The P-P-P-Perfect festival

WHAT: Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival
WHEN: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
WHERE: Downtown Port Clinton
COST: $3 for adults, free for under 18
INFO: kofc1750.com

The Port Clinton Knights of Columbus will be hosting the 6th annual Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival in downtown Port Clinton this Saturday, Sept. 4 and Sunday, Sept. 5 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. The celebration of Slavic and Polish heritage costs only $3 to attend for adults and is free for anyone under the age of 18.

The festival, as the name implies, will feature plenty of delicious food as well as excellent polka music performed by some of the finest bands in the area. More information about this event, and about the Knights of Columbus, can be found at kofc1750.com. 

Ed Verkin, the co-chair of this year’s event, said that the Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival was actually started by a different organization. “Main Street Port Clinton actually started the event six years ago, and they ran it for three years,” he explained. “After that they asked the Knights of Columbus if we would take over the event and we agreed, so that’s basically the history of the event.”

Verkin said that the event has been steadily growing in size and popularity each year, and he expects a big crowd once again. “We figure that we had over 3,000 people here last year,” he said. “It’s grown every year, and we’ve been advertising quite heavily in the Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus areas through the ‘Polka Times’ and other newspapers which go out to people of Polish or Slavic heritage.” 

One thing that is certain is that the food at the event will be enjoyed by all. “Last year we sold over 13,000 pierogis and about 1,000 pounds of perch,” Verkin explained, illustrating the demand for the tasty treats.

In addition to the titular foods, the festival will also feature a bake sale and a pierogi-eating contest. People can register at the event for the eating contest (participants must be 18 or older), though anyone taking part must sign a waiver in case they get sick. “The contest is to eat as many pierogis as you can in two minutes,” Verkin said. “I think last year our winner ate 22 of them.”

Of course no festival would be complete without some ice cold beverages, and Verkin promised beer, wine coolers, pop, water and more.

Polka music is part of the rich ethnic heritage celebrated at the festival, which is why there will be music going on all weekend long. The Duane Malinowski Orchestra, The Del Sinchak Band and the Wayne Tomsic Combo Band will all be performing throughout the weekend. When there are no bands playing, there will be polka CDs providing ambience.

From 5-6 p.m. on Saturday there will even be a dance studio on hand giving out free polka lessons.

If you enjoy festive food, friendly people and ethnic music, the Perch, Peach, Pierogi and Polka Festival is right up your alley. Come spend the weekend in a great family atmosphere and help celebrate the heritage of so many from this area. “You get a chance to come and see Port Clinton for one thing,” Verkin said, “and it’s just a fun event. The bands are top notch and the food is great, so you can just sit and have a drink or two, enjoy your food and listen to some great polka music.”