Cleveland's Dyngus Day Festival Celebrates 16th Year with Polish Wedding and Pierogi Eating Contest

The annual Polish holiday festival featured live music, traditional foods, and festive activities across the city's West Side neighborhood.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:36pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic Dyngus Day object such as a pierogi, squirt gun, or pussy willow, repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the joyful energy and cultural significance of this annual Polish celebration.The vibrant Dyngus Day celebration in Cleveland's West Side brings the community together through traditional Polish music, food, and festivities.Cleveland Today

The 16th annual Dyngus Day celebration in Cleveland's Gordon Square neighborhood drew thousands of revelers to mark the end of Lent with polka music, pierogi eating contests, a traditional Polish wedding, and other Polish-themed festivities. The daylong event featured multiple stages with live music, food vendors serving classic Polish dishes, and bars across the West Side offering Polish beer and cocktail specials.

Why it matters

Dyngus Day is an important cultural celebration for Cleveland's Polish community, showcasing the city's rich heritage and traditions. The festival's growth over the past 16 years demonstrates the enduring popularity of this springtime tradition, which brings the community together through music, food, and shared cultural experiences.

The details

The Dyngus Day festivities kicked off at 10 a.m. on Detroit Avenue, with the crowd listening to the Polish national anthem and a reading of the 'Twas the Day before Dyngus' poem. The celebration then expanded throughout the Gordon Square neighborhood, featuring a live Polish wedding on the main stage, a pierogi eating contest won by local champion Brock Sako, the crowning of the new Miss Dyngus Day, and performances by polka bands on multiple stages. Food vendors offered an array of Polish specialties like paczki, kielbasa, and the signature 'Rogi Dog' pierogi-wrapped bratwurst, while bars served Polish beers and cocktails.

  • The 16th annual Dyngus Day celebration took place on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The festivities began at 10 a.m. and continued well into the evening.

The players

DJ Kishka

The founder and host of the Dyngus Day celebration in Cleveland.

Doug Kusak

The artist who read his 'Twas the Day before Dyngus' poem to open the festivities.

Mark Jenks

The artist behind many of Dyngus Day's colorful art installations and floats.

James Sheehe and Becki Locke

The couple who tied the knot in Dyngus Day Cleveland's first-ever real Polish wedding.

Brock Sako

The three-time defending champion of the Dyngus Day pierogi eating contest.

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What they’re saying

“'Goodbye winter, you old salty son of a b*tch,'”

— DJ Kishka, Dyngus Day founder and host

“'May your life always be filled with polka music, good friends, full plates of pierogi and Dyngus Days forever,'”

— DJ Kishka, Dyngus Day founder and host

What’s next

The Dyngus Day Cleveland organization is already planning for next year's 17th annual celebration, which is expected to draw even larger crowds as the festival continues to grow in popularity.

The takeaway

Dyngus Day has become an integral part of Cleveland's cultural identity, showcasing the city's vibrant Polish heritage and bringing the community together through shared traditions, music, food, and festive celebrations. The festival's expansion and enduring popularity over the past 16 years demonstrate the enduring appeal of this springtime tradition.