People from near and far showed up Saturday in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood for the annual Friendly City PolkaFest featuring polka bands and lively music.
Hundreds of people strolled under bright, sunny skies Saturday afternoon, checking out the food booths along Fifth Avenue near the pavilion where the bands played.
Polka enthusiasts danced to the happy tunes.
The crowd was growing late in the afternoon as more people flocked to Cambria City for Masses at ethnic churches, including a polka Mass at SS. Casimir & Emerich Roman Catholic Church.
The PolkaFest is sponsored by the Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Convention and Visitors Bureau and St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church. It continues today beginning with a polka Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s and then the music beginning at 1 p.m. and wrapping up at 6 p.m.
“It’s a great time, great music,” June Nadolsky of Lilly said. “We go everywhere we can for polka music.”
With her was her friend, Dolores Teklinsky of Northern Cambria, who added, “The food is delicious, and we see lots of people we know.”
Dave Loeffler and his wife, Anne, drove about 170 miles from York for a second year to enjoy the festivities. She said that they love to polka.
Another polka enthusiast, Karen Walker of Butler, said that she and her friend, Frank Antonucci, read about the festival in the Polka Times and decided to visit.
“I think this is really great, and I’m really enjoying it,” she said.
Darlene Gurgitus of Pittsburgh stopped at an ice cream stand to buy a Penn State Creamery butter pecan cone.
She said this was her first taste of the Penn State brand.
“It’s delicious – lots of nuts,” Gurgitus said.
The food also includes haluski, pierogi and cabbage rolls.
George Banfield of Revloc and his wife, Lois, brought their three children, George III, 6; Tommy, 3; and Breanna, 13 months, to enjoy the festival while visiting with family and friends.
“The food and music are tops, and we always have a good time,” he said.
Thousands of visitors are expected at the festival, said Lisa Rager, visitors bureau director.
On Saturday, a bus tour from Michigan and two from the Pittsburgh area visited the festival, she said.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Polka enthusiasts dance as the Del Sinchak Band plays Saturday during the Friendly City PolkaFest at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church pavilion. Dave Lloyd
Discussion
Polka festival attracts fans from near and far
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
