Standing Out, Sipping Tyskies, and Meeting Miss Pączki: More Pierogi Fest Adventures! 🥟👑

If you read my last post about hitting the road with Darren to meet Sarah over at Buscia's Buns, you know we had an incredible time in Whiting, Indiana for Pierogi Fest. But the adventure didn't stop there.

I have to admit - walking into Pierogi Fest wearing my full pierogi crown and festival attire made me feel super out of place at first. Unlike Dyngus Day back in Cleveland where everyone goes all-out with their festive gear, this crowd was mostly rocking everyday streetwear.

To calm our nerves of standing out like a sore thumb, Darren and I quickly found our way to the beer tent for a cold Tyskie. From there, we grabbed a spot at a street-side bar, tucked ourselves into a corner near the window, and settled in to watch the festival roll by while getting to work on our drinks.

Sitting there watching the crowd, I kept noticing a family nearby who kept glancing over at us and then looking away. The funny thing? They were wearing Pączki shirts at a pierogi festival. Figuring I had enough liquid courage, I decided to go say hi and tell them I loved their shirts.

Turns out, that random chat turned the whole weekend around. They told Darren and me that we were a good-looking couple and that we totally stood out because we were actually wearing pierogi-themed gear. Even better? They were the family of Miss Pączki herself - one of the three local royalty figures of the fest (alongside Mr. Pierogi and the Gołąbki Guy, a.k.a. the Halupki Guy since he's Slovak!).

I told them how much I was inspired by her photos and that I had actually made a Pączki crown of my own. They immediately said, "We need to get her over here!"

Because the festival celebs are on a super strict schedule, I was completely blown away and honored when Grace -- Miss Pączki herself -- actually showed up to the bar to hang out with us!

She was so sweet, down-to-earth, and totally impressed with my outfit. Her family filled us in on how she became Miss Pączki (mostly because she's so cute and smiley, and got "grandfathered in" over time!). They live in the Chicago area now, and she was an absolute delight.

I just happened to have a bushel of my pierogi crowns with me (like I usually pack for Dyngus Day) along with a couple of Pączki crowns I had tossed in just for fun. With her old crown on, she honestly looked like one of the little oysters from Alice in Wonderland! She and her mother ended up buying both Pączki headbands, and Grace wore the new one for the rest of the day. It felt so surreal and awesome knowing these crowns are becoming a tiny part of her family's history now, and I'm just so happy they found a home with them.

Grace had to run, so Darren and I tagged along as unofficial plus-ones for a few hours. Her boyfriend, Austin, was so kind and filled us in on all the festival happenings. I was so tempted to sneak into their VIP breakroom area to hang out longer, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome or bother them—even though I really, really wanted to! So, if you guys are reading this: I want to hang out again, because you made us feel so incredibly welcomed.

And I didn't even mention the food yet! Sarah was feeding us, Darren was feeding us, and I was in pure butter-and-carb heaven. I honestly couldn't even tell you which pierogi was the absolute best because they were all fantastic.

Looking back, I kind of wish we had driven out for Friday night to catch the parade - from the photos I saw, people dressed up a lot more on Friday, so I probably wouldn't have felt so out of place right away. We did catch the polka dancing competition, though, which was adorable. (That older couple totally deserved the win, though I think Grace's cousins should have taken second place, haha!)

Moments like that—where a random road trip turns into finding your people over cold beers and handmade crowns—are the exact reason I make what I make.

Until the next festival, Pole Cat Club OUT! 😅🍻