Editor’s Note (6/9/2024): Festival organizers have announced that the, “Little Poland Festival is rain or shine. Come on down! The rain will pass. Official opening is at 12:30.”
The 2024 New Britain Little Poland Festival is planned for Sunday, June 9, celebrating the 11th time the widely popular cultural event has been held.
“What began as a small parking lot event has, over the last decade, transformed into one of the largest cultural events in all of Connecticut and New England,” Festival organizers say.
The Polonia Business Association (PBA) organizes the event, which it says, “will feature over 100 vendors, many serving Polish food specialties such as pierogies and stuffed cabbage, continuous entertainment on two stages, and family-oriented games and attractions.”
The popular New Britain cultural and community event is traditionally in springtime in New Britain’s vibrant Broad Street “Little Poland” neighborhood.
The 2024 Festival is to be from 11:00am to 7:00pm, with official ceremonies at 12:30pm.
Last year, tens of thousands of people again thronged Broad Street in 2023 in celebration of New Britain’s Little Poland Festival. The popular celebration of Polish culture, music and cuisine attracted huge crowds of people from New Britain, the state and beyond.
Organizers say they expect 30,000 people to be at the 2024 event.
“Little Poland is a thriving cultural neighborhood featuring dozens of Polish businesses, restaurants, and organizations,” Adrian Baron, president of the PBA says. “The festival is an opportunity to showcase our culture to our neighbors and highlight the presence and contributions of Polish immigrants to Connecticut.”
Krzysiek Rutkowski, a local business owner and the vice president of the festival’s organizing committee, added, “We are thrilled to host the Little Poland Festival again this year.”
“The event is a wonderful opportunity for people of all backgrounds to come together and celebrate the vibrant culture and traditions of Poland,” Rutkowski added. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to Broad Street for a day of fun, food, and entertainment.”
The Little Poland Festival organizers have said that, “The Little Poland Festival takes place on Broad Street in New Britain and stretches five blocks between Washington Street and Silver Street.”
Event organizers add that, “parking for the festival is available on side streets and at the Badolato Garage in downtown New Britain which runs a shuttle to the festival.”
“According to the US Census,” Festival organizers point out, “nearly a quarter million Polish Americans reside in Connecticut with New Britain being home to the largest Polish community in the entire state.”
From its humble beginnings,” Festival organizers have said that, “the Little Poland Festival has grown into one of the largest cultural events in the state and one of the largest Polish American festivals in the country.”
More information is available on the Festival’s website.
