General Pulaski Association

09/26/2026

🇵🇱 Join us for a historic evening as we celebrate Polish American Heritage Month and honor the Polish American 250 - commemorating 250 years of Polish contributions to America! We will also honor Dina Szymanski as WNY Polish American of the Year.

📆 Friday, October 9th, 6:00 PM Cocktail Hour. 7:00 PM Dinner

📍Location: Kloc's Grove, West Seneca, NY

Event link: https://facebook.com/events/s/polish-american-heritage-month/1747432009589274/

Enjoy a delicious dinner, great company, and a meaningful program honoring our heritage and history.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our culture, connect with the community, and recognize the lasting Polish impact on the United States.

Tickets are $55 each or $100 per couple. Pay online or by check, Venmo, or PayPal. Details are available at generalpulaski.com.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to [email protected]

All are welcome — bring family and friends!
Polish American Unity • Heritage • Pride

Wreath Laying at the General Pulaski statue

Before the dinner, all are welcome to join us on October 9, 2026, from 5:00 to 5:30 PM at the General Casimir Pulaski Statue next to the Ellicott Square Building in downtown Buffalo for our annual wreath laying. Please RSVP at generalpulaski.com.

This has been an annual tradition for decades which leaders in our community and elected officials attend each year.

09/24/2026

This evening , General Pulaski Association President Joseph Mikolaj Rej Jr. and Secretary Preethi Govindaraj attended a celebration in honor of Polish Armed Forces Day at the Polish Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC (fittingly in front of a portrait of former Prime Minister Ignacy Paderewski)

09/23/2026

We are pleased to announce that the General Pulaski Association has awarded its honorary patronage to the USA250 celebrations.
On September 29, 2026, Kościuszko Mound in Kraków will host the USA250 celebrations, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Organized by the Kościuszko Mound Committee in Kraków, this special event celebrates the centuries-long friendship between Poland and the United States, as well as the shared values that have united our two nations for generations.
It is no coincidence that the celebrations will take place at the Kościuszko Mound—the foremost symbol of Polish-American friendship in Poland and a lasting tribute to General Tadeusz Kościuszko, the greatest shared hero of our two nations.
The General Pulaski Association is honored to provide honorary patronage for this initiative, which honors the shared history of our nations, preserves the legacy of Tadeusz Kościuszko, and highlights the enduring importance of Polish-American friendship.
For more information about the event, please visit: https://usa250.pl/pl/

Polish
Z przyjemnością informujemy, że Stowarzyszenie Generała Pułaskiego (General Pulaski Association) objęło patronatem honorowym uroczystości USA250.
29 września 2026 roku na Kopcu Kościuszki w Krakowie odbędą się uroczyste obchody USA250, upamiętniające 250. rocznicę ogłoszenia Deklaracji Niepodległości Stanów Zjednoczonych Ameryki.
To wyjątkowe wydarzenie, organizowane przez Komitet Kopca Kościuszki w Krakowie, stanowi wyraz wielowiekowej przyjaźni polsko-amerykańskiej oraz wspólnych wartości, które od pokoleń łączą oba narody.
Nieprzypadkowo miejscem uroczystości jest Kopiec Kościuszki w Krakowie – najważniejszy symbol przyjaźni polsko-amerykańskiej w Polsce oraz trwały wyraz hołdu dla generała Tadeusza Kościuszki, największego wspólnego Bohatera Polski i Stanów Zjednoczonych.
Stowarzyszenie Generała Pułaskiego z dumą udziela patronatu honorowego tej inicjatywie, która przypomina o wspólnej historii naszych narodów, pielęgnuje dziedzictwo generała Tadeusza Kościuszki i podkreśla znaczenie polsko-amerykańskiej przyjaźni.
Więcej informacji o wydarzeniu: https://usa250.pl/pl/

09/18/2026

The General Pulaski Association would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade in Depew such a wonderful celebration!

🇵🇱 WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY! 🇵🇱

From the parade to the festivities at Veterans Park, it was amazing to see so many people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate community, friendship, Polish heritage, and the legacy of General Casimir Pulaski.

