American Polish Festival guarantees meals and enjoyable

Music and dancing are among the many highlights on the American Polish Festival, which returns to Sterling Heights on June 26-28.

Photo supplied by the American Polish Club

---

By:
Gary Winkelman
|


Sterling Heights Sentry
|
Published June 12, 2026

STERLING HEIGHTS — Come hungry. Come thirsty.

That’s the recommendation organizers of this month’s American Polish Festival & Craft Show have for people focused on attending the fun-filled, three-day occasion.

The competition returns for its forty fourth yr June 26-28 on the American Polish Club, 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights. Savory eats, particular drinks, vigorous music and extra are promised, together with a contest to see who can eat probably the most pierogies in 10 minutes.

Although ethnic celebrations are frequent summertime sights in metro Detroit, they continue to be in style methods of selling tradition and unity.

“We are proud of our heritage,” stated Brian Onderik, chair of this yr’s American Polish Festival. “We wish to share it with others and produce other folks share our meals, our tradition, our beliefs. Just so folks can perceive … everybody a little bit bit higher.

That makes everybody get alongside higher, doesn’t it?”

Visitors will likely be immersed in all issues Polish, together with meals, crafts and, after all, genuine polkas. This yr’s leisure contains the Polka Family Band from Pennsylvania and The Big Daddy Lackowski Band. Local favorites The Polish Muslims may even carry out, together with traditional rock music from The Wayback Machine.

But whereas there’s lots to do and see all through the three-day occasion, the home made delicacies is unquestionably a number one cause folks return yr after yr.

“I will put up our Polish food against anyone in this state,” Onderik stated. “We make most of the food in-house, from the city chicken to the stuffed cabbage.”

Preparing for the competition is a large enterprise, Onderik stated, with volunteers contributing numerous effort and time to please appetites of every kind.

“Our members work long hours each year preparing over 5,000 golabki, over a ton of city chicken, 750 pounds of potato pancakes, and over 20,000 pierogi for the Polish dinners,” he stated. “People can’t wait to try one of our famous traditional Polish Platters at the Polish Kitchen. For those that like American foods, we have an American Kitchen, as well.”

Signature eats embody Polish nachos, Polish egg rolls and particular Polish desserts. Overall, Onderik stated, the competition goals to supply an genuine Polish eating expertise.

“These are things that you can get somewhere else, but not the traditional way,” he stated. “We’re trying to make it like grandmother used to make our food. Trying to carry on that heritage.”

The competition will get underway from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, June 26, with the craft present open till 9 p.m. and music by the Polka Family and Polish Muslims.

The competition continues from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, with music and dancing beginning at 11 a.m. Performers embody The Big Daddy Lackowski Band and The Wayback Machine.

The competition concludes Sunday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to six p.m. and incorporates a Polka Mass at 11 a.m. with John Lackowski and Eddie Siwiec. Other highlights embody music from Mike Zawojsky, the New Brass Express and a pierogi consuming contest at 3:45 p.m.

In addition to all of the meals out there on the competition, the drink menu can also be a draw, Onderik stated.

“This year we will have three ice cold Polish beers, plus domestic beers, including one that is brewed specifically for our festival by Kuhnhenn Brewing Company,” he stated. “On Friday and Saturday night, Don Christo’s Cigar and Bourbon Bar will be on our grounds offering cigars and bourbon tasting, along with many famous bourbon cocktails.”

Admission to the competition is $10 per particular person (17 and underneath free). Discount admission coupons for Friday earlier than 6 p.m., Saturday earlier than 5 p.m. and all day Sunday might be bought on-line at americanpolishfestival.com.

Parking and shuttles to the competition can be found on the Warren Consolidated Schools Career Prep Center, 12200 15 Mile Road, and Sterling Heights High School, 12901 15 Mile Road.

“We want people to come hungry, leave happy and experience our Polish culture,” Onderik stated. “The one thing I always (enjoy) is when people are leaving with a smile on their face. They had a great experience at our festival and that means the world to me.”