Pacski Lovers Flock to Harner's Bakery for Fat Tuesday Tradition

North Aurora bakery sees massive crowds for annual Paczki rush, selling over 25,000 pastries in a single day.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Well before sunrise on Fat Tuesday, crowds of Paczki enthusiasts descended on Harner's Bakery and Restaurant in North Aurora, Illinois to get their hands on the popular Polish pastry. The bakery, which is normally closed on Tuesdays, opens specially for the occasion and has been a Fat Tuesday tradition for many in the Aurora area for decades.

Why it matters

Paczki, a rich, deep-fried dough pastry filled with fruit or custard, are a beloved Fat Tuesday treat in many Polish-American communities. Harner's Bakery has become a destination for Paczki lovers in the region, attracting customers from as far as Big Rock who make an annual pilgrimage to the bakery to stock up on the seasonal delicacy.

The details

Harner's Bakery opens its doors as early as 5:00 AM on Fat Tuesday to accommodate the massive crowds, with bakers arriving as early as midnight the night before to begin preparing the thousands of Paczki they will sell throughout the day. The bakery offers 10-11 different Paczki fillings, with custard, chocolate cream, and apple being the most popular. Customers often place large pre-orders, with some buying dozens of Paczki at a time to bring to their workplaces.

  • Harner's Bakery opens its doors as early as 5:00 AM on Fat Tuesday.
  • Bakers arrive as early as midnight on Monday night to begin preparing the Paczki.

The players

Harner's Bakery and Restaurant

A North Aurora bakery that has become a destination for Paczki lovers in the region, opening specially on Fat Tuesday to accommodate massive crowds seeking the traditional Polish pastry.

Dave Nussle

A customer from Big Rock, Illinois who has been making the annual pilgrimage to Harner's for Paczki on Fat Tuesday for years.

Jeanine Bennett

The co-owner of Harner's Bakery.

Nicole Washington

The manager of Harner's Bakery, who has worked at the bakery for 11 years and oversees the massive Fat Tuesday operation.

Jose Hernandez

A baker at Harner's Bakery with over 20 years of experience, who helps manage the around-the-clock Paczki preparation.

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What they’re saying

“I came at 5 this morning to buy my usual boxes of Paczki. I come this early because there's no traffic. We ordered these about two weeks ago. They're all for family. I've been coming down here from Big Rock as long as they've been doing it.”

— Dave Nussle (Chicago Tribune)

“We had all of the orders packed early, so we decided to just let people start coming in.”

— Jeanine Bennett, Co-owner, Harner's Bakery (Chicago Tribune)

“We're very busy from the time we open our doors till the time we close, putting out a whole bunch of Paczki – it's more of a dense, deep-fried dough with fillings and we make thousands of them.”

— Nicole Washington, Manager, Harner's Bakery (Chicago Tribune)

“Once you do something you like, it's not bad. We know what we're doing and that makes a difference.”

— Jose Hernandez, Baker, Harner's Bakery (Chicago Tribune)

“It's like forbidden fruit. You can only get them once a year. They're great, they're moist, they're just delicious.”

— Anna Bocanegra (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Harner's Bakery will continue its annual Fat Tuesday Paczki tradition next year, with customers eagerly awaiting the opportunity to indulge in the seasonal pastry.

The takeaway

Harner's Bakery's annual Fat Tuesday Paczki event showcases the enduring appeal of this traditional Polish treat, as well as the power of a beloved local business to bring a community together around a shared culinary experience.