Nearly 40,000 pierogi to be sold at Sweetest Heart of Mary annual Pierogi Festival
It’s pierogi showtime at one of downtown Detroit’s most notable churches.
Tens of thousands of handmade pierogi and other fine Polish food delights will be in the spotlight Friday through Sunday at the Sweetest Heart of Mary annual Pierogi Festival.
The pierogi bonanza kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday under the outdoor tents at the Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church on the city's east side. The annual festival is now in its 42nd year at the church, which is one of Detroit's oldest and most beautiful, ornate churches.
Each year, the church hangs a large rosary from the trunk of a pine tree in hopes of a great pierogi festival weekend.
A highlight of the pierogi sold at the festival is that they are all handmade on-site by church volunteers throughout the year.
While the church sells pierogi year-round, on Saturday and Sunday during the festival, nearly 40,000 will be available frozen or as part of a dinner, according to event organizers.
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During the festival you can buy frozen pierogi by the half-dozen or dozen. Pierogi varieties are potato-cheddar, farmer's cheese and kraut. You can also enjoy cooked pierogi at the festival.
Festival events include a lineup of live entertainment throughout the weekend, including music from the Polish Muslims, the Steve Drzewicki Band, Kielbasa Kings and the New Brass Express.
Polish dancers perform at different times all three days.
This event always draws big crowds to indulge in the pillowy pierogi as well as other Polish foods, including stuffed cabbage, city chicken, kielbasa and potato pancakes.
On Friday, the festival kicks off and is open from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. with a performance by the Polish Muslims. Popular Hamtramck eatery Polish Village Café and Srodek’s Polish food market, with locations in Hamtramck and Sterling Heights, will be on-site on Friday offering pierogi and other specialties. Saturday festival hours are noon to 9 p.m. with a reverent polka Mass at 4 p.m. The festival wraps up on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. with Mass at 10 a.m. and noon.
Along with the pierogi, the church holds its vast resale shop during the festival, has a beer tent and sells baked goods. There’s also a kids game area.
Sweetest Heart of Mary Church is at 4440 Russell St. For festival information, go to motherofdivinemercy.org.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sweetest Heart of Mary annual Pierogi Festival to run Friday-Sunday
