Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's one of the most celebrated days in the City of Buffalo every year, and it always falls the Monday after Easter.
Dyngus Day in East Buffalo has become a Polish-American tradition to celebrate the end of Lenten restriction and sacrifice the day after Easter. Over the last several years, Dyngus Day has become a large celebration of Polish-American culture, heritage and traditions.
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While we're just under three weeks away from 2023 Dyngus Day festivities on April 10, preparations have been well-underway for one of the biggest parades and festivals in Western New York.
"Dyngus is not just a day, it's a state of mind," said President of Dyngus Day Buffalo, Eddy Dobosiewicz. "People have to remember that. Dyngus is all about renewal and starting over, a new growing season, longer days, warmer temperatures. I don't think there's ever been a better time to celebrate Dyngus than it is this year with all the craziness that we've gone through in the world and in this community. Dyngus Day is a perfect opportunity for us to start fresh."
As Dobosiewicz and his team with Dyngus Day Buffalo continue their finalize some matters ahead of this year's festivities, he says there are a couple of big stories with Dyngus Day this year.
The first matter is the return of the Pussy Willow Pass Shuttle system that will be available to transport festival goers between official venues and the parade shuttle system. It is the first time in four years the shuttle system will be operational for festivities.
"The way the Dyngus Day Festival operates is there's a parade, obviously, that goes through the heart of, what we have dubbed, the Historic Polonia District, which is basically going down Memorial Drive and then Broadway, it ends at Fillmore," Dobosiewicz explains. "In addition to that, there are numerous venues that are all connected under one big marketing umbrella. They're all independent venues, they might be church halls, it might be family on taverns or restaurants, they might be private clubs, and they all have their own independent parties going on. Then we connect them with a fleet of shuttles so that people can go from one venue to the other. That way, you're not just stuck at one place, you can go to three, four, five, how many places you want."
The other big development with Dyngus Day festivities this year is the return of the Chopin Singing Society, which hasn't had an event on the East Side of Buffalo in over 30 years.
"They partnered up with Saint Stanislaus Church, which is the mother church of Western New York's Polonia, and they've combined forces and will be having a spectacular party at the Saint Stanislaus Social Center," Dobosiewicz said. "We're real happy to that Dyngus Day has come full circle. The Chopin Singing Society, they, of course, originated the event back in 1961 when they had a fundraising event themed as a Dyngus Day party, and it just kind of took on a life of its own. It's turned into what we experience today, eventually."
Because of the ongoing construction efforts inside Buffalo's Central Terminal, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) has decided not to do an indoor event once again. Dobosiewicz says it's not a safe environment, at this time, to have too many things going on inside the historic venue.
However, Dyngus Day celebrations will be held, again, just outside the Central Terminal with some great food, great beverages, and also some great music.
"What we'll do is, as we have in years past, set up a huge tented festival area near the Central Terminal. We have a big stage with all kinds of acts, including Jimmy Sturr, an 18-time Grammy winner. He's been here before and the people loved him. We got such an overwhelming response from last time he was here, so we decided to bring him back. It'll be near the Terminal, but outside the Terminal," Dobosiewicz said. "Regardless, it will be very festive, it will be colorful - primarily red and white colors - and lots and lots of pussy willows. It's going to be great. With the weather starting to turn and the days getting longer, it's just a perfect thing to put us in that frame of mind."
Among the special guests also featured with Sturr this year includes Johnny Karas, IPA Hall of Famer, and Chris Caffery of Trans Siberian Orchestra, along with dozens of other bands, entertainers and folk dance troupes from all across North America.
Most of the venues taking part in Dyngus Day festivities this year will get started around 12 p.m. ET, although some places will kick things off bright and early.
"One of the starts is as early as 8 o'clock in the morning in Kaisertown at Porky's. You've gotta love these little family-owned taverns," Dobosiewicz chuckled. "Most of the festivities start at noon, and go throughout the day 'til about 10 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11 o'clock at night. The shuttles start at 4:30 p.m., primarily from the Buffalo Airport Hotel into the Historic Polonia District, but they will connect all of the venues that are participants in the festival."
In addition, there is still time for people to apply for a spot in the Dyngus Day Parade through East Buffalo. All you have to do is go to the festival's website, DyngusDay.com, fill out an application, and send it off to their parade coordinator Wendy Higgins. The deadline to apply to take part in the parade is Friday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
"The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and originates at Memorial Drive, and then goes down Broadway to Fillmore Avenue. It lasts about an hour, hour-and-a-half, let's say, by the time everything is done," Dobosiewicz said. "Live music, in most venues, begins at noon, but you'll need to check the schedule for particulars. If you want details, check out our website, which is DyngusDay.com for all your Dyngus Day details."