Boyne Falls Polish Festival returns Aug. 3-6

Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read

BOYNE FALLS — For the 48th year, Boyne Falls will welcome polka bands, carnival rides and mud runs during its annual Polish Festival.

Starting on Thursday, Aug. 3 with Local’s Night, the Polka Tent opens at 5 p.m. A $10 cover charge or a tent pass is required to enter the tent.

People dance to live music under the Polka Tent at the Boyne Falls Polish Festival.
People dance to live music under the Polka Tent at the Boyne Falls Polish Festival.

Also on Thursday will be bingo, carnival rides and a car show.

On Friday, Aug. 4, Youth Day takes over the festival with games beginning at 9 a.m. at the Fire and County Building on Railroad Street. The Youth Bike Parade will take place at 1 p.m.

Cars line the street for the car show during the Boyne Falls Polish Festival.
Cars line the street for the car show during the Boyne Falls Polish Festival.

Music begins in the Polka Tent at noon. While only those age 21 and over are allowed in the Polka Tent on Thursday, for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all ages are invited until 9 p.m. After 9 p.m., anyone under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Gwiazda dancers from the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America perform at the 2019 Boyne Falls Polish Festival.
Gwiazda dancers from the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America perform at the 2019 Boyne Falls Polish Festival.

Pits for the Bump-N-Run open at 2 p.m., and the green flag will drop at 6 p.m. The event, featuring modified and stock cars, takes place at the east end of Church Street on the Mud Run course.

Cost of admission is $10 for ages 17 and older, $5 for kids ages 5-16 and free for kids under age 5. Registration is $50 and pit passes cost $20.

Tractors, fire trucks and more took part in a past year's Boyne Falls Polish Festival parade.
Tractors, fire trucks and more took part in a past year's Boyne Falls Polish Festival parade.

On Saturday, the Grand Royale Parade begins at 11 a.m. Recognition of the festival’s royalty, parade winners and more will take place inside the Polka Tent at 12:30 p.m.

The 2023 Boyne Falls Polish Festival Royalty includes:

  • Honored Citizens: Rudy Kondrat and Dale Reinhardt

  • Grand Marshals: Ed and Nancy Moyer

  • Little Miss: Marlelah Giem

  • Little Mister: Camden Reynolds

Also on Saturday’s schedule is music in the Polka Tent starting at noon, a bake sale and silent auction at the Methodist Church, carnival rides and bingo. A cornhole tournament is set to start at 3 p.m.

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A driver splashes through the mud during the Boyne Falls Polish Festival's annual Mud Run.
A driver splashes through the mud during the Boyne Falls Polish Festival's annual Mud Run.

Sunday brings in some messy fun, as the 4-Wheel Drive Mud Run is set to start at noon. Running all day, the popular event features vehicles revving through the mud as they try to navigate the course.

Admission is $10 for ages 6 and up. Pit passes are $25 and registration is $30 per run per truck.

Crowds gather to watch the 4-Wheel Drive Mud Run in Boyne Falls.
Crowds gather to watch the 4-Wheel Drive Mud Run in Boyne Falls.

Sunday is the final day of the festival, with concessions, carnival rides and the Polka Tent all wrapping up.

For more information and to see the full schedule of events, visit boynefallspolishfestival.com.

— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne Falls Polish Festival returns Aug. 3-6