Founded in 2003 by Jason Uzl, Ethnic Jazz is Ohio's hottest polka band. Now led by Jim Krzeszewski, the band has a group of talented veterans who have played with the biggest names in the business. The band takes pride in continuing the tradition of solid Polish-style polka music but with a fresh take. You'll hear plenty of your favorites, a few songs you may have forgotten, and some catchy original tunes. The horns are tight & bright, the concertina tickles every key, the rhythm make you want to dance, and the vocals are unique & top notch. Don't let the name fool you. While there's a heartfelt improvisation in polka music (it's kind of like...well, Ethnic Jazz)......you'll find no actual jazz tunes or goatees.....Just a solid polka band with an ever-growing tour schedule & plenty of fan-appeal.
In 2003, 16-year old Jake Kouwe was told there was no place for an accordion in his local high school's marching band. In response, Jake recruited a group of five mismatched teenagers to form a genuine oom-pah style polka band. This group, known as “The Chardon High School Polka Band”, was a rather motley assembly of teenage musicians that included an accordion, tuba, clarinet, saxophone, electric guitar, and trumpet.
Now, over seven later, the band's eclectic style and uniqueness has found a following. The band plays traditional polkas reminiscent of “The Lawrence Welk Show”, but sometimes morphs into punk-rock renditions of the same songs, modified for a young audience. They throw in comedic renditions of oddball favorites, bizarre audience participation songs, and even a Polka-Rock covers of anything from Twisted Sister's “We're Not Gonna Take It” to Queens “Fat Bottomed Girls”! The Chardon Polka Band has an ever-growing library of original tunes, many of which are featured on their first studio album, “Pirates, Women, and Beer”.
Honky Rocky & the Jammers
Honky Rocky and the Jammers is the creation of Youngstown's own Rocco Naples. The Jammers are musicians who accompany Rocco singing traditional Polish language songs. Trumpets, clarinets and bass are some of the occasional jammers, but all enthusiastic participants are welcome! Rocco plays the drums, sings, and fills in on concertina. Roger Juntunen is the featured Polish-style concertina player who keeps it all together. Polkas, waltzes, obereks, mazurkas, krakowiaks, and other traditional Polish songs come alive when you join in and sing the Polish language versions using sing-a-long sheets of your favorite Polish tunes. Come join the fun with Honky Rocky & the Jammers playing songs that will make you happy and make you smile.”
The Krakowiaki Polish Folk Circle is a non-profit, community-based organization created to share our rich, colorful Polish heritage with the next generation. Its mission is to explore and share Polish culture through dance, music, language study and folk art in a fun and supportive environment. The Youngstown group has dancers ranging in age from 2-18 years. They and the adult choir and folk band perform throughout the region at various civic, community and private events.
Polka Demonstrations and Trick Workshop
The only people who don't like to polka are the ones that don't know how. If you never learned, make this the day to change your status! The Krakowiaki Polish Folk Circle dancers will be demonstrating some of the line dances that are so popular at polka festivals in New York and New England. After that it is your turn to get up and try it. If that's not your speed, we will also offer a session of just tricks like the Window and Back to Back to name a few. To cap it all off we will wow you with Pennsylvania State Polka Champions John Patrick and Darleen Kovach. This dynamic pair has been burning up the floor together for more than 21 years. They have competed and performed at every major polka dance event and contest on the East Coast with their favorite being the Polka Dance Championships in Frankenmuth, MI. They will definitely wow you!
Watch the PA Polka Champions
Watch the Atomik Polka Video
Pierogi-Eating Contest
We know there are plenty of people who like pierogies but do you love'em enough to be Youngstown's Pierogi Eating Champ? Competitors of all shapes and sizes can sign up for the second annual pierogi-eating contest. The rules are simple: Eat as many of the stuffed pasta pockets as possible with your fingers in three minutes There is an entry fee of $10 with each contestant receiving a competition T-shirt. There are also first, second, and third place CASH prizes. The pierogi-eating contest is held on the dance floor at 4:45pm. Get your application HERE
Jamming Accordions
Part of its effort to introduce young people to this fun instrument, Polish Day will offer its second annual "hands-on" experience for both young and old alike. Throughout the day accordions will be available to view and try out, info sessions about what makes the music and experienced accordionists to answer your questions. On the main stage novices, experts and the general public will show what they've learned. All attendees with an accordion get in for FREE.
If you have an accordion to lend for display, are interested in helping to staff this part of the event or are an experienced teacher, please join in the fun. For more information, call 330-549-0124 or lisa.s.lotze@gmail.com.
