Pierogi Fest

We enjoyed Pierogi fest so much! Even in the rain we had a great time. Everyone was so friendly and cheerful! So many Pierogi stations and other foods as well.

This was a fun experience! Lots of craft and food vendors. Beer gardens. Rides. I only wish there were more diverse flavors of pierogies. It seemed that every vendor pretty much had the same flavors. I thought the best pierogies came from Gosia's Pierogies, a deaf-owned company. They were so buttery and crisp with delicious onions on top. They ladies were so nice there.

It's an annual tradition. So much food to choice from. Great entertainment options and a beer tent.

Food was amazing! 🤩Best selection of Pierogi’s…tried fried Pierogi for the 1st time & delish. Music & energy was great! Family oriented & kid section also bouncy house. A must go if you love Pierogi or Polish Sausage - see pic, great prices $ & fed two, took 20 min! lol Parade was cute & set vibe, even with its starting you can maneuver through. Crowd was so 👍 nice. Whiting has Chicago vibe with alleys, & bungalows.

Awesome Eats and even better prices. Out of all the Festivals, this one has the most reasonable prices. No charges to get in and no metal detectors to go through. Old school friendly get together fest. They also have live music with a few different stages set up. I have been going here for years, please don't change a thing. P.S. Rib fest doesn't even come close. Lol!

Its sooo overly crowded! Takes away f4om the fun.

We loved it!!!! The Polish food is Fantastic!! We sat in the shade with a nice breeze, listening to a great band and ate . . . And ate!!😁 Pierogi Fest is a Must Visit every year!!!!!

I struggled with this one a bit. I have been attending this festival for decad and on one hand, food choices are spectacular. This is no longer a pierogi fest but a street food festival (obviously dominated by pierogi, but there'sso much more!). Very few merchants selling arts and crafts but I think dozens if not hundreds of food vendors - not any food vendors, but highest shelf vendors that had been in the field for decades and perfected their craft over the years. On the other hand, felt like the festival lost it's spark. Very many new vendors, festival keeps on expanding with making everyone walking more and more (I gave up after walking just a few blocks and didn't get to experience all there was - looked for familiar vendors which were pushed back towards the end of the fest and that was just too far to walk in the heat). Not enough bathrooms. Not enough cooling stations. No cell phone coverage (too many people trying to connect to the same cell towers). Vendors not accepting credit cards due to no wifi/cell coverage. Traffic caused by road construction right by the entrance. Long lines by some vendors that were causing blockage in foot traffic for others. Big police presence but very many kids smoking Marijuana in the open/while walking. All those factors made me have very mixed feelings and have me question if I will be coming back next year.

Pierogi Fest is fun BUT you have to have the right mindset and attitude to make the most of your time here. First, parking will be a WALK (like 10+ minutes away unless you want to pay $20 in a lot). There is a parade around 7pm then Friday of the fest, so be mindful of that if you want to see it and for crowd size. I think it's worth the drive from Chicago, but I also don't mind driving. Where else can you get brisket pierogi?! I find it fun to try things that don't appear in the Chicago fest circuit. The Thai Noodles stand looked so good but I was full by the time I passed it. Next time! Definitely buy some local baked goods to take home and share with those that couldn't make it. Being a cooler with ice packs if you want to buy some frozen pierogi for home.

I have been going to this Pierogi Fest for many years. It always seems to be during the hottest days at the end of July. If you go during the day there is little shade except for a few random trees and shade from the buildings on sidewalks behind the food vendors. I recommend going at night when the sun is not adding to the heat index. Food is pricey which can be expected from festivals. Food lines vary I believe by coincidence. Some really good food vendors had no wait.

Put the date on your calendar for the last weekend in July to enjoy a fun, foodie, family festival of Eastern European music, beer, chachkees(sp) . Friday through Sunday including parade of the "buscias" ( grannies). Shuttles help with parking in this small, Lake Michigan town. Enjoy the buttery treats up and down the Main Street with many other food choices. Beer garden, kids area. A family fun time.

Great food and socialization. Hope to go again next year! So much to choose from! Had a great time eating and drinking, met some new people. Highly recommend.

A good time! Lots of food vendors, some arts and crafts, lots of live music, a few carnival games and rides for the kiddos! Best of all, it's a peaceful crowd out to enjoy a day out in a festival atmosphere! Fun!

There is nothin' like this in the WORLD! Food, Beer and PIRROGIS - Heaven on The Lake.

Although this is a pierogi-fest, there is plenty of other foods including pizza, sausages, fried green tomatoes and okra, gyros, and much more. There is something there for everyone. I went early and didn't have a problem finding parking right outside of the event but when I left, people were using event parking lots and taking shuttles. I am glad that I brought cash, there were a lot of "Cash Only" signs. Overall, it was a fun festival! I would definitely go back!

Everything. I love celebrating my Polska roots with Mr.Pierogi and the crew. I also love the pierogis and potato pancakes.

First time visit in a long! A northern western staple to the Whiting town, The Pierogi Fest was a family fun time! Kinda crowded but not too bad. Parking was a nightmare but the city offered parking at nearby schools and shuttles to the fest. All around a great time for the family on the weekend!

I can sum up my day at Pierogi Fest in two words: pierogis + crowds. However, the pierogis are worth the crowds, especially since there are multiple locations for specific vendors along the main street in downtown Whiting. Some pro tips: (01) Come early in the day, not only for less congestion, but also because vendors will be stocked with their food supply. I was there on a Saturday at 4 PM and already certain favorite pierogi varieties were already gone. (02) There is free parking/shuttles less than 1 mile from the fest. Use 'em instead of paying $20. (03) Have cash handy. Some vendors don't take card. (04) Order from a vendor that allows you to mix and match. I was able to try seven different types of pierogis that way. (05) Before leaving Whiting, walk off your pierogi coma at the nearby lakefront park and beach.

