Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- The festival that celebrates the iconic boiled Polish dumpling -- better known as a pierogi -- is back at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church for its fourth year on Saturday.

At Pierogi Fest, the handmade pierogies will be filled with meat, potato and cheese, and sauerkraut. Fried onions, bacon and sour cream are available to top the dumplings.

Want a different Polish classic? There is also Golabki (lightly boiled cabbage leaves filled with meat and chopped onions), Polish kielbasa (grilled sausage), bigos (meat and sauerkraut stew) and salads for purchase.

During the day, the church has set up a free inflatable playground for children, and other attendees can watch entertainment from around the country, including Krakowiacy, a Polish folk dance group from Denver. Ozzi offers face painting for $1 to $2 per person under the oak tree all day.

From 2 to 4 p.m., the Bubble Man will play games with the kids, Joanna and Friends will perform music from 3 to 8 p.m., and an arts and crafts table will be set up for creating masterpieces.

There will be no music between 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. because English mass will be held in the church. All are welcomed to attend.

The event will have "I love Pierogi" T-shirts with a cartoon pierogi on sale for $15. Polish beer is available for a donation, plus stands with water and ice cream will keep the crowds cool outside.

This year, Grand Bakery is selling traditional Polish pastries, paczki (a deep fried dough dessert) and breads inside the parish hall.

The Polish Pierogi Festival is free. Bring blankets or chairs for the event. Food tickets are $1 each. Six pierogies and a salad plate are $8. No credit cards, debit cards or checks will be taken at the event -- cash only. All proceeds go to the Polish Catholic Apostolate in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.