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2008 Roncesvalles Polish Festival
Sat. Sept. 13th and Sun. Sept. 14
Once again the Roncesvalles Village BIA invites you to the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, our annual celebration of Polish culture and Roncesvalles Village. Vendor packages and information are now available here.
We are actively looking for musicians, street entertainers, vendors, artisans and so on, Polish or otherwise, to help make this year's festival the best yet. Please contact us at to get involved.
We have launched our new website, www.polishfestival.ca Check it out!Click here to download the Festival guidelines.
Click here to download the Festival vendor applications.
Below are photos and information from last year's Polish Festival.
2007 Roncesvalles Village
Polish Festival
Roncesvalles Village BIA Honoured At OBIAA Conference
It is with pride that we announce that the Roncesvalles Village BIA has been awarded the Special Events and Promotions Award at this year’s Ontario BIA Association conference.
RVBIA Vice-chair Andrew Chomentowski accepted the award on behalf of the BIA. In particular, this award acknowledges the extraordinary success of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, which in five years has become one of the largest neighbourhood festivals in Toronto and the largest festival focussing on Polish culture in Canada. In our press releases we call the festival “Canada’s largest celebration of Polish culture in Toronto’s best neighbourhood.”
In this photo we see TABIA executive director John Kiru, RVBIA Chair Tony Cauch and Vice-chair Andrew Chomentowski, and Patti Brooks, Vice-president of OBIAA.
The following address was read in advance of the award’s presentation: “The Roncesvalles Polish Festival has grown from its humble beginnings of a few thousand people to attracting an estimated 175,000 to 200,000 people in 2009 – the largest Polish Festival in Canada, if not North America.
The success of the Roncesvalles Village BIA Polish Festival is largely due to the innovative approach to the re-branding of the festival some 5 years ago. Formerly known as the Harvest Festival and although effective, was not distinctive and drew small numbers at significant expense.
By taking advantage of its rich Polish heritage, the Roncesvalles Village BIA re-branded its name to the “Polish Festival” and distinguished itself in a crowded market of neighbourhood festivals in Toronto.
Attracting momentum with their new name, significant sponsors for the event leveraged their modest event budget almost 7 times.
The Polish Festival puts the Roncesvalles Village BIA on the map every year; broadcast in Poland, across the GTA and as far away as New York City, major Canadian television networks pick-up on the event. The event attracts people from all over the world and is a major internationally celebrated event.
Please join me in a warm round of applause for Roncesvalles Village BIA.”
The RVBIA congratulates and thanks all past and current members of the Promotions and Marketing Committee. In particular we thank that committee’s chair, Andrew Chomentowski, who has volunteered for the BIA for over two decades on the Promotions and Marketing Committee. This award is a tribute to his ongoing efforts to promote Roncesvalles Village.
This award is the result of an enormous group effort. We thank our Festival patron, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto, and our Festival sponsors including the Polish Credit Union, Peter Mielczynski Agencies, European Fine Foods, The Knights of Polonia, and all the participating members of the Roncesvalles Village BIA.
First photos from Polish Festival
Photo: Kevin Gonsalves
Toronto photographer Kevin Gonsalves captured some great images from this weekend’s Polish Festival. The photos were uploaded as part of his Project 60, a series depicting 60 themes each with 60 photos shot within 60 minutes over 60 days. The photos can be viewed as a Flickr slideshow here.
While the BIA is still crunching the attendance figures, the unofficial word is that the numbers this year are off the charts, no doubt helped by the weekend’s spectacular weather. The festival was a celebration of all things Polish and all things Roncesvalles, and featured more than a few “only-on-Roncesvalles” innovations! Spotted among the more traditional fare: pierogi pizza and pierogi poutine!
Kino Kultura: Revue Cinema celebrates Polish film during festival, Sept. 18-20
From the Revue Cinema website:
Where Roncesvalles Ave. and King St. meet, there sits an imposing bronze monument that’s about five metres high and four metres across. The sculpture is rent in half by a jagged vertical fissure, and its concrete base bears a single word running its full width: KATYN. How many of us who’ve walked or driven past know what the monument represents? Yet, this bronze identifies an event that’s seared into the psyche of the post-war Polish community and the immigrants who settled in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood.
Those who come to The Revue Cinema on Roncesvalles and see one of three screenings of Katyn, a film by the eminent Polish director Andrzej Wajda, will learn what that charged word means. The film, which earned numerous Polish awards and international recognition, including a 2007 Oscar nomination for best foreign film, will headline Kino Kultura, a Polish film festival scheduled at The Revue Friday, September 18th to Sunday, September 20th.
The Roncesvalles Village BIA and The Revue worked closely to establish this new cultural event, which coincides with the BIA’s Roncesvalles Polish Festival. More than 175,000 are expected at the street celebration, now in its fifth year.
Construction? Festival!
Roncesvalles is under construction, and we are working hard to earn your business.