Warning to anyone coming with their pups, areas of the fest are NOT dog friendly. We brought our pups because we assumed we could go anywhere with them and we were denied multiple times in different areas. Wouldn't have driven all this way with them. Don't advertise dog-friendly on your website if you have restrictions, list restrictions. Won't come back.

So glad we came back to Pierogifest again this year! This is such a great time. Very family friendly. Good diversity of food offerings, most at a good price point. However it is Pierogifest, and there is no shortage of Pierogi to be had! Take your time to stroll down the event, as you aren't doing to do it quickly anyway. The fastest route is on the sidewalks, but you cannot access the scrumptious offering from there. Two vendors I have to single out for gosh darn good damn food are Sweet and Savory Delights from Crown Point. Second is Big Frank's Sausage from East Chicago. S & S made me, by virtue of creating it, get the Kraut Stacker sandwich. Amazing. Kraut, cheese, sausage, pierogi and mustard on marble rye. Wow. Really good pierogi as well. Big Franks has to have the best Polish sausage I have ever had. Sooo good and garlicky. Top notch. The adult drinks very reasonably priced at $5 each. Fun entertainment. Several different areas to listen to live music. We will return next year. Definitely!

I was expecting corny based on reviews but this was over the top corny . . . and, I loved it. We were greeted at the fest entrance and in other areas by the busias which are various people (one with a full beard) dressed as elderly Polish grandmother's. They were fun and joking with everyone. We also saw a performance by Mr. Pierogi and the Pierogiettes (each of the ladies was a different pierogi variety). They did various parody songs about pierogies that were actually clever and funny. There was also a dunk the num booth with actual nuns raising money for their order. Of course there were MANY Polish food vendors as well as other food choices and a beer tent with about ten beer choices. In the two hours we were there, there were three different performances happening on three different stages. This is a very large fest that stretches for about a half mile and is well worth visiting.

I had literally heard of Pierogifest two weeks before the event and being half Polish, had to try and get there! The downtown portion of Whiting was really charming and would make a nice place to stroll along going from store to restaurant to bar and repeat again and again. It was very crowded but not ridiculously uncomfortable. All the vendors were pushing food out fast and even though some lines were REALLY long, I was never standing still for more than a minute before I was moving again. The weather on Saturday was also as good as you could ask for, sunny with a decent breeze in the mid 70s made for a great time to be outside! My wife and I thought it was well organized and signage for different stages/areas and booths were easy to spot and read. We enjoyed the live music and the different dance groups that were there performing traditional dances! I look forward to getting to spend more time here at Pierogifest 2019!

I think there is too much of a demand and the pierogis suffer. I wasn't a fan of the wait time n the lines for mediocre pierogis. The fest itself was fun.

July 31, 2022. The biggest fest around the surrounding area. Approximately 100,000 people per day. Park at the football field and get a $5 round trip shuttle there and back. No shortage of food or drinks. Great experience! We live 10 minutes away and are truly blessed to have this year after year!

Pierogi Fest was a blast! Attended this year for the first time. Parked close to the event and paid $20 for the privilege. However, we could have parked farther away for free and taken the shuttle for $1. The $20 we paid to park goes towards a local school, so it was all good. We had read that the Pierogi Fest gets CROWDED so we went early and it was not bad. So many excellent food vendors. We just looked for the longest lines and got in them. I had an excellent Polish sausage from Kasia's Deli and also enjoyed their pierogis. Ended up getting a few to-go treats from Ideal Bakery's booth. Very impressive variety of foods available at the Fest. Some nice shaded areas to sit and enjoy your food too. And the people watching cannot be beat. Was disappointed in the craft/souvenir vendors. Offerings were mostly cheap carnival type stuff. Did find some cool pierogi earrings. No Pierogi Fest t-shirts though! Did I miss them somehow? We hung around for a couple hours and it was getting very crowded by the time we left. My advice to folks attending would be, go early and have fun.

Chris G, this one is for you my pierogi pal... As city festivals go, Pierogi Fest will put the saur in yer kraut, the kiel in yer basa, the stuffed in yer cabbage and the Polish in yer sausage! We Funksters have had the great good fortune to roam festivals from New Mexico to New York and Michigan to Louisiana. But leave it to quiet little blue collar Whiting Indiana to put on one of the best ethnic city party's celebrating of all silly things, the cheese & potato dumpling...aka the Polish Pierogi! The smells and tastes from grilling foods, the sounds from the polka stage dancers and the libations from the beer gardens all made for some of the best fun the delectable Mrs Funk and I have had all summer. And we had that fun along with 300,000 of our best friends... No kidding! And I'm not even gonna talk about the Kolaczki, poppy seed roll, paczki and polish tea cookies to be had. But wait a minute... Hey, who stole the Kieshka?!?

Went here with a friend who goes every year. I do not think I have ever had a pierogi before going. Nothing really stood out to me food wise that would make me want to attend next year, but we had fun.

