Published: May 31, 2009 12:15 am      

Polka festival attracts fans from near and far

People from near and far showed up Saturday in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood for the annual Friendly City PolkaFest featuring polka bands and lively music.

Hundreds of people strolled under bright, sunny skies Saturday afternoon, checking out the food booths along Fifth Avenue near the pavilion where the bands played.

Polka enthusiasts danced to the happy tunes.

The crowd was growing late in the afternoon as more people flocked to Cambria City for Masses at ethnic churches, including a polka Mass at SS. Casimir & Emerich Roman Catholic Church.

The PolkaFest is sponsored by the Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Convention and Visitors Bureau and St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church. It continues today beginning with a polka Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s and then the music beginning at 1 p.m. and wrapping up at 6 p.m.

“It’s a great time, great music,” June Nadolsky of Lilly said. “We go everywhere we can for polka music.”

With her was her friend, Dolores Teklinsky of Northern Cambria, who added, “The food is delicious, and we see lots of people we know.”

Dave Loeffler and his wife, Anne, drove about 170 miles from York for a second year to enjoy the festivities. She said that they love to polka.

Another polka enthusiast, Karen Walker of Butler, said that she and her friend, Frank Antonucci, read about the festival in the Polka Times and decided to visit.

“I think this is really great, and I’m really enjoying it,” she said.

Darlene Gurgitus of Pittsburgh stopped at an ice cream stand to buy a Penn State Creamery butter pecan cone.

She said this was her first taste of the Penn State brand.

“It’s delicious – lots of nuts,” Gurgitus said.

The food also includes haluski, pierogi and cabbage rolls.

George Banfield of Revloc and his wife, Lois, brought their three children, George III, 6; Tommy, 3; and Breanna, 13 months, to enjoy the festival while visiting with family and friends.

“The food and music are tops, and we always have a good time,” he said.

Thousands of visitors are expected at the festival, said Lisa Rager, visitors bureau director.

On Saturday, a bus tour from Michigan and two from the Pittsburgh area visited the festival, she said.