Photo Gallery: Riverhead’s Polish tradition continues to thrive after 50 years
A half-century of Polish heritage, food and community filled Riverhead streets Saturday as families gathered for traditions, music and a pierogi eating contest at the Polish Town Fair & Festival.
“It’s about us, what we are and how we look at life — We’re happy,” said Polish Civic Town Association committee co-chair Richard Miller. “We party. We’re just strong, confident people that want to share that with everybody.”
The festival, which began in 1974, has grown from a one-street gathering into a much larger community event, shutting down multiple roads.
The pierogi eating contest took place in the front yard of the Polaski Street School, with a dozen men battling to be the first to put down the dumplings. Patrick Olesiuk dominated.
“I knew [I’d win] when I saw the flyer,” said Mr. Olesiuk, a Polish native from Middle Island. “I had to sign up right away because everyone always says I eat so much and so quickly.”
He told the Riverhead News-Review that he prepared for this contest by eating a light dinner the night before and kept his stomach empty the day of the competition. This was his fifth year attending the fair.
“What keeps me coming back is the Polish people,” he said. “I tell my family and friends about it. I’m really close with the community.”
As the celebration has grown over the past five decades, so too has its support from the wider community, with local officials and agencies playing a role in helping keep the tradition going.
“Our town board does a great job in supporting us,” Mr. Miller said. “We have all the local agencies. Just everybody wants in and support the heritage. We just want to keep growing.”
Photos by Nick Mongiovi
