DyngusDayBuffalo.com

Judge Ann T. Mikoll and her late husband Theodore V. Mikoll held the first party at the Society's clubrooms on Kosciuszko Street on Buffalo's Eastside after a trip to Poland

Although Dyngus Day was always celebrated in traditional Polish neighborhoods dating back to the 1870s, modern Dyngus Day in Buffalo had its start with the Chopin Singing Society in 1961. Judge Ann T. Mikoll and her late husband Theodore V. Mikoll held the first party at the Society's clubrooms on Kosciuszko Street on Buffalo's Eastside after a trip to Poland. The event, originally to boost its declining membership, soon became one of the most anticipated parties in Buffalo. Political and business leaders made their way to the Clubrooms to begin the day with a ceremonial “swieconka” luncheon. Polka music was played in many of the building’s sprawling meeting and bar rooms. Parties were known to last until the morning.   

Steve Litwin, a noted polka historian, remembers one Chopin’s party that spilled out into the streets.  “It had to the early 70s. Dyngus Day at the Club was winding down and the Dynatones were packing up. It was around two in the morning and we were carrying things back to the cars on Kosciuszko Street. Suddenly, it seemed like a good idea to play on more, and the band stopped in the middle of the street. Larry Trojak on snare drum and Dave "Scrubby" Seweryniak with his concertina. The next thing you knew, the street was filled with musicians with a horn, clarinet, and accordion. After about five songs, Buffalo Police arrive to break up the impromptu street dance. The band complied, until the cops rounded the corner. Now it’s 2:30 in the morning. We were all expecting that nearby neighbors would be swinging kielbasa or throwing frozen containers of czarnina at us. Instead, they were on their front porches, in robes and night shirts dancing.”  

Another Dyngus Day pioneer was St. Stanislaus Parish and Parishioner John Marchese. Marchese was instrumental in continuing the tradition on the Eastside after Chopin’s moved to Cheektowaga.

The success of the Chopin’s' Dyngus Parties led to other Dyngus events on the Eastside including those at the Broadway Grill, the Warsaw Inn, the Polish Singing Circle, the New York Central Terminal and the numerous taverns that seemed to be on every neighborhood corner. Chopins left the Eastside in the early 1990s and moved out to new clubrooms in Cheektowaga where the festival attracted a new generation. The Chopins tradition continues with party's taking place at the Heathstone Manor in Depew.

Another Dyngus Day pioneer was St. Stanislaus Parish and Parishioner John Marchese. Marchese was instrumental in continuing the tradition on the Eastside after Chopin’s moved   to Cheektowaga. In the mid 90s, The Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle, just down the street on Fillmore Avenue, began to earn its reputation for the “wettest and more authentic” Dyngus Day Celebration. Mickey’s featured Polish beer, fine European spirits and even held the “Best Homemade Sausage Contest.” Library President Gary Ptak often tells stories of how squirt gun water in the main hall poured into the basement like Niagara Falls.

Eddie Biegaj & Crusade perform at the Leonard Post Jr. VFW in Cheektowaga.

The 1980s saw Dyngus Day parties an abundance of parties being organzied in the suburbs. These events attracted thousands with many featuring top named polka bands from across the United States. The former Randolph Hall in Cheektowaga held its first party in 1989 and began the tradition of a pre-Dyngus Day party on Easter Sunday in 1992. This tradition continues at the Pvt. Leonard Post. Jr. VFW on Walden Avenue with the Blessing of the Instruments ceremony. The Polish Falcons’ Club on Columbia Avenue in Depew began its party in 1974 and now celebrates 35 years as being “one of the originals.”

2007 Marked the First Year for the Dyngus Day Parade

2005 marked the first year for Dyngus Day Buffalo and its website DyngusDayBuffalo.com. Dyngus Day Buffalo was founded by Marty Biniasz and Eddy Dobosiewicz to provide marketing and organizational support to events across the region and to promote the unique ethnic, religious and cultural aspects of Dyngus Day nationwide.  In 2007, the streets of the Historic Polonia District were once again filled with polkas and pussy willows as the Inaugural Dyngus Day Parade was organized. Making its way through the streets of Old Polonia, the Parade passes numerous party sites and concludes at a large party at Buffalo Central Terminal.

As we near the 50^th anniversary of modern Dyngus Day in Buffalo, we salute the many organizers, the hundreds of party sites and tens of thousands of revelers who have made Buffalo, New York the Dyngus Day Capital of the World!