Buffalo's 20th Annual Dyngus Day Parade Celebrates Polish Heritage

The once-small parade has grown into a vibrant community festival over the past two decades.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:54am

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Buffalo, NY is gearing up for its 20th annual Dyngus Day parade on Monday, a celebration of Polish heritage that has evolved from a modest 15-minute event in the mid-2000s to a two-hour parade with over 150 entries. Organizer Eddy Dobosiewicz says the parade was started to change perceptions about the deteriorating Broadway Market and Central Terminal area, which was once the second largest Polish colony outside of Warsaw. What began as a small gathering of 25 participants has grown into a beloved community tradition, with families decorating floats and marching to honor their ancestors.

Why it matters

The Dyngus Day parade serves as an important annual celebration of Buffalo's Polish-American community, which has faced challenges like neighborhood decline and the erosion of cultural traditions over the years. The growing popularity of the parade reflects efforts to preserve and revitalize this heritage, drawing in new generations and showcasing the vibrancy of the city's Polonia district.

The details

The first Dyngus Day parade in the mid-2000s only lasted about 15 minutes and struggled to find a polka band to perform. But over the past two decades, the event has ballooned in size, with this year's parade expected to feature around 150 different entries. Organizer Eddy Dobosiewicz says the parade has become a family affair, with multiple generations decorating floats and marching to represent their family names and ancestry. The parade is now just one part of a larger Dyngus Day celebration in Buffalo, with parties, a 5K run, and parades in surrounding areas like Cheektowaga and Tonawanda.

  • The first Dyngus Day parade was held about 25 years ago.
  • This year's 20th annual Dyngus Day parade will take place on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The parade is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM.

The players

Eddy Dobosiewicz

The organizer of the Dyngus Day parade, who started the event in the mid-2000s to change perceptions about the deteriorating Broadway Market and Central Terminal area in Buffalo.

Pete and Cindy Stelmach

Among the first participants in the Dyngus Day parade, who have been involved for many years and now drive a large monster truck in the event.

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What they’re saying

“It was literally like watching the extinction of a civilization in real time, and no one was paying attention to it. No one was saying anything about it. No one was complaining about it.”

— Eddy Dobosiewicz, Parade Organizer

“Every year, it keeps growing. More and more families pay tribute to their their family name, their ancestors. And, you know, they have banners with with their family name on it. They have multiple generations on whatever floats that they make, they get into it as a family and and decorate the float and really have a good time.”

— Eddy Dobosiewicz, Parade Organizer

“here probably was 10 floats when we first went there, and it was behind a Broadway market, and it lasted about 15 minutes. Now it's a couple hours.”

— Pete Stelmach, Parade Participant

What’s next

The 20th annual Dyngus Day parade in Buffalo will take place on Monday, April 6, 2026, beginning at 5:30 PM. Prior to the parade, a 5K run is scheduled for noon.

The takeaway

The growth and evolution of Buffalo's Dyngus Day parade over the past two decades reflects the enduring importance of Polish-American heritage and community in the city. What started as a modest effort to change perceptions about a deteriorating neighborhood has blossomed into a vibrant, family-oriented celebration that brings together multiple generations to honor their roots.