"For a second, I thought Mr. Pierogi wasn't wearing pants." I thought about what one of my companions said. Would the beloved to many mascot of a destination food festival (I'm not kidding, it's been featured on the Food Network and was named one of ten weirdest festivals in the U.S.), be in public sans a bottom layer of clothing - possibly exposing to the world his kielbasa? Finally, looking at the character again, I responded, "he's wearing shorts, but I wouldn't put it past him. Pierogi Fest is just that weird." Slightly creepy costume representations of titular foods aside, a trip to Pierogi Fest (just across the Indiana border from Chicago) is a trip to another universe. It's a place where old country meets old times and results in polka bands being star attractions as young and old (and possibly related to the group) gaze on in wonder. A place where 1970s fashion can be all the rage again. And where an overly-friendly potato treat shaped man can have a fan club (and beg you to sign up for it). The pierogis themselves, however, are the real stars. The booths selling them span a couple of city blocks. Each purveyor will have a variety of fillings from the familar potato and desert fillings (mmmm, cherry) to stuff better left to veggie maki (uhhhh, artichoke). Going in as a group and buying in bulk is a good deal as most stalls start discounting once you get to three pierogis but most stands sell the pierogis at $1 a piece. But save a little money if you're into ironic t-shirts. There are some weird ones to be found (including one that started a "Hey, Nice Pierogis" trend amongst my friends last year). About the only one missing was a "Keep Pierogi Fest Weird" shirt. Sadly, the festival wasn't as odd this year as there was a limited music program on Sunday (even though there seemed to be more merchants). It might earn back another star next year, but it's going to have to freak me out a little more. Maybe it could start with Mr. Pierogi actually not wearing pants. No, on second thought, that sweaty, huggy, man needs to keep them on.

Bring on the fat pants! Friendly tips for getting the most out of Pierogi Fest: * Wear stretchy pants, if you're lucky you will be eating a lot of heavy food * Don't go overboard at one stand! Pace yourself, there are probably 10 more like it * Don't wait in line for Kasia's if you're from Chicago, you can get those any time (no offense Kasia) * You can get pierogis to take home so you don't have to gorge yourself on them at the fest Going to Pierogi Fest with 2 seasoned veterans definitely helped me avoid making any rookie mistakes. The first stand (the name escapes me) we visited had no wait, I procured two pierogis - potato and cheddar and kraut. The kraut was just ok it lacked the sour I was going for, but the potato-cheddar was delectable. The second stand we hit was Dan's, which had a 20 minute wait. At Dan's I got 3 pierogi - potato and cheddar, potato and spinach. I was disappointed by Dan's for a few reasons: (1) the pierogi delivery system was a mess, orders came out haphazardly; (2) the spinach and potato-cheese pierogi erred on the bland side, but the potato was quite good; and (3) the end product didn't justify the long wait. Pierogi Fest is more than just pierogis and Mr. Pierogi (yes, there really is a guy dressed up as a pierogi); there is music (lots of polka), dancing, a beer garden, other Polish and non-Polish delicacies and craft goods. As far as pierogis go there's something for everyone - veggie friendly pierogis, meat-based pierogis, sweet pierogis and even taco pierogis. If you're a root beer fan Wild Bill's Old Fashioned Soda has a stand, you can get a mug and get free refills during the fest, the catch is you have to brave the inevitable long lines. Pierogi unrelated this fest had some of the most amazing portable bathrooms I've ever seen. There was a single porta-potty next to the line for Dan's, which looked vile so I was glad to find an alternative that wasn't a secluded shrub. What an alternative it was, these were the Rolls Royce of portable bathrooms! It was a trailer with a mens and womens side and 5 private stalls on each. They were clean, well stocked and even had a real sink to wash your hands. Pierogi Fest is a short trip over the IL-IN border in Whiting, IN. You can take Lake Shore Drive/41 all the way there and the fest lasts 3 days. Bottom line: After 5 pierogis and half a funnel cake I settled into a blissful carb coma and didn't need to blow a large wad of cash to do so.

The Annual Pierogi Fest in Whiting, IN tends to get a bit of press from locals like Fox Thing in the Morning, WGN, etc to the big boys like the Food Network. This little gathering is nowhere as organized as events such as Taste of Randolph and is definitely nowhere nearly as commercialized. There's a mix of mom'n'pop shops setting up stands selling pierogies with the occasional BBQ and Italian sausage stand thrown in for good measure. Along with the food, there's also a handful of small musical acts and dances - don't forget the wacky Polka Parade that'll probably scare you right back home... crazy stuff. It feels more like a neighborhood block party than a festival (Most stands didn't even have real signs - only construction paper w/ hastily written prices by magic marker). Walking through the 4-5 blocks of pierogi stands in sweltering humid heat really takes a toll. To keep cool, there are lemonade stands, ice cream stands, and a makeshift beer garden - they only had 2 beers and some Mike's Hard Lemonade... but a bottle of Mike's Lime really hit the spot. I'd put this one under those events I'd generally go to once just to say I did. Things I liked: the Gyrogis (I'm not sure there was even meat in those), the blintzes, polka dances, and shirts that say "Hey, Nice Pierogies." Things I didn't like: the heat, the "meat" pierogies (takes mystery meats to a whole new level), "gator" sausage (didn't even taste like chicken), and Mr Pierogi was NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. If you're feeling brave and want a funny t-shirt or silly pic with Mr Pierogi, head on down. As for me, I'm not going back unless the weather's down to the 80's and I've nothing better to do.... again.

Whiting Pierogi Fest - an interesting mix of food, people and music. This is my 2nd year going and in general it's your typical food festival with dozens of food stands, a big beer garden (with arts and crafts), music tents and a SERIOUS lack of garbage cans that aren't overflowing. That being said, here's some of my favorite Food vendors: Dans Pierogis, Kasias Pierogis, We-R-Nuts, Big Franks and Buffalo Billy's Old West Soda. Both Dan's and Kasia's had some Über pierogis, my personal favorite were the Mushroom 'n Kraut ones at Dan's though. I'd recommend AVOIDING the strawberry or cherry pierogis from Bulldog... we'd bought 3 of each and they just weren't up to par :( Things to expect every year: Big crowds Lots of pierogis Sloppy drunks in the beer garden Live Music Hard Parking (see Amanda K's tip for easy parking) Feet run over by strollers Overeating I like the Whiting Pierogi Fest, I plan on coming yearly for sure.

