Mon 4/6 @10AM-8PM
Dyngus Day returns to the Gordon Square, and this year, it returns to the street (Detroit Avenue, that is) in addition to its ticketed event at Gordon Green. Several blocks of Detroit Avenue will be closed off for polka dancing, piwo drinking and paczki-eating.
Dyngus Day originated as a Polish-American tradition, signifying the release from Lenten restrictions following Easter. Cleveland’s Dyngus Day, founded by Cleveland musician (and co-owner of Lakewood restaurant Cleveland Vegan) Justin Gorski aka DJ Kishka, is now in its 16th year of all-day street-filling revelry. With the fake beard that turns him in Kishka, he hosts the event, introducing the bands and overseeing the Miss Dyngus Day competition.
He’ll kick off the event with an opening ceremony on the street stage at 10am, followed by music from the irrepressible Chardon Polka Band at 10:30. They’ll be following by a Polish wedding from 1:15-1:30pm with Ed Rodick playing from 1:30-4pm and the Kishkas from 4:15-5. Then comes some real fun: the pierogi eating contest from 5-5:15 and the Miss Dyngus Day competition from 5:15-5:45, both hosted by DJ Kishka. Believe me, these events will have you laughing your ass off. (Miss Dyngus Day competitors are asked to do off-the-wall things like sing a bit of the polish national anthem, or polka with an audience member.
The outdoor stage wraps up from 5:45-8pm with a totally non-Polish but wildly entertaining local band, the New Orlean-style brass-and-percussion ensemble Da Land Brass Band, led by Dr. William Washington.
Don’t expect the fun to end at 10pm; we’ve been told that the bars along Detroit have their biggest night of the year on Dyngus Day, bigger even than St. Patrick’s Day. The party just goes indoors to the area’s multitude of bars and restaurants.
Get complete info here as well as tickets to the Gordon Green party.