BC Polish Festival Singers

The British Columbia Polish Festival is a celebration of Polish food and culture. It takes place in Port Coquitlam during the month of May each year.

In 2022 the event happened in the afternoon and evening of Sunday, May 29th. In addition to showcasing Polish music, dancing, food and drinks, this past year’s event also had a fundraising aspect benefiting people affected by the crisis in Ukraine! 2023 dates and details will likely be similar, although exact details are to be confirmed.

For the Port Coquitlam event’s official website visit www.poloneztri-city.org.

Dancers at BC Polish Festival

Port Coquitlam’s Polish Festival

The BC Polish Festival is an annual one-day event in Port Coquitlam that celebrates Polish culture. The event is free to attend and features live entertainment, an outdoor dance party, Polish cuisine and more.

Each year the festival is organized by the Polonez Tri-City Polish Association which has been around since 1989. The association is made up of volunteers that strive to continue Polish traditions and share the wonderful culture with local communities in the province.

In 2022 organizers anticipated large crowds at the festival, especially since the event couldn’t take place over the previous couple of years due to COVID-19 and related provincial health restrictions. A lot of people did indeed attend!

Given the situation in Ukraine at the time, festival organizers added Ukrainian dancers to the entertainment lineup. There was also a fundraising opportunity that benefited people in Ukraine.

Where and When

In 2022 the 15th annual BC Polish Festival took place on Sunday, May 29th. The festival began at 1:00 in the afternoon and ran until 9:00 pm. 2023 details will likely be similar.

All festivities are held at 2253 Leigh Square in Port Coquitlam. The location is in the middle of the city’s downtown area, so it’s easily accessible by both car and public transit. The Port Coquitlam SkyTrain Station is also just a 10-minute walk away.

At the festival a small market with vendors and community information stalls is at the entrance to the venue on Leigh Square Place just off Shaughnessy Street. Live entertainment happens in front of the stage in the middle of the square. Behind the stage and to one side are the food stalls.

Leigh Square Festival Crowd — Leigh Square During the BC Polish Festival

What to Expect at the BC Polish Festival

The festival features several traditional dance and musical performances. You can expect to see energetic entertainment and lots of beautiful costumes. The 2022 event included routines by the Polonez Folk Dance Ensemble, Dovbush Ukrainian Dancers and more. Musical artists performing during the day also included the Parno Drom and White Eagle bands.

Although live entertainment happens throughout most of the event, the free outdoor dance party usually runs from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. This is when everyone was encouraged to get up and move to music performed live by Hey Ziuta and Slovak Sound in 2022.

The BC Polish Festival also has lots of food and beverages available for purchase. Items on offer are traditional dishes and drinks from Poland, so the festival a great opportunity to get a taste of what typical cuisine is like in the country. In a typical year you can expect to see perogies, sausages, ham hocks, desserts, Polish beer and more!

Another big component of the 2022 event was its special art auction. Works from popular artists were up for bidding, with proceeds helping those suffering from the war in Ukraine. 15 artists donated their artwork and there were over 40 pieces of art to bid on. The festival also features an arts and crafts marketplace and a raffle with several prizes.

Click British Columbia Polish Festival for the event’s official website.