After knowing about Pierogi Fest for YEARS, I finally had the opportunity to go today and it was everything I had hoped for, except not getting to meet Mr. Pierogi. Sad. Just to let people who read this know, Pierogi Fest is held for 3 days every July. It's free to attend. There are TONS of food vendors, pierogi, pretzels, pizza, turkey legs, you name it! There's a separate section for beer, which is a weird set-up. They check your ID, you go in and buy drink tickets for $5 and then go into a tent and get a drink in exchange for a ticket. Are they trying to get around some kind of law? They have Miller Lite on draft, Redds, Apple Cider, etc. But ok so the pierogis. It's all about Dan's. I went straight there because I heard about how good they are and Dan didn't fail me. Oh my god, I've never had pierogis this perfect and delicious. And they let you get as many as you want of different kinds - shredded beef, potato, potato and sweet cheese, potato and cheddar cheese, kraut, mushroom, spinach, cherry, blueberry, strawberry and plum. In addition to my selections, I indulged in a cabbage roll and I'm glad I did - it was savory and delicious! Dan's has a crazy line, but it's worth it. Don't bother with the other vendors; a guy suggested Center for pierogis and they were no good; the exterior was hard and fried-like, not the soft, pasta-like shell it should be. Nope. Dan's all the way. We stayed for several hours. I got a cool shirt and we watched the parade. And polka music and dancers everywhere. Parade was alright, nothing too exciting. It would have been better to have a seat, but we had to stand and could barely see over the mobs of people. After the parade, it got SO packed we could barely move in the streets! It was like New York City on Christmas Eve or DragonCon in Atlanta. I'm glad so many people can appreciate pierogis, though! I hope I get to go back sometime. :)

Fun, good sausage but most of the pierogi I had were rubbery and fillings over salted from different vendors.

Dupa shorts (Polish booty shorts), raunchy Polish shirts (I only love him for his kielbasa), and dunking nuns in vats of water. All this can be yours, plus 5 lbs of newly acquired fat if you make a trip to Pierogi Fest. While many Chicagoans will scoff at travelling 'all the way' to Indiana, I can easily say that Whiting is closer to the loop than my house is to the loop. So do not let the state boarder stop you from attending. You got Starbuska's serving up coffee, babushkas frying up potato pancakes, blintzes with sweet cheese, a mixture of non-polish dishes (skip these because you can get a burger anywhere), and the pride and joy of the fest PIEROGIS. There are many vendors serving home made dumlings, and then there is Kasia's. I would skip Kasia's as it is in every grovery store and I don't need to overpay for factory pierogi. I went for Nachogis (they called them fully loaded, but my name is much better). These were battered and deep fried potato pierogi covered in: Nacho cheese, beef and bean chili, jalopenos, green onion, olives, and bacon. Not traditional, but worth a try. I then went for a 1/4 lb pierogi from another vendor. If I wasn't feeling so full afterwards I would have gone for some fruit pierogi from another place.

Verily this was Pierogi-Palooza! Many makers were represented (some you can even buy frozen in the local grocery stores, so don't bother with those!), and naturally there'll be a range of value and quality among them, so choose wisely. There was a huge line at Dan's booth so we tried those; they were pretty good but also really greasy (pan-fried on a griddle). Buscia's Pierogi and Bacon Buns had decent pierogi (potato and onion, boiled with butter; this was close to my family's except we also put in farmers cheese) but the bacon buns were weird (the yeastiness threw it off); also, service was wonky because the young people doing the dishing up weren't seeming to follow the flow. Points for the people of both genders in this tent wearing aprons and babushkas; it was an attention-grabber. We got excellent potato pancakes and kielbasa from another vendor, but I regret to say that I don't recall the name of the place (toward one end of the main drag). A bunch of young women were working industriously, flipping huge latkes on a griddle and piling them up to dish out. If you have had your fill of pierogi (and frankly, that will never happen to me), they also had other fare, from funnel cakes to Cajun food, to tempt your tastebuds. There was also a side street with craft booths, some featuring pierogi-themed goods (I saw pierogi soap, silver pierogi earrings, pierogi shaped carob dog treats, foam pierogi magnets and pins, as well as a lot of shall we say single-entendre t-shirts about "Stop Staring at My Kielbasa" and "He Loves Me For My Pierogies"), plus jewelry and other assorted items. Polka bands abounded, plus a few one-man accordian bands; I heard one of these guys playing "Stairway to Heaven" on the accordian as we passed, which was just...no. I could not believe how many people packed into this little town for this event, though I guess being on the Food Network and Oprah will do that. Parking was pretty difficult to find, even with a handicapped sticker for my grandmother, so if you don't want to park in Timbuktu, show up early. Now that I've been once, I probably don't have to go again, but I'm glad to have checked it out, and I'll never say no to these Polish staples. If you don't mind a crowd and have a soft spot for starch, this is the festival for you.

You don't have to be Polish or Eastern European to love this festival. It is down to earth and they don't take themselves seriously or judge. Unless you mispronounce them! Pee rog (like log) ee. Lots of other types of food also. Craft show and talented costumed entertainment.