The RVBIA encourages our neighbours to continue to support business on Roncesvalles through this challenging time. Put your money where your house is—shop locally!
GREAT NEWS! Everything is a go for the 2009 RONCESVALLES POLISH FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20, 2009. Read all about it here!
Ed Guca named to Polka Hall of Fame - will play at Roncesvalles Polish Festival
From the Toronto Sun:
Roll out the barrel for Ed Guca.
The Toronto polka king was inducted into the International Polka Association’s Hall of Fame at their annual convention in Cleveland, Ohio last week. Guca is only the second Canadian to be so honoured, after Walter Ostanek was inducted in 1983.
Guca has been playing polka music for 50 years, and has toured extensively in North America with his band, The Polish Canadians.
While touring with the First Polka Festival in Poland in 1977 his band caused a minor controversy when they played the Polish National Anthem at every stop until officials of the then-communist country prevailed upon them to stop.
Guca will be part of the fun at the upcoming 2009 Roncesvalles Village Polish Festival in Toronto on Sept. 19-20.
Polish Consulate Hosts Reception for Roncesvalles Polish Festival
As the official patron of the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto hosts an annual reception for festival sponsors, participants, and BIA members. We were gratified this year to have an excellent turnout, including a number of new faces from Roncesvalles Avenue.
Marek Ciesielczuk, Consul General, wrote the following letter to Andrew Chomentowski, chair of the Marketing and Promotions Committee of the RVBIA:
Dear Mr. Chomentowski:
With this letter I wish to officially grant patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto to the Roncesvalles Polish Festival—Dożynki that will be held on September 19 and 20, 2009.
Festivals in 2005, 2006, 2007 and in particular 2008 were very successful. This year the Festival will be celebrating the first Jubliee of five years in the new, attractive formula. As usual it will create a unique opportunity to all the businesses of Roncesvalles Village Business Improvement Area and sponsors to promote their products to the visitors of the Festival.
The Polish Harvest Festival has become the largest event celebrating Polish culture, traditions, dances and songs in Canada. It is my pleasure to extend my wishes of every success to the Organizers of the September event in Roncesvalles Avenue, which, as usual, on those two days will become a Polish Street.
I am convinced that it will be a particularly joyous occasion with splendid entertainment.
Sincerely yours,
Marek Ciesielczuk
Consul General
In the photo: Tony Cauch, Chair, RVBIA; Consul Andrzej Krężel; Andrew Chomentowski, Vice-chair, RVBIA. Photo credit: Radek Maj.
Roncesvalles Polish Festival September 19 and 20
| September 19, 2009 | to | September 20, 2009 |
The Roncesvalles Polish Festival is coming to Roncesvalles Village on September 19 and 20. Visit polishfestival.ca for more information.
We Want YOU for the 2009 Roncesvalles Polish Festival!
The Roncesvalles Polish Festival is a celebration of all things Roncesvalles, its great Polish heritage and what it is today: a vibrant, diverse neighbourhood brimming with talent.
This September, let’s show Toronto what we’re made of. It’s your Festival, so get involved! We’re looking for local musicians, entertainers, artisans, artists and volunteers.
Every year we showcase local talent on our stages. If you want to get on stage, get in touch! The Festival welcomes local buskers, magicians, face painters and more to add some spark to the street. Drop us a line at
For vendors: we encourage local artists and artisans to get involved. Last year’s Festival drew 150,000 people to our neighbourhood. That’s great exposure for YOU, right on your own main street! There are many vendor booths available, and applications are downloadable from www.polishfestival.ca
We’re looking for volunteers to help out during the Festival. It’s an easy and fun way for high school students to get their community hours. We’re particularly interested in GROUPS (Scout troops, youth clubs, etc.) Please contact us at if you’re interested in volunteering.
A Note From the Board
To our neighbours, volunteers, businesses, sponsors, entertainers, vendors and visitors:
Despite the rain and clouds, we pulled together and put on one amazing two-day party!
We had over forty brilliant musical acts, over one hundred unique vendors, and well over 150,000 guests!
You all helped to make this event our most successful yet!
Thank you
Dziękuję Bardzo
Merci Beaucoup!
| Tony Cauch | Andrew Chomentowski |
| Chair, Roncesvalles Village BIA | Chair, Marketing and Promotions Committee |
| Vice-chair, Roncesvalles Village BIA |
Roncesvalles Polish Festival Draws Record Crowds
Neither the threat of rain nor its arrival on Saturday evening dampened the spirits of visitors to Roncesvalles this past weekend. Our neighbourhood was visited by record-breaking numbers of people, making this the biggest Festival to date.
The Roncesvalles Village BIA would like to extend its thanks to the Festival sponsors and patrons, our members, event organizers, neighbours, vendors, volunteers, entertainers and musicians. You’ve helped make this year’s Festival the best yet!
Please visit www.polishfestival.ca for more.
Email us: info@
roncesvallesvillage.ca
Thanks to everyone who made the 2009 Roncesvalles Polish Festival the best yet!
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