By K.D. Norris
Another “community tradition” casualty of COVID-19, the Grand Rapids area Pulaski Days Committee announced last week that Pulaski Days — the week-long celebration of Polish/Lithuanian culture held every fall in Grand Rapids since 1973 — has been cancelled this year due to concerns about spread of the virus among attendees and volunteers.
This is the first time in the event’s history that it has been canceled, Michelle Kershner, chairperson of the Pulaski Days Committee, said in supplied material. The committee coordinates the efforts of 14 Polish/Lithuanian halls and fraternal organizations that fund and put on the celebration, which is a major fundraiser for the organizations.
But the cancellation does not mean Pulaski Days fans cannot support the local halls and fraternal organizations — the Pulaski Days Committee also announced it is launching a “Save The Halls” campaign to raise money to help the organizations make it through until Pulaski Days 2021.
“It was an extremely difficult decision to cancel Pulaski Days this year,” Kershner said in supplied material. “Many people were looking forward to listening and dancing to the top-notch polka bands that we bring to town and sampling the authentic Polish food served at the halls. The halls are terribly disappointed too, because Pulaski Days is their single largest source of revenue.
“But after a lot of debate over several meetings, we made the tough decision to cancel because we couldn’t determine how to hold an event that drew more than 300,000 people last year and ensure that everyone would be safe from spreading COVID-19.”
In past years, the week-long event included a flag raising ceremony, parade, golf outing, coronation of the Pulaski Days queen, kielbasa eating contest, Polka Mass and three days of music and food at the halls. Visitors from Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and other states have visited the area to participate.
The need for masks at close quarters indoors and social distancing requirements “runs counter to everything that makes Pulaski Days such a popular event,” according to the statement.
“The heart of Pulaski Days is to be social — eat, dance and get together with family and old friends, and make new friends,” Kershner said. “Now how are you going to do that standing six feet from someone with your mask on?”
Financial impact widespread in community
The cancellation of Pulaski Days is more than just a disappointment for Polish/Lithuanian halls and fraternal organizations, Jim Seppala, president of Diamond Avenue Hall/St. Isidore’s Benevolent Aid Society, said in supplied material.
“We depend on Pulaski Days as a major source of our annual operating budget,” Seppala said. “We run a tight ship financially, but no matter how you cut it, we are going to feel the pinch that the event isn’t being held this year. Regardless, we know that we are doing the right thing.”
Along with a number of other halls in Grand Rapids, Diamond Avenue Hall is working to restore some of the revenue lost from Pulaski Days through other COVID-safe promotions, according to the statement. For example, the hall recently held a drive-through service where customers could pick up combo plates of Polish food, tee shirts, can koozies and other items without leaving their cars.
But the halls will need additional help to make sure they can keep their doors open and host Pulaski Days 2021, Kershner said.
“Many of the halls have been in continuous operation for more than a century — for instance, Diamond Avenue Hall was established in 1892,” she said. “We have to make sure that they’ll remain strong for generations to come.”
So, the Pulaski Days Committee is asking individuals to buy pins and Polish shields at local businesses such as Sobie Meats, 3450 Remembrance Rd NW and Lewandoski Meats, 1107 Walker Ave NW. The committee also is asking for charitable contributions to an emergency fund called Save The Halls. All of the money collected will be split equally among all of the halls, Kershner said.
Contributions to Save the Halls can be made in person at the Grand Rapids branch of Credit Union ONE, 1609 Walker Ave. NW, and online by going to the Pulaski Days Committee website at pulaskidays.org, where there is a PayPal button for the Save The Halls campaign.
