JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The 1st Summit Bank PolkaFest was punctuated Sunday with an outdoor Mass drawing a couple hundred people praising God with Polka music.
The Very Rev. James F. Crookston presided over the Mass at Peoples Natural Gas Park, 90 Johns St, Johnstown, with the Don Wojtila Band providing polka music for the hymns.
“It’s been a staple of Polkafest,” Visit Johnstown Executive Director Lisa Rager said.
Sunday marked the conclusion of the 26th PolkaFest, but the dancing continued through the afternoon.
People attended the Mass while food vendors in the park cooked for the after-church crowd. The aroma of pierogies and pigs in a blanket filled the air, and bartenders restocked their ice buckets with beers.
Music started again for dancing at 1 p.m. with the Don Wojtila Band continuing, followed by Polka Country Musicians. The bands alternated until the party ended at 5 p.m. Sunday.
“It’s been a great weekend,” Rager said.
The number of people who attended since the Polkafest started Friday were not yet tallied as of Sunday afternoon, but Rager said she could tell attendance was stronger than last year.
“We were very busy at the gate, and people spilled out along the pavilion,” she said. “We are very happy and had good weather, which was definitely a blessing.”
Attendees paid a daily $5 entry fee Friday and Saturday, but admission was free Sunday.
Gate attendants said people entered from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York, New Jersey and Michigan over the weekend.
“Many people have been coming for years, but we see new faces, too,” Rager said.
Fran Robine, currently living in Cape Coral, Florida, danced with her husband and enjoyed the food.
“It’s a way, really, you can forget the cares of the world and all that’s going on that isn’t happiness,” she said. “When you come here you can be happy. It’s a different world.”
