Polish-American Friendship Fair
Dear Friends,
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C. warmly invites you to join us for a special weekend!
This year, as we mark 250 years of American independence and 250 years of Polish-American friendship, we are delighted to welcome you to two events that bring together history, creativity, music, and a shared look toward the future.
Saturday, May 9 | EU Open House
Polish-American Friendship Fair
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
2640 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
This Saturday, our annual EU Open House returns — and this year we are turning the Embassy into a Polish-American county fair.
Over the past few years, our Open House themes have celebrated Polish scientists, explorers, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, and Tamara de Lempicka. This year, in the spirit of the 250th anniversary celebrations, we invite you to enjoy an American fair with a Polish twist.
Here is what awaits our guests:
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Pierogi — at last! One of the most frequently requested highlights is finally here. Thanks to the wonderful family-run company Jaju Pierogi, visitors will enjoy both a pierogi-making demonstration and a tasting. Vanessa and Casey White, Polish-American sisters from Massachusetts, turned their Polish grandfather’s recipes into a beloved family business now winning hearts at farmers markets across the United States.
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A live collaborative mural with Trap Bob: Together with D.C. artist Trap Bob, guests will help create a graphic mural celebrating 250 years of Polish-American friendship. Because few things build connection better than creating something together.
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Live music: Pianist Jason Solounias and violinist Agata Miklavc will perform a lively musical program bringing together memorable Polish and American musical traditions.
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Family-friendly fair attractions: Expect games, quizzes, scavenger hunts, a wheel of fortune, and of course cornhole — because no county fair would be complete without it.
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A photo booth and monidła: Curious what monidła are? Come find out.
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A lemonade stand… and a kompot stand: A classic American favorite meets a beloved Polish tradition.
Special concert ticket giveaways
During the Open House, at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM, guests will have a chance to win tickets to a very special concert taking place the following day.
Sunday, May 10 | Beyond Earth: A Celestial Odyssey
The Music Center at Strathmore
3:30 PM
On Sunday, May 10, the world premiere of Beyond Earth: A Celestial Odyssey will take place at The Music Center at Strathmore.
The program will feature selected movements from Cosmic Cycles: A Space Symphony, the acclaimed project created in cooperation with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C. is proud to be a partner of this remarkable event.
The concert will be conducted by Piotr Gajewski, the distinguished Polish-American conductor who has long been an important figure in the Washington area’s musical life. Founder and Artistic Director of Capital Classical Concerts, he has spent decades building bridges between Polish and American culture through music.
This performance also carries a strong Polish dimension. It incorporates the IGNIS mission with a Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski onboard, and the music will include the Polish national anthem, “Mazurek Dąbrowskiego” — a symbolic reminder of Poland’s place in humanity’s ongoing story of exploration.
At a moment when Polish-American friendship is being celebrated in a special way, this concert offers a fitting symbol of that partnership: looking together toward the future — toward science, technology, and space — while remembering our shared history.
Expect a truly extraordinary afternoon combining: symphonic music, imagery from space telescopes, and a moving story about human courage, curiosity, and discovery.
More information about the concert and the tickets are available here:
Capital Classical Concerts
We hope to see you this weekend — first at the Embassy on Saturday, and then at Strathmore on Sunday — as we celebrate friendship, creativity, and a shared future!
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C.
2640 16th St NW
Washington, DC 20009-4202