I attended again for the 7th year. This is set in a quaint old neighborhood of Whiting Indiana that very much reminds me of where I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago. From the buildings to the ethnic Eurpoean people, to the scent of the food and culture here it takes me back to my days a kid. As street fairs go you cannot beat this one. It is well set up and run so it is not overcrowded and there are plenty of public bathroom facilities to accomidate. The food here is what you expect with abundant pierogi vendors. Wth many varieties as well as the potato pancakes, polish sausage, sauerkraut, cabbage rolls and other items to tempt as if you are in the streets of heaven. There are also many other food choices for those who do not care for this type of thing so there is something for everyone. To top it off the prices are fair and reasonable not like most other street fairs you may attend. There are plenty of places for folks to sit down and eat. The local bars and restaurants also have accomidations as well as some offering live music on the patios at no cover charge or inflated drink prices. As you walk up and down the street you will see several polka and other beads performing as well as many people dressed up in ethnic European clothing. Other costumes and many baboshka lady's only add to the laughs and joy. There is also a beer tent that has a full day line up of bands for all 3 days of the festival. You cannot go wrong at this yearly festival that occurs at the end of July for the last 140 plus years. See you there next year!

This year, 2015, was our first year attending Pierogi Fest. Although it ran Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we went on Sunday. 1. Parking: Getting there early means you can certainly park on residential streets. By early I mean 9-9:30 a.m. Residents will put chairs or other objects in spots in front of their houses if they don't want you to park there. We decided to park at the designated free parking lot on Calumet and pay the dollar each way for the trolley. The huge upside to this is that when you're ready to go home you can get back on the highway quickly, without having to navigate unfamiliar neighborhood streets. I'd recommend it. Don't pay to park! There were two areas within walking distance of the fest that were charging $18 and $20. Don't waste your money. It's unnecessary when there is free parking everywhere. 2. Food: Well, it *is* Pierogi Fest! Everyone says Dan's is the best, and we decided to wait on line for about 35 minutes (short!) for the privilege of tasting them. Note that by the time Sunday rolled around, Dan was out of the most popular frozen flavors of his pierogies, so if you are bringing some home next year, definitely get there on Friday or Saturday. Bring cash, but there were some stands that accepted credit cards. But why hold up the line? Cash is best. Dan's were palm-sized and amply filled with stuffing as people have mentioned, and then they are placed on a flat top fryer to heat up. If you're used to your pierogi boiled or deep fried the taste is noticeably different. However, they're not jaw-dropping amazing either. They taste like a good, homemade pierogi should, unlike anything you can buy at the store, but nothing spectacular. I also tried his halupki (stuffed cabbage) and potato pancake. While the cabbage was soft and able to be cut with a fork, the insides weren't moist enough and crumbled apart. The pancake was average, and barely seasoned. I think Dan's is popular mainly because he's a Whiting native. 3. Crowds: If there's anything you particularly want to try as far as food, go buy it as soon as you get to the fest EARLY. Otherwise, you and the rest of humanity are going to be standing in a long line waiting for it. It may seem weird to eat pierogies at 10 a.m. in the morning, but believe me, by the time lunchtime rolls around, you'll be standing there waiting for an hour or more. Whatever you decide to eat, plan on eating it while you stand or walk, because there's basically nowhere to sit by the time the crowds show up. Because the fest is held on what is essentially Whiting's main street through downtown, there's not a lot of room to walk. All the stands are set up in the street to leave the sidewalks clear, which means you and thousands of others turn into a human river of upstream and downstream to get through. If you're carrying anything, holding anything, eating anything, drinking anything, pushing a baby stroller, or whatever, you better hold on to it for dear life. And because this is an event held outdoors, non-smokers should expect to inhale plenty of cigarette and cigar smoke as the day goes on, because you can't get away from it. 4. Kids: There's a play area for kids with rides and things, and people brought their very young children, but it's a food and drink fest. It's crowded, hot, and the events being held cater to adults, not children. There's not much for them to see or do outside of the little rides. If you expect to hold you child's hand and allow him/her to walk next to you and not get trampled, think again. It's simply impossible in the middle of the street. It's safer to walk on the sidewalks, but then you miss seeing what the stands have to sell. People strap their kids in strollers, which present their own problems running over people's feet because it's really too crowded for them. Basically, if you want to go, get there early because it's hard to really do anything with so many people congregating in such a small space. Get on line for food early, then take your time and enjoy the rest of the fest after you've gotten to taste what you'd like. Otherwise, you'll spend a lot of time waiting on line and not having fun.

Even though I am lucky enough to live in a city full of street festivals, and I tend not to venture into Indiana unless absolutely necessary, Pierogi Fest in Whiting, IN is definitely worth the trip AND the $3 toll on the Skyway. Here are just a few reasons why: 1. Pierogis are delicious, and I've never seen a bigger selection of them. 2. Whiting is actually a cute little town. 3. I'm sure deep down inside, you've always wanted to enter a Pierogi-eating contest. 4. They have a Pierogi Toss, too. (Think water balloon toss, but with buttery pierogis instead!) 5. If you're lucky, you might get to meet Mr. Pierogi, Miss Paczky, or Halupki Guy. 6. Where else can you buy a foam pierogi hat?! That said, there is still room for improvement. Hopefully next year the festival's organizers will figure out that it's not a great idea to put the "main stage" in the middle of the street, dividing the food stations from the beer garden. And blocking off the entire street during the contests created a lot of chaos and congestion that could have otherwise been avoided. But overall, Pierogi Fest is a great time, and I hope to make it back again next year!

