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Pierogi Fest Is Back For Its 30th Anniversary

By Tom Barnas
7/28/2024

Pierogi Fest, that wacky, nutty festival organized by hundreds of volunteers and drawing hundreds of thousands of people, is just weeks away! This year, it will be held from Friday, July 26th to Sunday, July 28th, in downtown Whiting, Indiana. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable weekend of food, fun, and festivities.

Pierogi Fest offers more than 70 food booths with over 1,200 menu items, ensuring that there is something for everyone. From traditional pierogis to creative culinary twists, your taste buds are in for a treat. Two beer gardens will keep the drinks flowing, and 55 arts and crafts vendors will provide plenty of shopping opportunities for unique finds and tchotchkes.

With six performance stages featuring a wide variety of music, there’s always something to see and hear. Don’t miss the festival’s highlight—the craziest parade anywhere, taking place on Friday, July 26th, at 7 PM.

Free Concert by Sugar Ray: On Saturday, July 27th, at 8:30 PM, enjoy a free concert by Sugar Ray, sponsored by Hard Rock Casino. Get ready to sing along to hits like “Fly,” “Every Morning,” “Someday,” and more.

Pierogi Fest is not just another festival; it’s a celebrated event that has earned numerous accolades and recognitions. Reader’s Digest named it one of America’s 50 Best Festivals, while MSN Eat This Not That hailed it as one of the 50 Best Food Festivals in the US. TripAdvisor included Pierogi Fest among the 10 Wackiest Festivals on the Planet, and Saveur Magazine recognized it as one of the 25 Best Food Festivals in North America. The Wall Street Journal featured the festival in a front-page article, and Oprah Winfrey named it one of her favorite things to do for five years straight.

For 22 consecutive years, it has been recognized as the Best Festival by the Times of Northwest Indiana. Indy’s Child listed it as one of 8 Festivals Worth the Drive! for 2023 and 2024, and Yahoo.com dubbed it a Blue-Ribbon Festival of Summer in 2013. The festival has also received the Heritage Award from the Polish National Congress and has been featured on the Food Channel, Travel Channel, Pawn Stars Chicago, Wild Chicago, Access Indiana, CNN, and television stations in Germany, Slovakia, Poland, China, and Australia. Additionally, Pierogi Fest has been showcased on nationally syndicated television shows Wild Travels and Small Town, Big Deal, and humorously, it’s known as the most popular festival amongst extra-terrestrials for decades.

Pierogi Fest combines a small-town setting with worldwide appeal, offering a lot of fun for everyone. Whether you’re a foodie, music lover, or just looking for a unique festival experience, Pierogi Fest is the place to be this summer.

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