The first weekend of October is upon us, and with it, a West Michigan tradition: Pulaski Days! Beginning today,October 2nd, and running through the 5th, this local festival is a celebration of local Polish Heritage and has a little something for everyone. There has always been a large Polish presence in West Michigan, particularly on the west side of Grand Rapids, and Pulaski Days helps to highlight how many Polish organizations and people there are in our community!
The original purpose of Pulaski Days is to honor the memory of General Casimir Pulaski, who fought in the Revolutionary War and is considered a hero, as well as the Father the United States Calvary. He died in the War, but is commemorated locally both by this festival and by the large statue of him on display near the Diamond Street Hall, one of many Polish halls that participate annually in this festival and hall crawl. Those who put on this event also list the end of anti-Polish discrimination as one of their goals, with Pulaski Days meant to help everyone feel included in Polish culture, thus creating a greater sense of social appreciation for Polish culture.
If you're looking for fun for the whole family, there's the Pulaski Days Parade on Saturday, October 3rd, on the West Side of the city, on Fulton Avenue. Every year, a Pulaski Queen is crowned as part of the celebration and she and her court are featured in the parade. There will also be a Polka Mass (a Catholic Mass) at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the John Ball Park Bandshell (alternatively, at the Knights of Columbus Hall if weather presents an issue). Most of the Polish halls that are serving beers are also serving traditional Polish dishes and offering patrons live polka music or djs. Click here for a spreadsheet showing what times which halls are serving food and what entertainment will be available at each venue throughout the weekend.
The real attraction of Pulaski Days, however, is the fact that fourteen local Polish halls participate, with live music, homemade polish foods, and all the beer a person could ever want. The event is so popular that a free shuttle is provided from 7 pm to midnight on both Friday October 2nd and Saturday October 3rd, allowing patrons to safely travel from hall to hall while imbibing as much beer as they wish. There will also be a raffle on Sunday night, with a grand prize of $1,000, with each raffle ticket only costing $1.00. From the beer to the dancing to the food, there's plenty of fun to be had, at sites ranging across the city.
Pulaski Days, a storied annual celebration beloved by many in the West Michigan area, is just one of many unique cultural events that makes West Michigan real estate and Grand Rapids real estate so valuable; there's all the culture of a big city without the big city rush and prices. If you are considering moving to the area or if you live in the area and are changing neighborhoods, get in touch with someone at Pyxis Realty today to ensure that you receive top-notch assistance from a locally-owned company that loves our community.