❤️ Thank you to our community for coming out, cheering along the parade route, enjoying the festival, supporting our vendors, and celebrating with us. Seeing Veterans Park filled with families, friends, and neighbors made all of the hard work worthwhile.

🏅 Thank you to the 250 Congressional Award in Cultural Excellence honorees. Your incredible spirit made the day special.

👏 Thank you to our volunteers and Dzia Dzia Pierogi partner . From expertly handling setup, parade lineup, basket raffle, tickets sales and collection, food service, and cleanup — this day could not have happened without you.

🤝 Thank you to our generous sponsors, community partners, and the Village of Depew. Your support allows the General Pulaski Association to continue preserving and sharing Polish heritage while bringing people from throughout Western New York together.

🇺🇸 Thank you to the elected officials and community leaders who joined us and showed their support for our organization, our Polish-American community, and the many cultures that make Western New York such a special place.

🎺 And a huge thank you to our parade participants, bands and performers, honor guard, marching units, cultural organizations, first responders, vendors and exhibitors who made the 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade such a memorable celebration.

We took a lot of pictures along the way, and these are just some moments from an unforgettable day. 📸❤️

To everyone who marched, volunteered, sponsored, participated, attended or simply stopped by to say hello — DZIĘKUJĘ! THANK YOU!

We are incredibly grateful for your support, and we look forward to celebrating Polish heritage and bridging cultures with all of you again! 🇵🇱 🇺🇸

General Pulaski Association
Preserving heritage. Celebrating community. Bringing people together.

09/11/2026

🇵🇱 One day away from the 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade! Here is some info you need to know and some exciting updates:

🚗 See the parking map in this post. Parking will be on neighborhood streets. It's a short walk to watch the parade on Manitou Street and Terrace Blvd and a short walk to Veterans Park.

Feel free to bring a chair to watch The Buffalo Touch and Ubuntu from the Veterans Park lawn.

🥁 Come see Downbeat Percussion and the Depew Union Free School District High School Marching Band and Color Guard in the parade!

🆓 Watch the parade and grab a coupon redeemable for a free mug at the General Pulaski ticket tent.

Check out DZIA DZIA’s Pierogi in the Pulaski food tent!

We have some additional vendors and non-profits:
- Sunshine Designz offering hand beaded suncatchers, fancy rhinestone pens including Buffalo Bills pens, and keychains
- Buffalo's Vadapav and Bites for authentic Indian street food
- AMAC inspires shared purpose, belonging, and mutual understanding by bringing together diverse communities through education, civic engagement, and collaborative partnerships that strengthen our region and advance a future rooted in equity, hope, and shared humanity.

Thank you to our generous sponsors!
https://www.generalpulaski.com/sponsors
- Erie County, NY
- Ukrainian Federal Credit Union
- Senator April Baskin
- Wardynski Meats
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Mark Poloncarz
- Wegmans
- Kevin Hardwick
- Pietszak Funeral Home, Buffalo
- Joynt for Justice
- Nickel City Wrestling
- Dr. Daniel C. Cox
- Thomas K. Dalton, CFP, AAMS, CRPC
- Dr. Jonathan Edelson

Check out generalpulaski.com for upcoming events.

09/09/2026

🇵🇱 Announcing the 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade Grand Marshal, Pulaski Princess, and Pulaski Countess! 🇵🇱

⭐ Grand Marshal: Christine Lukaszewicz Kibler
👑 Pulaski Princess: Madison Smolinski
👑 Pulaski Countess: Kaitlyn Smolinski

Join us as we celebrate Polish heritage, America 250, community, and tradition on Saturday, September 12th, at 11:30 AM in Depew. The Parade starts at the Depew Municipal Building, proceeds south on Manitou Street, turns right onto Terrace Blvd, and ends at Veterans Park.

🎁 Free mug giveaway to parade watchers!

Join us in Veterans Park after the parade for music, basket raffle, food, and craft vendors until 5:00 PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

⭐ 2026 Grand Marshal Christine Lukaszewicz Kibler

Christine’s parents, Stanislaw and Theresa Lukaszewicz, taught her and her sister, Anna, to be proud of their Polish heritage and traditions which instilled the values of hard work, close families and caring for each other. Her trips to Poland confirm that her Polish heritage is where these values and traditions come from.

