This joyful celebration, which dates to the middle ages, is the Polish equivalent of America’s Thanksgiving holiday. In Poland, this event marks the end of the wheat harvest. At Corpus Christi, Dozynki is an opportunity to give thanks for all manner of blessings.
The heart of the Polish Harvest Festival is to bring people together in a spirit of gratitude and appreciation to God for all we have been given. The uniqueness of this celebration is expressed during the offertory procession during Sunday’s Dozynki Mass, to be held at 11:30a.m.,when a specially baked bread is presented along with a wreath made of grains.
Event Schedule:
Saturday August 21
- 11:30a.m. The festival opens with a Mass in the restored Chapel, next to the church.
- 12:30p.m. Music – Al Kania’s Polka Smile Eastern Style
- 4:30p.m. Buffalo’s Best Pierogi Contest
- 5:30p.m. Holy Mass
- 6:30p.m Music – Concertina All-Stars. Dancing under the Main Tent.
Sunday August 22
- 11:30a.m. Special Mass of Thanksgiving honoring Our Lady of Czestochowa, with music by Corpus Christi’s Music Director, Bruce Woody, and singing by Ludowa Nuta Polish Folk Choir
- 12:45p.m.-5:30p.m. Joe Macielag’s Pic-A-Polka Band, along with additional performances by Ludowa Nuta Polish Folk Choir
- 6:30p.m. Music by True Colors band. Dancing under the Main Tent.
The Harvest Festival ends at 10:00p.m. on both days. This year’s Dozynki Festival offers both familiar and unique Polish/American foods, including Polish Pizza; a large selection of Polish beers; live music; a Farmers’ Market; historic church tours; a Grand Raffle with cash prizes; a Best Pierogi contest with local celebrity judges; and many other activities.
Admission is free and all proceeds support the church’s historic restoration.
Corpus Christi Church is located at 199 Clark St. in Buffalo, one block east of the Broadway Market.
For more updated information about the Dozynki Festival and other events at Corpus Christi Church, visit www.corpuschristibuffalo.org.
Sharon Martin
This was my first experience attending a Dozynki Festival. What FUN! I will look forward to attending this event again and again in the future. The warmth and closeness of the Polish community could be felt throughout the two evenings that we were there. Thank you, Corpus Christi!