Let’s Celebrate National Pierogi Day

In my home state of Pennsylvania, pierogis are a big deal. First, you have Mrs. T’s Pierogis located not too far from me in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Then you have the fact that pierogis are a staple at all high school sporting events. And other school-related events. But before you think we are crazy at the high school level; the Pittsburgh Pirates have the Great Pierogi Race between innings at their home games. Imagine six people running around in pierogi costumes. It’s quite a sight to see. So, to say we love our pierogis may be a little of an understatement. And it is the main reason why I had to celebrate National Pierogi Day!

The History of the Pierogi

Let’s start by talking about the history of the pierogi. These little filled dumplings are normally thought to be from Poland. However, there are a few disputes when it comes to that history. A few historical notes state that pierogis were made in many areas of China and Europe before these delicacies hit Polish cookbooks.

To give you an idea of who is claiming to have first made the pierogi, you have the:

• Chinese
• Poles
• Romanians
• Russians
• Lithuanians
• Ukrainians
• Slovaks

We could probably have an entire daylong discussion on who did and why!

But let’s fast forward to the pierogis here in the US. The pierogis made their way to the US during the Great Depression. They were first served to the public at the Marton House Tavern in Cleveland in 1928.

There are many different types of pierogi fillings. Those fillings include mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, cheese, cabbage, spinach, mushrooms, ground beef, and legumes. Dessert pierogis can be filled with cherries, strawberries, apples, jam, blueberries, or other fruits. Some pierogis are meant to be spicy, while others are sweet and savory.

Pierogi Festivals

No matter which type of pierogis you love, you can find them at many different pierogi festivals throughout the year.

Pierogi Fest

The Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Indiana is one of the biggest pierogi festivals. More than 300,000 people from around the world arrive in Whiting to celebrate all things pierogi. This is a 3-day event filled with live music. Of course, dozens of food vendors line up to sell their version of the best pierogi.

Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival

The Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival is held in Kennywood Park. Two dozen restaurants serve their version of the pierogi to eventgoers. When you are not devouring fresh pierogis, you will find yourself going on rides and shopping at the Pierogi Marketplace. Live music will play in the background and other entertainment is available as well.

National Pierogi Festival

You don’t need to stay in the US to attend a pierogi festival. The National Pierogi Festival is held every year in Krakow. The local restaurants serve up their traditional pierogis. However, they also create new combinations of ingredients to fill these little pouches. In the past, the most unusual ingredients included deer meat, salmon, lamb, and smoked cheese. Local Krakow bands ensure everyone has live music to listen to, as they eat their pierogis.

Port Richmond Pierogi Festival

The Port Richmond Pierogi Festival is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania every year. This festival is held both indoors and outdoors. There are more than 100 vendors serving food and drinks, and also selling crafts. While most of the food will be pierogis, you can find other items like ice cream and funnel cakes. Two stages are set up for live music and DJ’s playing music.

Edwardsville Pierogi Festival

The Edwardsville Pierogi Festival is held in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania. See, I told you we take our pierogis seriously in this state! This is a two-day festival that began back in 2014. Over the course of two days, you can eat pierogis, go on rides, play games, and watch live entertainment. However, the highlights of this pierogi festival are the pierogi cookoff and the pierogi parade.

These are only a few of the pierogi festivals held throughout the world. A few will be held on National Pierogi Day while others are held on different dates throughout the year. You can easily plan a family vacation to experience one of these pierogi festivals. I can help with the planning and booking of your family vacation, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun.

So, are you ready to book a family vacation and experience one of these pierogi festivals?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

And if you are not ready to book a family vacation to experience one of these pierogi festivals, you can sign up for my newsletter here. This will ensure you always receive all the travel information I share.