the last maybe 10 years but it's been a Polish community forever. It was named Little Poland but even before then, Broad Street was always Polish businesses," Alicki said.
While the event attracts a large Polish crowd, Barcikowski said the most rewarding part is watching newcomers discover the culture.
"For people that come here for the first time and say, 'Oh gee, we learned something about Poland, we didn't know there was such a big Polish community in Connecticut, we got to learn about the culture and heritage and try the food,' I think that's really special," he said.
The festival featured local vendors, traditional Polish food and drinks, games, live music, face painting and family-friendly entertainment.
“You know they call us 'New Britski' for a reason and today is just a day to celebrate all of that," Stewart said.
Organizers encouraged those who missed the event to visit the neighborhood year-round, where many of the Polish businesses and restaurants remain open and active.
Joe Monte is a Multi-Skilled Journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].
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