Polish Days coming to Ivanhoe Annual event now in 48th year
Paczki and pierogi and golabki, oh my! The names may not roll off your tongue with any fluidity, but during Ivanhoe's 48th annual Polska Kielbasa Days from Aug. 8-11, these ethnic foods and more will be available for tasting.
"The ethnic food tasting at the VFW has been a long-standing tradition put on by the Divine Providence Auxiliary," said Haley Panka, one of the four board members of the Ivanhoe Community Club. Food is just one of many things that will going on over the four days.
There will also be competitive events, entertainment, games and more for the entire family. Polska Kielbasa Days, also known as Polish Days by locals, began in 1972 to honor its Polish heritage and was steered by Dr. Richard Mulder, Glen Dorn, Lloyd Whipple, Pat Andrzejek, Evie (Kusnierek) Johnson and Bob Herzog. In that inaugural year, free polish sausages were offered, as well as having sidewalk sales by local merchants, a Polish King and Queen, and Polish folk dancers among the activities.
"It's estimated that over 2,500 Polish sausages were given out that year and we still hold that number to this day," said Panka.
The Ivanhoe Community Club of Haley and Adam Panka, Shannon Sorensen and Emily Citterman oversee all aspects of the planning for Polish Days.
"But there are other small groups of people in charge of major events that do a great job and work hard," said Haley Panka.
"We couldn't do it without them." Visitors can taste ethnic food range from pierogi (stuffed dumplings), homemade golabki (stuffed cabbage roll), charnina (duck blood soup), paczki (sweet roll with fruit filling), polish sausage and more. There will also be many other food choices during Polish Days. New this year is the Polish sausage eating contest for those 18 and older. "The person that can eat five Polish sausages on a bun the fastest wins," Panka said.
"They will be allowed ketchup, mustard and sauerkraut if they choose. Men and women will face off in the same contest." The popular chili cook-off, which generally entices 9-12 participants who compete for bragging rights, will be offering samples to the public. The Pork Chop Feed is membership drive for the Lincoln County Corn & Soybean Growers. The meal includes grilled pork chops, beans and potato salad cooked by local farmers. There will also be a roast beef sandwich meal, a pulled pork sandwich meal, taco in a bag stand, food vendor with corndogs, and Lingen Dairy Soft Serve of Balaton with ice cream, malts, Frappe iced coffee and slushees.
"And our concession stand will have nachos, hot ham and cheese, hot dogs, and of course, Polish sausages," Panka noted. Railroad Street Seafood of Ivanhoe will again be hosting a "Shrimp Feed" with various seafood items for sale, including its popular shrimp gumbo. And a pie and ice cream social follows Sunday's Parade. A beer garden will include Busch Lights for one dollar all weekend, and a Bloody Mary Bar will be located at the Ivanhoe Liquor Store. Among the competitions will be golf, softball, volleyball and bean bag tournaments.
"We have a great golf tournament in Tyler with 45 teams currently registered," said Panka.
"Everyone has a shot at a $10,000 hole-in-one. "Our softball tournament is one of the largest in the region with 36 teams currently registered. Teams are coming from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls to compete."
Other events include a Bingo tent, antique tractor pull, vendor fair with over 30 vendors, Distinguished Young Women of Ivanhoe program, and a large fireworks show. For the kids, there will be a free swimming day and games, kiddie races, diaper derby, tractor pull, inflatables, face painting and water fun with the Ivanhoe Fire Department. A Kick-off Party on Thursday is hosted by Ivanhoe Liquor Store and includes a Classic Car Show from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday.
"Anyone that shows up with a cool car, truck, motorcycle or even a tractor can display outside the bar at the Kick-off party," said Panka.
"They go on 'parade' around Ivanhoe around 7 p.m. and you might be able to catch some candy from them." There will be a different DJ each night at the ball field and also at the Ivanhoe Liquor Store.