Who'd a thunk you could have so much fun, in (of all places), Whiting Indiana? Not me, that's for sure. As usual, my low expectations for this event were wrong. Very Wrong!! I'm not Polish, never met Lech Walesa, and have told my share of bad, Polish jokes. But I love me some Pierogi's. This festival of fatty, Eastern European food offered every Pierogi imaginable. I ate Steak Pierogi's, Japeleno and Cheese Pierogi's and the classic, Potato Pierogi. I may not be Polish, but I was on this day. I ate enough Pierogi's to make Bobby Vinton proud. The people of Whiting do an amazing job with this festival. It's set up on three city blocks in Downtown Whiting (if there is such a thing). Not only does Pierogi fest offer a fabulous variety of food, there is plenty of shopping as well. There were booth's peddling everything from Hot Tubs to Candles. Most of the items were quite tacky, but it was still fun to browse around and check out all the eclectic items. All in all, it was a five star day. My wife even bought a Pony. A statue of a Pony, that is. Here's the delicious bottom line: If you want to be Polish, if only for a day. Head on down to Whiting and enjoy Pierogi fest. I guarantee you will walk away with a full stomach, and shit-eating grin on your face. Yes folks. It was that much fun.

If you want to see what may be the largest gathering of overweight, sunburnt Americans of Eastern European descent, Pierogi Fest is the place to be! And I count myself among that group. Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area are full of families of Polish, Serb, Russian, Ukrainian, Slovakian, yadda yadda yadda heritage. I grew up a few miles from Whiting, where the festival takes place each year in late July. Stuffed cabbage was a dinner standard in my house. The festival contains many, many food vendors selling a variety of cuisines. You'll find lots of pierogis and cabbage dishes, pastries, and sausages. You'll also find typical fair food like fried you-name-it and snow cones. I even saw some Mexican and Chinese food vendors there, though they didn't seem to be getting much business. I guess they were hoping to serve the non-pierogi-loving friends of pierogi-lovers. There is a beer garden, but each time I've gone it has been far too hot for me to consider drinking alcohol. Another nifty vendor is a homemade soda truck. You can buy a tin mug (very large) for $10, and then fill it for free throughout the day from their variety of soda flavors. (By the way, in "the Region" of NWI, it's called pop.) Regarding the pierogis, there are many types available. There is a debate in the pierogi community about whether it is better to fry them or boil them. You will find both types here. I even had some deep-fried pierogis, which were good. Traditionally they come slathered in onions and melted butter. The fillings are typically savory, such as potato and cheese, mushroom, kraut, or meat. But you can also get sweet cheese or fruit filled varieties. The best I had this year came from Gosia's Pierogies, which is a company that drove out from Pittsburgh to attend the fest. If you attend, don't forget to bring some kind of insulated bag so you can buy frozen pierogies from your favorite vendor and take them home to enjoy later. Apart from the food, the festival includes entertainment in the form of live music, comedians, and people dressed up as Mr. Pierogi, Ms. Paczki (which I finally learned was pronounces "poochki"), and Mr. Holupki (stuffed cabbage) who visit the crowds and hold a singalong with fun food-related songs. This year a group of Carmelite nuns raised money by rollerblading around the festival in full woolen garb (in 90 degree heat!) and holding a dunk-the-nun tank. If you go, parking will be an issue. The fest is help on regular business streets with street parking only. I recommend that you go to the website and find the park-and-ride options unless you will arrive at the very start of the festival. If you will be in the Chicagoland area in late July, or if you live within road-trip distance, it is definitely worth a visit! Oh, and entrance to the festival is FREE!

I've heard so much hype about this fest I thought I'd finally go. I was brought up on home cooked Polish/Lithuanian food, so my judgement might be harsh. For me personally, it was about an hour trip. Parking tip I got was great and parked for free just 2 blocks down, a handful of spots opening and this was 2pm on a Saturday! Kids area we saw first, a few rides and carnival games. The beer tent/cage was next but as I am not a drinker my family and I just walked around. Seemed roomy but no shade. Only concerned me for the drinkers because the heat was up there, around 90°. Like many have already reviewed, the fest is on one long street that is normally 2 lanes. With vendors on each side you are left with about a car width of room to walk down. There is also sidewalk walking which is nice because there you could find shade. We walked the entire thing in full to see what the hype was. The smells were great but I personally found the selection not great. For a fest named exclusively Pierogi Fest, there wasn't this huge selection everyone was raving about. Most if not all, the pierogi vendors were selling your average pierogi-- Potato, Potato and Cheese, Sweet Cheese, Spinach, or some variation of Potato and something. Maybe my expectations were high but I came purely for pierogis of a different kind other than what my Aunt makes. Only 1 vendor that I noticed sold fruit ones, kind of disappointed there since fruit ones are pretty good. Where was the small Polish deli's making pierogis? Now, the smells from the everything was fantastic but we didn't want to go broke eating. Potato pancakes looked good, but then again I can make these at home. Crowds were heavy at times but if you retreat to the sidewalk you're good. DON'T BUY WATER!!! JUST GO INTO THE DOLLAR STORE! They were open and super polite! Grabbed 3 huge bottles of water for $3 and got to cool off a little. In all, it was a nice afternoon out. But if you go like me expecting some crazy pierogi inventions, or at least a more eclectic selection, then stick to order from your Aunt!

