The annual Polish Town Fair & Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2026, and admission – as every year – is completely free.
Polish Town – a district that hasn’t forgotten its roots
Riverhead, on the eastern end of Long Island, is a place that for decades has been associated with the Polish community as more than just a name on a map. Polish Town is a part of the city where Polish immigrants settled from the beginning of the 20th century, bringing with them traditions, recipes, and craftsmanship that are still visible at every turn – from street names to the local parish with Polish roots. The festival, organized by the Polish Town Civic Association since 1975, is a living tribute to this history – and at the same time, an opportunity to show it to a new generation, including those who have increasingly looser daily contact with Poland.
It is this dual character – nurturing roots and being open to everyone, regardless of origin – that makes the event attract a wider audience each year. The organizers announce two days filled with music, food, and handicrafts, “rain or shine” – the festival will take place regardless of the weather, so it’s worth reserving this weekend in your calendar without worrying about the forecast.
What awaits visitors on the streets of Polish Town
The heart of the festival is over a hundred stalls of local exhibitors and artisans, set up along the main streets of the district – from jewelry and folk patterns to handmade ceramics and souvenirs referencing Polish tradition. For many visitors, this part of the festival is the most engaging: you can not only buy something unique but also talk to the creators, listen to their stories, and learn where they draw inspiration.
No less important is the cuisine – or rather, a whole palette of flavors that are hard to find daily outside of Polish districts in the USA. Freshly made pierogi, smoked sausage straight from the grill, fluffy babka, and other baked goods known from family kitchens in Poland – this menu attracts not only the Polish community but also neighbors from all over Long Island to the Polish Town Fair, curious about the aroma of a real Polish outdoor feast.
Music floats over it all – live polka bands and traditional folk dances in regional costumes transform the streets of Riverhead into a true stage, where both older residents remembering similar festivals from years past and the youngest, who are just learning the steps, eagerly dance. It is this mix of generations – grandparents clapping to the rhythm, parents watching children at the toy stall, teenagers taking photos for social media – that gives the festival a unique, family atmosphere that cannot be replicated at any other event in the region.
Why it’s worth going there
For the Polish community from Long Island and the New York area, the Polish Town Fair is one of the few opportunities in the year to feel like they’re at a real Polish festival – without the need for a long journey. For people outside the Polish community, it’s a rare chance to directly and tangibly experience the culture that shaped part of this place’s history – without rush, without an entrance ticket, in the open, friendly atmosphere of a street festival.
It’s also worth remembering that these types of events thrive thanks to local exhibitors and businesses that get involved in the organization – either as sponsors or as product stalls. This is a good opportunity to support Polish and Polish-American businesses operating on Long Island, and at the same time, do some shopping that you won’t find in any chain shopping mall.
How to prepare and where to find updates
Organizers encourage those interested in running a stall – whether for products or food – to apply in advance via the application form available on the festival website. Updates regarding the concert schedule, list of exhibitors, and any organizational changes are also posted there regularly, so it’s worth checking back frequently in the weeks leading up to the event.
For many families on Long Island, the Polish Town Fair is already a fixed point in the August calendar – an event they return to year after year because something in it always adds energy: new exhibitors, new bands, new flavors at the food stalls. If you’ve never been there, August 2026 is a good time to change that.
When
Saturday and Sunday, August 15-16, 2026. The event takes place regardless of the weather.
Where
Polish Town, Riverhead, Long Island, New York.
Tickets
Admission to the street festival is completely free.
More information
Exhibitor registration, current schedule, and the latest information are available on the official website of the organizer, Polish Town Civic Association: polishtowncivicassociation.org/polish-town-fair.
Anna Lemańska, Poland.US (Voice of the Polish Community in the USA). Based on information from the Polish Town Civic Association. More reports from Polish community events at poland.us.
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