Being proud of her Polish heritage led her and her sister to undertake the process of obtaining their Polish passports. Through the process, they searched through family records, discovered birth certificates and citizenship papers. She states receiving their Polish Passports was both a humbling and rewarding experience.

Christine’s father believed it was important to participate in events and belong to organizations that support the Polish American community. She is the current Treasurer of the General Pulaski Association and former Second Vice President. She is the President of the Professional & Business Women of Polonia and supports many other organizations that promote Polish culture, customs and traditions.

She is employed with the New York State Court System as Chief Clerk of Niagara Supreme and County Courts which is the highest ranking nonjudicial employee in Supreme and County Court responsible for managing all aspects of court operations and nonjudicial case processing activities.

She received a Master of Science in Professional Leadership from St. Bonaventure University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Medaille College.

👑 2026 Pulaski Princess Madison Smolinski

Madison Smolinski is an 11-year-old sixth grader at William Street School in Lancaster. She loves being active and plays travel softball for the Lancaster Heat, where she plays second base and shortstop. She also plays volleyball for her school and takes Jazz and lyrical dance classes.

Madison has been a Girl Scout for several years and enjoys learning new things, helping others, and being part of her community. When she isn't playing sports or dancing, Madison loves spending time with her family and friends.

Madison enjoys celebrating her Polish heritage with her family and especially likes helping make Polish food, learning to Polka, breaking Oplatek on Christmas Eve, and decorating Easter eggs.
Madison is very excited to be the Princess in the Pulaski Parade. She can't wait to walk in the parade, celebrate with her family and friends, and be part of such a fun Polish tradition. And, of course, one of the best parts will be getting to pick out her princess dress!

👑 2026 Pulaski Countess Kaitlyn Smolinski

Kaitlyn Smolinski is a 14-year-old freshman at Lancaster High School and a competitive dancer with Elite Dance Company. Dance is a big part of Kaitlyn’s life, and in 2026 she was excited to be named her team’s MVP. She also enjoys being a mentor at the studio and helping younger dancers.

Outside of dance, Kaitlyn is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and Drama Club. She performed in her middle school musicals and has always enjoyed being on stage.

Kaitlyn and her family enjoy celebrating their Polish heritage through traditions that bring everyone together. Some of her favorites include eating pierogi and Polish sausage, decorating Easter eggs, celebrating Dyngus Day polka-ing, and sharing Oplatek on Christmas Eve.

Kaitlyn is excited to be a part of the Pulaski Parade as a Countess and looks forward to celebrating with her family and the Polish community. She is especially excited to learn more about her Polish heritage and experience all the traditions that make the celebration so special.

09/07/2026

Shop our excellent craft vendors!

Click “Going” at the event link:
88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade and Music in the Park - Sep 12, Veterans Park, Depew

🥁 See the 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade. Coupons for a free mug will be handed out during the parade, redeemable in Veterans Park.

Parade starts at 11:30. Parade route is Village of Depew Municipal Building -> Manitou Street -> Terrace Blvd -> Veterans Park.

Drop some tickets in the basket raffle!

The Buffalo Touch play at 12:00 in the park pavilion.
Our cultural partners Ubuntu and Kala Seva Arts & Cultural Society, Inc will perform between 4:00 and 5:00.

Details at generalpulaski.com. There's still time to join the parade!

Now our vendors and non-profits…

Beckies Bags
Stop by for a fun assortment of lanterns, nightlights, wind spinners, paintable figurines, sewn and canvas tote bags, blankets, and more. Their collection features fun and functional items you didn’t know you needed!

Sew Fluffy Kitties
Offering cat toys, earrings, crochet creations, custom gifts, T-shirts, 3D-printed items, and more. This mother-daughter team operates a shop in West Seneca and also has a passion for helping rescue animals, including working with Pumpkin’s Patch Cat Rescue.