I cannot get enough of this festival, it is such a blast! I visit every year from the Northwest suburbs with my mom and boyfriend. There are so many fun things to choose from! Examples: 1) Stand upon stand of amazingly delicious comfort food. This is really the highlight of the festival. So many varieties of pierogis, but not just polish food there. I have also gotten delicious Asian food, fried green tomato's, etc., but I am sure there is much more that I didn't pay attention to. I don't know how much fun you will have if you are not planning on eating something fried, but they may have healthy food. (I have never made an effort to look for it here, lol) 2) Lots of gift shops to explore. This is my mom's favorite part. Even if you are not into gift shops, there are a large number of stands that sell cute merchandize like shirts and pierogi-shaped soap. It is usually hot each time we go, so the gift shops are also great for an escape to the a.c. (haha) 3) I am not a beer drinker, but they have a big beer garden in the back of the festival, which is my boyfriends favorite part. 4) The people there are always really friendly, especially the women dressed in babushkas. They are hilarious! Last year I got a picture with them. 5) It seems like a great place to bring children. They have face painting, little theatrical shows, and games like throwing a ball to try and dunk people into water pools. 6) A pretty area of town that is nice to walk around. The buildings are cute and people bring their dogs to enjoy the fest. The fest can get pretty crowded but that is to be expected. The side streets are peaceful to walk down if you want to get away from the crowd for a bit. All in all, I definitely recommend coming here if you have never done so. The drive is easy, there is a TON of food, and beer/gift ships galore. I always have a great time! -UPDATE- It was even better than I had remembered! We managed to find a spinach feta pierogi [amazing], cheese feta pierogi, and potato bacon kraut pierogi, when I have never known these to exist. The bakery down towards the end on the right gave away free fudge samples, and we tried this amazing thing called an onion blossom. You need napkins and a table to eat this thing, lol. Like an extremely delicious onion ring, but they take an onion and slice it in a way where the base holds the sections together and the entire thing is fried, where you can then pluck the sections off from the top. Great for sharing! Also, avoid the port-a-potties because there are actually very clean bathroom stations with flushing toilets and sinks. If you didn't go this year, GO NEXT TIME!

I love pierogi; what a great idea to base a festival on. I first heard about pierogi Fest about five years ago, shortly after moving to Chicago. Until this summer I hadn't had the opportunity to return since then, but I've already marked it on my calendar for next year. I went in the morning Friday and it was a really manageable crowd - that is to say, not much crowd at all. The food was great; I was a bit more adventurous than I was last time, having never had a polish sausage before (I've been missing out). Other treats included haluski, dill pickle soup, potato pancakes, corn on the cob, and fried pickles, amongst many other things... including pierogi, of course. There were dessert pierogi, cheese, vegetable pierogi, alligator pierogi... almost anything your heart desires. Prices are pretty reasonable for such a festival, and servings are plentiful. The old fashioned soda booth is a steal; they have something like 8 flavors (birch beer, sarsaparilla, cream soda, and orange, amongst others) and there are two booths set up so once you're getting thirsty again you can fill up at the other booth - your cup gives you unlimited refills as long as you have that day's tag on it. Bring one of the booth's cup from a previous year and the deal is even better. As an added treat, one of the bakeries in town was selling paczki for the weekend (and let me tell you, the line made it seem like they were going out of style). I can't end my review without mentioning one of the Coolest Things Ever - the Dunk Tank. Yeah, yeah, you say... who hasn't seen a bunch of pre-pubescent boys taking their turn in the tank to earn some money for their football team? No no, my friends. Here at pierogi Fest, you're dunking nuns. Oh yes, you read that correctly - Carmelite nuns, to be precise. Now some of you may have more aggressions to take out on the Catholic Church than I (especially if you attended parochial school and had your fingers rapped a few times), but my closest experience with nuns has been to spin around my living room with a pillowcase on my head like I was Fräulein Maria. I have to say, I like that these nuns have a sense of humor, and if I had a throwing arm I would have ponied up a bit of money to take a shot. Instead, I got bought an awesome T-shirt that reads, "I dunked a REAL nun at pierogi Fest", had it autographed by one of the sisters, and banked a few extra points with Jesus et al. Not a bad way to spend a weekend.

I went last year and I wasn't dazzled by the Pierogi. Mine were lousy and I even got some raw sausage :( I wish grandma would come cook for me!!! Where are you grandma!

Found out about Pierogi Fest while traveling near Chicago & since we love home cooked Polish food this was a no brainer. Shuttle buses were provided from parking areas to the event. The food vendors were plentiful each with their own take on traditional Polish dishes. We enjoyed the food & people watching & were entertained by the music that played on several stages. Since we were just passing through we didn't stay for the evening parade but had a good time the few hours we spent there. All in all a pierogi-rific time.

I used to think I didn't like pierogi; then I had a real, hand-made by an actual Polish women pierodi and realized I just don't like the frozen, boxed perogis you buy at the Jewel.... So we headed to Pierogi Fest Saturday afternoon. We arrive about 2:30 and parked with ease in the high school parking lot that was suggested on the website. (It was free.) The shuttle was a school bus and it was waiting for people when we arrived. However, we had two strollers and two small children so we decided to forego it and just walk. (Plus, it certainly couldn't hurt to burn off a few calories in advance of stuffing our faces.) We spent about 2 hours at the fest (We would have stayed longer, but had another commitment that evening.) and didn't even make it all the way down to the craft fair section.) We spent some time in the kiddie rides area where our friends' two year old rode the bumpy barrels and spent some time in the inflatable maze. We sampled pierogi (and other food) from a few difference places and all of it was delicious as expected! We also grabbed some strudel to take home with us. Prices actually seemed reasonable too! I always expect prices to be higher at "fest," but this particular one didn't feel like highway robbery. It was crowded, but it didn't start to feel "too crowded" until we were heading out around 4:30. We will definitely be heading back next year!

