Pulaski Polka Days

A pretty big small town event.

The Polka. The funny little half-step dance. In the United States it’s usually accompanied by beer and accordians. Where I grew up, in Central Wisconsin, our family’s Bohemian roots made fantastic polka dancers of my grandparents’ generation. I can recall going to family weddings in the 80s and all the older folks bounced around the dance floor whenever the obligatory polkas played. In my teen years our gym classes included social dance units that required us to learn square dancing, waltz, and polka.

I suspect in most places around here, learning to polka isn’t a right of passage anymore. But once a year, in Pulaski Wisconsin, they roll out the barrel and put on a four day polka festival that brings people in from all over Northeast Wisconsin.

The festival has run for nearly half a century. It brings in polka bands from all over the country and includes events like fireworks, a craft fair that runs the half mile between Assumption BVM Catholic Church to the Polka Days grounds, a pancake breakfast, worship services, a parade (more on that below) and more.

I attended the festival for the first time this weekend. And honestly, I was probably there a little too early in the day to get the true vibe of the place. Here are a few photos that give a feel for what it’s like.

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The Parade

On the Sunday of each year’s festival, there is a parade that runs from the schools to the four way stop at the center of town, then they hang a right and go the full stretch to the festival grounds. It’s about two miles and the parade runs a hefty hour and 40 minutes. THIS is the gem of the weekend.

People come from all of the surrounding villages (and even Green Bay) to see this parade. They put out chairs on the sidewalks the afternoon before to reserve their spots. It really is a remarkable showcase of the community. Nearly every business, plus businesses from surrounding areas have a float. Every community organization is represented. And SO MUCH CANDY is thrown to the kids.

Below are my favorite snaps from the parade today. I think these images capture some of the essence of Pulaski. I’ve included descriptive captions in many of them.

Rooftop observers.

Just after the roads were blocked people moved into the intersection for a better view of the parade.

She kept looking down the road to see if the parade was started yet.

Veterans groups have a huge presence in Pulaski. They are featured at every community event. This is Jack - Pulaski’s homegrown WWII vet.

The Beja Shriners showing up like it’s the mid 20th century.

Parents are very involved in Pulaski schools. Here, parents spray cooling water on the marching band.

This is my favorite photo of the day. Two gussied up kids slouched on a parade float as it rounds the corner, while the adults around them move in a flurry. They would have loved the grunge era.

Future Farmers of America.

The high school marching band was recently in Philadelphia to celebrate America 250. Here they are in a break out half way through the parade.

The car wash float sprays kids with a mist of cool water.

Pulaski is mostly in Brown County, but also seeps into Shawno and Oconto counties.

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Acknowledgement of the narrative.

One of the parts of this whole Pulaski project that I’ve struggled with is that it’s all a little too perfect. The community is primarily white and as such, exists in near complete white privilege. I’ve avoided making politics part of the narrative, but it certainly exists.

It’s no surprise that this parade included four floats promoting elected representatives (Tony Wied actually showed up for something) and candidates for the upcoming election that fall way on the MAGA right - and zero from the left. So this town, with traditions passed along to them from their own immigrant great grandparents, primarily votes for hateful candidates in order to preserve their whiteness.

It’s important to acknowlege that while I enjoy capturing these images and have generally liked every person I’ve met in Pulaski, the narrative the community presents is one dimensional and exclusionary of indigenous and immigrant perspectives.

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See more Pulaski photos here:

Wisconsin S3DA State Archery Championship

Pulaski

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