Creative Butterflies
Celebrate Polish heritage with Creative Butterflies, a small business specializing in Polish-themed merchandise. Shop Polish eggs, glasses, decals, ornaments, earrings, planters, aprons, potholders, and more!

Holy Treats
Satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade baked goods and refreshing lemonade. Their delicious baked goods are made from scratch with love!

Swede Hill Garden and Gifts
Browse handcrafted wooden welcome signs, flags, dreamcatchers, coasters, hot plates, T-shirts, and more. Be sure to check out their Polish-themed creations, including “Witamy” welcome signs and Polish-American flags!

E&J Custom Resin
Discover unique resin creations including animal figures, coasters, trays, cutting boards, sports-themed pieces, jewelry, and more. Their creations are fun and customizable, and custom orders are welcome!

Vintage Linens and Things
Step back in time and browse beautiful vintage embroidered and crocheted tablecloths, doilies, pillowcases, dresser scarves, and Americana décor. Discover unique pieces that can bring a sense of comfort, heritage, warmth, and timeless charm to your home.

Brightside Bakery
Treat yourself to specialty cookies from Brightside Bakery, a small bakery creating delicious cookies made with sourdough starter. Pick up a package to enjoy at the festival and take some home for later!

Tupperware
Visit the Tupperware booth to browse the iconic food-storage products that have been a part of kitchens for generations. Tupperware recently celebrated 80 years of its famous bowls!

Fetch! Dog Treats
Don’t forget something for your four-legged family members! Buffalo-based, veteran- and woman-owned fetch! Dog Treats creates handcrafted, human-grade dog treats using simple ingredients, including packaged biscuits, dipped cookies, and special fall and Halloween treats—Go Fetch Happy!™

Wendy Wasner the Writer
Meet local author Wendy Wasner and discover her My Little Pierogi and Grandma Stella’s Recipes book sets, along with adorable pierogi pillows and ornaments. She’ll also have her Cutie Felt Friend My Little Pierogi sets, making this a fun stop for Polish families and pierogi lovers of all ages!

Alycia Wojo Hair Braiding and Styling
https://www.facebook.com/alycia.wojciechowski
Get festival-ready with Alycia, offering on-site hair braiding and styling services. Choose from different types of braids and styles, or add some sparkle with hair-tinsel!

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
https://www.facebook.com/RoswellPark
Representatives from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will be on hand providing important information about lung cancer awareness and screening.

League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara
https://www.facebook.com/LWVBN
The League will provide nonpartisan information about voting and encourage informed and active participation in government. With more than 100 years of history, the League is a grassroots civic organization working to increase understanding of public-policy issues through education and advocacy.

Office of State Senator April Baskin
https://www.facebook.com/legislatorbaskin
Staff from Senator Baskin’s office will provide information on New York State government resources and contacts.

08/28/2026

88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade! Stake out your spot along the parade route. Sep 12, Depew Manitou St-Terrace Blvd-Veterans Park
Generalpulaski.com for details

08/28/2026

08/03/2026

Get ready for a celebration of culture, community, and Polish pride at the 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade! This family-friendly event offers fun for all ages.

The parade will take place on September 12 at 11:30am in Depew between the Municipal Building and Veterans Park.

Join us in Veterans Park after the parade for music, food, basket raffle, and craft vendors until 5pm.

Details and sign-ups for the parade and vendors can be found at generalpulaski.com.

Free Admission!

11:30 – 12 PM: 88th Annual Pulaski Day Parade with free mug giveaway for parade watchers

12:00: Food Trucks, Food Vendors, Craft Vendors, and Basket Raffle Opens in the park (come early - we're targeting to have everything set up by 11am)

12-2 PM: The Buffalo Touch polka band in the pavilion

2-4 PM: DJ Danny T polka and requests

4-5 PM: Heritage 250 cross-cultural performances
- A General Pulaski Association mission is to build bridges to other communities across WNY. In that spirit we will feature performances by our valued partner organizations.
- Ubuntu drumming, singing, and dancing
- More to follow

Activities for kids!

This is a family-friendly, alcohol-free event

Facebook event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1572593884651848?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22left_rail%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22calendar_tab_event%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark_calendar%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D