Pierogi Fest is one of my FAVORITE festivals of all time! This is the only festival where we actually came back with *more* money than we came with (thanks bingo!) and unlike the street fests of Chicago where they shake you down for a "donation" this one was 100% FREE. Lotsa goodies galore here! We were able to score free custom printed teeshirts from Traveler's Insurance, cheapo P-Fest souvenirs and one helluva delicious Polish Plate that included kraut and sausage, your choice of 3 pierogis and the elusive haluski...all drowning in delicious butter!!! Now that I have popped my haluski cherry, I WANT MORE!!!!!!!! We even got to take pix with Mr. Pierogi and Ms. Pazcki! Fun times for all!

Its that time of year again and Adrian W has posted this as a Yelp event. The 2008 dates are the 25th to 27th of July. I've eaten enough pierogi's in my life, so the last time I went here I pigged out on great Jamaican, Cajun, and barbeque fare. Whiting seems like a neighborhood that time forgot - its like going back to the 50s or 60s. Good salt of the earth type of people. Its not far from the city - the first exit in Indiana after the skyway. Unlike some of the Chicago street fairs, its a lot cheaper. In prior years they had a lot of activities for kids which were very reasonably priced or free. Only negative: every year the weather always seems to be sunny and near 100 degrees.

Love the Pierogies .. I try to come here every yr at least once. There are a lot of vendors, lots of food to choose from.

Lots of fun at this one-of-a-kind fest - filled with food, a beer garden, various musical acts, and rides for the kids. Held in Whiting Indiana every year, the food sellers specialize in pierogi (dough pockets filled with cheese/meat/potato/kraut/or prune), polish sausage, potato pancakes, halushky (noodles or dumplings and cabbage), and holupki (stuffed cabbage). I am a Canadian boy but have grown to love these eastern European foods. Try them and you won't be sorry. Prices are reasonable too. We usually go on Friday afternoons when the fest begins, and we can avoid the crowds. But this year it was jam packed all the time. Great fun at a singularly Midwestern ethnic affair.

Living close to Whiting (within a 10 minute drive) this is always a highlight of my summer. Yes its crowded and yea it can be crazy, but what it comes down to is a community celebration of that filled dumpling popular in Eastern European households....uh huh the pierogi. As the venue takes place on Whiting's city streets, parking can be interesting...this year I noticed the local folk were partaking a tradition we Chicagoans cherish, that is the chairs on the street in what could be a prized parking spot for a non-local. So a little driving around and I found parking a few blocks from the entrance to the fest. If hunting for a cherished spot near the venue is not your thing, never fear as they do have (free!) remote parking available (at 2 lots) with shuttles running to and from the entrance to the events...it is $1 for the shuttle but is worth it. The venue itself takes up several city blocks with multiple vendors from Polish/Eastern European shirts/trinkets to the food....and don't worry if you aren't a lover of all things pierogi, there are other foods you can indulge in including Alligator meat and poboys along with several dessert areas (including one with fried twinkies). This year was the year of the Halupki (which for the uneducated is meat and rice wrapped in a cabbage leaf in tomato sauce) so plenty of that (and its Polish cousin, globacki) was also to be found. There is also a beer garden at the east end of fest (near the Arts & Crafts area) and a certain vendor where you can buy a huge mug and refill it for free all that particular day. In addition to the vendors, several of the area businesses are open so one could take a break from the warm weather outside. There are a couple of delis that are open and a bakery which sells another Polish delicacy, the paczki. There is plenty of entertainment from Polish Dancers to polka bands and various contests throughout the fest. The big highlight of the weekend is the parade featuring the the Babushka Brigade and Mr. Pierogi on Friday night. All in all, its a great time. With a little patience and some smiles, one could have a lot of fun at this venue. Next year the fest will be July 26-28th so see you there!

I was anticipating something very different from what I received...I came here with the idea that there would be "creative" pierogis, ones not just filled with potato and cheese or meat. I thought " there is bound to be more in the pierogi world!" but a las- this festival proved me wrong. All the places had the same type of peirogies, albeit the ones i had were good, I was just looking for that elusive ice cream pierogi? or just something to celebrate the dumpling in all its capabilities. Over all it was a great festival with funny signs and what seemed like a lot of activities. Theres of course more then plenty of food and i think it was overall very well priced, corn on the cob 2 bucks, pierogies ringing in at less then a dollar each. And coming from Chicago, I always appreciate seeing small towns with their cute little houses and plump residents and as someone as already said, Whiting feels like the town from Back to the Future.

OK, this year we went on a Saturday afternoon and it was about 90 degrees. Stick to Friday evenings for this one. I've gone plenty of times in the past and it critical to go when all the crazy Whiting rats are out to watch the most insane parade on Friday evening at the start of the festival. My last parade memory is men dressed as grannies pushing lawn mowers and barely-legal men dressed in tighty-whities dancing on a float... what can I say, it's Whiting at it's best ;) This year we tried just about every stand, and I must say Kasia's pirogi's still rein supreme (and you can pick those up at Jewel). But for a festival in Whiting, this is the creme de la creme...

Still LOVE this fest. It's always great to be here during the fest. Certainly if you don't care for Pierogi, But just like to go for the fun of it-There's an abundance of other food stands as well. But I go for the Pierogi & fun. BTW, Where was Mimi's or Mini's?.......They had GREAT Pierogis , But didn't see them this year........ Maybe I didn't look hard enough........ Oh well, Maybe next year........

A great fest for a small city. FUN FUN FUN. They got it all. Big Beer Garden, Wide range of ethnic food. Fried green tomatoes. Kluski noodles. Aligator meat Potatoe Pancakes. And yes PIEROGI

If you like pierogis I think you'd definitely like coming here for the fest. I had some pretty good ones and not so good ones. There's a pretty big selection to choose from. If you don't mind the summer heat and crowds then come on by.