Posen prepares for 52nd annual Potato Festival
For folks filled with joy taking part in the Posen Potato Festival, there are three highlights of many that are most cherished of all: * The Polish heritage Mass at St. Casimir Catholic Church. * The grand parade. * And the fabulous food.
LARGEST FESTIVAL the entire year in northeast Michigan, the Posen Potato Festival unfolds Friday, September 5, Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7. Every community in Presque Isle County is represented at the Posen Potato Festival along with countless communities from all over Michigan. Posen holds a special place in the hearts of people all over Michigan and even across the United States. Named for a city and province in Poland, Posen was first settled in the 1870s by lumbermen and homesteaders and their families who had immigrated from Poland.
The year 1875 was a major year in Posen history. It was that year that Posen gained a strong and clear identity ? as a village and township, as a post office, and with the first church, which was built of logs, of St. Casimir Catholic Church.
IN 1875 POLAND was partitioned and the spelling Posen was used at that time. Today the name of the city and province in Poland have returned to the original of Poznan. But Posen, Michigan, has kept its original spelling. And today, Posen, Michigan, and Poznan, Poland have a special bond with mutual recognition. The 2003 gathering is the 52nd annual Posen Potato Festival. It originated as a celebration in October of the potato harvest. It was so successful that it was made into a general community celebration in September. The festival is easy to remember in terms of the calendar ? it is always the first weekend after Labor Day. Indeed, many a participant automatically reserves that weekend every year.
AN ESTIMATED 30,000 people come each year to the Posen Potato Festival. The big days are Saturday and Sunday. Now as for those three special highlights most cherished of all:
* The Polish folk music Mass at St. Casimir Church will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. But get there by 10:15 a.m. to get a seat as it is enormously popular. Pan Franek and Zosia and their band from Muskegon provide the wonderful, inspiring Polish folk music. They blend in marvelous fashion the heritage of the Catholic faith with the heritage of the music of Poland.
* The grand parade is at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on Main Street, M-65, in Posen. It?s the largest parade the entire year in northeast Michigan. The floats and units are varied and colorful, from every community in Presque Isle County and from numerous other communities around Michigan.
* The fabulous food is provided by community and church groups on Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Here are the possibilities ? take your choice from fabulous selections!
* The Posen Knights of Columbus breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday. The breakfast features potato pancakes with all the trimmings.
* The Posen Veterans of Foreign Wars dinner from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. The dinner includes roast beef, ham, golabki (stuffed cabbage), potatoes, glazed carrots, coleslaw, relish tray, homemade bread, dessert and beverages. * The festival dinner in the St. Casimir School gym from noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The dinner includes chicken, kielbasa, potatoes, sauerkraut, cole slaw, dinner rolls, cheesecake, and beverages. The Presque Isle County Council on Aging is sponsor of this dinner.
* The VFW breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Sunday. The breakfast features Polish sausage, ham, buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast, juice, and sweets.
* The Potato Pancake Smorgasbord in the Community Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The dinner features ham, Polish sausage, dessert bar, and much more, and naturally, potato pancakes. The St. Casimir Rosary Sodality is sponsor.
* The VFW Dinner from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The dinner features Polish sausage, ham, golabki (stuffed cabbage), potatoes, glazed carrots, coleslaw, sauerkraut, relish tray, homemade bread, dessert, and beverages.
THE POSEN Potato Festival has many other highlights as well. Here is a sampling:
* Polka Dance from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday in the Polka Pavilion. * The potato displays in the Posen Township Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
* Elowsky Grist Mill tours Saturday.
* The 11th annual arts and crafts show, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Posen High School. Note: one
* The children?s parade at noon Saturday on Main Street in Posen. The parade is delightful and humorous.
* Free, yes free, Polka music and dancing, from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, in the Polka Pavilion. Two bands take turns ? the Kielbasa Kings from Dearborn, and Pan Franek and Zosia.
* The polka dance from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday in the Polka Pavilion and the Country Dance from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Country Western Pavilion.
* A comedy and variety show in the grandstand area starting at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.
* A demolition derby at 3 p.m. Sunday.
—by Robert Selwa, Special Contributor—-