Cultural Garden
Beginner's Genealogy Pam Burgess
This workshop will focus on where to begin your genealogy research with an emphasis on locating documents, filing appropriate request forms and specific agencies to contact. . In this workshop you will also gain an understanding of the importance of the history and events occurring during the time period you are searching and how it may impact your search.
Buttons and Bellows Roger Juntunen
This workshop will serve as an introduction to Free Reed instruments, i.e. accordion, concertina, etc. It will be a hands on workshop so bring your instrument! The focus will be on the use of these instruments in different types of music especially the Polish, Midwestern United States music. Be prepared to learn a song and to play as a group in front of an audience!
Scrap Your Family Tree! Susan Stanish
Having the information is only fun if you can share it. Creative Memories consultant Susan Stanish will show you how to scrap a three-page family tree. Come in with several of your family photos and she will help you make it happen. Come see her collection of polish words, phrases and colored pages. Supplies will be available to purchase. She also will be hosting an all-day crop for the serious scrap booker!
Be Your Own Historian Sherry Linkon
Do you want to capture your parents' and grandparents' memories to share with future generations? In this hands-on workshop Leaders from YSU's Steel Valley Voices project will offer tips and guidelines on how to collect information from family members, write engaging family stories, and preserve and share precious materials like photographs, letters, passports, and more. Bring your materials and your stories!
Travel to the "New" Country Mitch Benia
Fresh from his recent PolishYoungstown tour to Poland, Bienia will present travel options to our homeland. A country crushed flat so many times it has become indestructible, Poland is shaking off the last vestiges of forced slumber and rushing with great abandon into a modern 21st century. He will be available to discuss how these changes affect a tourist, share his knowledge gained from his more than 40 trips and take ideas for upcoming tours.
Say it in Polish Marta Mazur
Want to be able to greet your Babcia in her native language or just make conversation at Polish Happy Hour? During the 1-hour workshop, the PolishYoungstown Polish instructors teach simple greetings and introductions, as well as learn the words to Sto Lat, (One Hundred Years) the traditional Polish song sung to express good wishes, good health and long life to a person. Afterward there will be a big group sing-a-long of the song in the main hall!
Founded in 2003 by Jason Uzl, Ethnic Jazz is Ohio's hottest polka band. Now led by Jim Krzeszewski, the band has a group of talented veterans who have played with the biggest names in the business. The band takes pride in continuing the tradition of solid Polish-style polka music but with a fresh take. You'll hear plenty of your favorites, a few songs you may have forgotten, and some catchy original tunes. The horns are tight & bright, the concertina tickles every key, the rhythm make you want to dance, and the vocals are unique & top notch. Don't let the name fool you. While there's a heartfelt improvisation in polka music (it's kind of like...well, Ethnic Jazz)......you'll find no actual jazz tunes or goatees.....Just a solid polka band with an ever-growing tour schedule & plenty of fan-appeal.
In 2003, 16-year old Jake Kouwe was told there was no place for an accordion in his local high school's marching band. In response, Jake recruited a group of five mismatched teenagers to form a genuine oom-pah style polka band. This group, known as “The Chardon High School Polka Band”, was a rather motley assembly of teenage musicians that included an accordion, tuba, clarinet, saxophone, electric guitar, and trumpet.
The Krakowiaki Polish Folk Circle is a non-profit, community-based organization created to share our rich, colorful Polish heritage with the next generation. Its mission is to explore and share Polish culture through dance, music, language study and folk art in a fun and supportive environment. The Youngstown group has dancers ranging in age from 2-18 years. They and the adult choir and folk band perform throughout the region at various civic, community and private events. 
We know there are plenty of people who like pierogies but do you love'em enough to be Youngstown's Pierogi Eating Champ? Competitors of all shapes and sizes can sign up for the second annual pierogi-eating contest. The rules are simple: Eat as many of the stuffed pasta pockets as possible with your fingers in three minutes There is an entry fee of $10 with each contestant receiving a competition T-shirt. There are also first, second, and third place CASH prizes. The pierogi-eating contest is held on the dance floor at 4:45pm. Get your application 
Part of its effort to introduce young people to this fun instrument, Polish Day will offer its second annual "hands-on" experience for both young and old alike. Throughout the day accordions will be available to view and try out, info sessions about what makes the music and experienced accordionists to answer your questions. On the main stage novices, experts and the general public will show what they've learned. All attendees with an accordion get in for FREE.