Mon 4/1 @ 11am-11pm
Dyngus Day — celebrated the Monday after Easter — is an old tradition in Poland and in some cities with large Polish populations like Buffalo, where the modern Dyngus Day tradition began in the 1960s. It marked the beginning of spring and the courting season.
But it’s a new tradition in Cleveland, going back only to 2011. Even so, in its second iteration last year, it drew 1,500 people who paraded from bar to bar in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, aka the “Polish Triangle,” drinking beer and dancing to polka music at every stop.
This year even more venues are participating, ten in all, including Kishka’s Beer Heaven tent, where Sterle’s Slovenian — Slovenian? See below — Country House will venture over from the east side provide the food.
The revelry starts as early as 11 am at some spots. The Miss Dyngus pageant and crowning takes place at the Parkview at 4 pm, followed by an accordion parade, stepping off from the Parkview at 5 pm. It’s open to all accordion players who can play “The Beer Barrel Polka,” which is actually a Czech polka.
Everywhere there will be food, beer and polka music provided by bands like the Chardon Polka Band, the Polka Pirates, the Don Wojtila Orchestra, Ralph Subski the Accordion Man, Eddie Roddick, the Hobos, and Justin Gorski aka DJ Kishka, one of the event’s founders. There’s a full entertainment schedule here.
It’s all free, and a free shuttle will be on hand from 2 pm until midnight to take revelers between participating venues. In addition to the Parkview and Kishka’s Beer Heaven Tent, they include the Battery Park Wine Bar, the Happy Dog, the Harp, Luxe, the Reddstone, Spice, Toast and the XYZ Tavern.
Oh, and never mind that Cleveland is the home of the Slovenian polka and that the center of Polish polka is Chicago. Details, details.
http://www.clevelanddyngus.com/