Riverhead's Polish festival canceled for 4th consecutive year
In a statement to News 12 Monday, the Polish Town Civic Association Board of Directors said in part, "Unfortunately, we do need to advise you that the official determination is that we will be unable to move forward with the fair this year."
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The Polish Town Fair and Street Festival in Riverhead will not be back this year.
The long-running annual celebration sponsored by the Polish Town Civic Association was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and has not returned.
In a statement to News 12 Monday, the Polish Town Civic Association Board of Directors said in part, "Unfortunately, we do need to advise you that the official determination is that we will be unable to move forward with the fair this year."
President of the Riverhead Polish Independent Club Thomas Najdzion says this summer, the Riverhead Polish Hall will host its own community festival.
Najdzion, however, says not having the fair, which brought thousands of people and hundreds of vendors, is an economic hardship for the hall. "
We drained our bank account, almost completely trying to survive during the pandemic," Najdzion says.
Others in the community say they are upset that their children are missing out on the community experience.
"It builds that family bond, sort of a sense of bringing people together," says Anna Szlejter.
Residents also say not having the larger festival is leaving a hole in a community that cares deep about sharing its Polish pride.
