The Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce presents
PIEROGI FEST ®
-
119th Street, Whiting
-
July 26th & 27th, 11:00 am - 11 pm.
July 28th, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
-
Free
The Whiting Pierogi Fest® is presented annually by the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce. Drawing over 300,000 visitors each year, Pierogi Fest® is the pride of Whiting, IN. It welcomes all to celebrate our heritage while poking a little fun at ourselves at the same time. Where else can you see grown women dressed up like our grandmothers (buscias, as we say) in housecoats and babushkas? Or the lawnmower brigade strutting through town with sandals and socks on like our dads did? You’ll also see life-size polish pastries and goodies walking and talking waiting to take a picture with you.
Besides lots of pierogi and an array of food vendors, you'll find a one of a kind parade featuring women dressed in housecoats and babushkas like grandmothers (or bushas), the lawnmower brigade in sandals and socks, plus Mr. Pierogi and Ms. Paczki. This is a truly unique event, so be sure not to miss the Pierogi Parade on Friday night! Other special events include the Mr. Pierogi Songfest, the Pierogi Toss and Pierogi Eating Contest.
The parade and festival have received countrywide recognition having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.
Pierogi Fest® began when Marty Dybel, Tom Dabertin and Darlene Beerling sat down one afternoon to discuss Marty’s idea to create a festival that celebrated Whiting-Robertsdale’s ethnic heritage, including family memories, customs and food. It was decided it would be a real honor to their ancestors to celebrate and retain part of that special heritage. All they needed was a symbol to pin it on. That symbol was the innocent and darling little Eastern European dumpling: the pierogi (or pirohi, depending on your grandma). Some people still trill the “r” when they say it, just like buscia and jaja did.
Missed out on Pierogi Fest® this year? We’ve got all your favorite tchotchkes here for you!
LEARN MORE ABOUT PIEROGI FEST®
