If you love kielbasi, then Saturday's fifth annual Kielbasi Festival in downtown Shenandoah is the place you have to be.
Whether you like it fresh or smoked, on a bun or a plate, with or without sauerkraut, kielbasi is a major part of Eastern European cuisine and culture, with its fans extending to many other cultures.
The festival continues to grow each year, with this year's event to be the biggest ever. Sponsored by Downtown Shenandoah Inc., the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on North Main Street in the unit and 100 blocks, and will expand a bit into the 200 block this year.
"We will be spreading the vendors out this year to reduce congestion," said Mary Luscavage, Shenandoah Main Street manager. "Last year we had an estimated 5,000 people. From the phone calls we're getting, we expect to have more on Saturday. When we started this, never in my wildest dreams did I think it would get this big."
Those blocks will be closed to traffic to allow people to have a safe area to walk from vendor to vendor for food and other items for sale.
"The three Kielbasi Kings will be here, as will Mrs. T's Pierogies and many vendors," said Luscavage.
Luscavage's reference to the Kielbasi Kings refers to Shenandoah's main three commercial kielbasi producers: Kowalonek's Kielbasy Shop, the Capitol Food Market and Lucky's Deli, all of whom have fans of their particularly recipes for kielbasi.
Luscavage said the DSI has been receiving phone calls from many different areas about the festival.
"I just got a call from Mifflinburg, and two others today from Maryland," said Luscavage. "We had about 20 phone calls today."
For those up to a challenge, people can enter the kielbasi-making contest and see how their fresh or smoked (or both) kielbasi competes with others. The contest is not open to anyone who makes kielbasi commercially. The Kielbasi Kings will judge the contest.
The cost to enter the contest is $5. Contestants can register by calling 570-462-2060, which is preferable, but walk-in entries are acceptable. The homemade kielbasi should be cooked in advance, placed in plastic bags and brought to the DSI office, 116 N. Main St., by noon. Judging will begin at 1 p.m.
"There are 13 kielbasi contestants registered so far, but we get many last-minute entries," said Luscavage. "We're looking for more. So far, the contestant coming from the farthest distance is Maryland."
For more information on the contest, call 570-462-2060.
"There will be lots of Eastern European food like halupki, halushki, babka, bleenies, and crafting vendors with matrushka, pysanky, straw ornaments, Polish pottery and more," said Luscavage. "We have more vendors and crafters than last year. So far we have about 60 vendors. There will be games for the kids. Of course, our three 'Kings' will have something special this year. Each year they make something different, unique."
Luscavage said visitors should bring their appetites. For those who enjoy The Hookies famous bleenies, she said the fire company will increase the amount to be made this year to meet the demand.
Entertainment will be provided by the Shenandoah All-Star Polka Band, which is a combination of musicians from different bands who get together every year to play in the Legion Memorial Garden.
"People look so forward to this festival," said Luscavage.
The website for DSI is www.downtownshenandoah.com, and the Kielbasi Festival has a Facebook page.