From homemade pierogies to traditional dancing and from polka music to learning the Polish National Anthem, there is something for everyone at the Annual Maryland Polish Festival set to take place on Saturday, July 19 from 11 am- 10 pm and Sunday, July 20 from 11 am- 7 pm at the Exhibition Hall at Timonium Fairgrounds (2200 York Road, Timonium, MD 21093). Presented by The Polish Community Association of Maryland, the festival will be $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for Seniors (60+) and military (active with ID) and children under 12 are free. It will feature entertainment throughout the day, authentic Polish food and drinks, storytelling, a children’s area, a trivia contest, Polish arts & crafts, a Polish Heritage Arena and much more. For more information, log ontowww.pcamaryland.org or call 410-780-9054 or 410-276-4019. Authentic Polish music will be a highlight of the festival and popular groups will include John Stevens and Doubleshot, Polski Swing Masters, Joy of Maryland, Two of a Kind and Bavarski. Dance troupes, dressed in traditional clothing, will perform throughout the weekend and include the Krakowiaki Dancers and the Ojczyzna Folk Dance Group. And, if you love homemade Polish food, there will plenty from which to choose to include Lazanki (sauerkraut dish with noodles); Bigos (a cabbage, tomato sauerkraut and pork stew); Pierogi (a filled dough delight fried in butter…some are filled with cheese, potato, sauerkraut or cheese/potato blend); Golabki (cabbage rolls…cabbage leaves wrapped around ground beef and/or pork meat with rice then cooked in tomato sauce); Pyzy (potato dumpling with meat filling); Polish Kielbasa (Polish Sausage); Kotlety Schabowe (Polish style pork chops); Placki Ziemniaczanae (potato pancakes) and various Polish soups. For dessert, delight in trying some Paczki (Polish doughnut with a filling), Makowiec (poppyseed cake) or Chusciki (Polish bowties...thin fried dough with powered sugar). There will also be “American” fare to include pit beef, ham and turkey in addition to hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken. Also, featured at the festival will be authentic beers and liqueurs including Zywiec and Okocim beers and Polish Vodka, Krupnik (honey liqueur) and Wisnioska (cherry cordial/liqueur). To learn more about Poland and its people, there will be a Polish Heritage Arena, organized and presented by Adam Mazurek, and it will feature artifacts and historical information about the country, past and present traditions and customs as well as short lessons in the Polish language and other mini-workshops. There will be plenty of shopping options as there will be a terrific assortment of vendors at the festival. Peter Zeranski, author of two Polish cookbooks, will be hand to sell and sign his books. Artist Carla Tomaszewski will be selling posters and cards of Polish interest and Michael Nagrabski (another artist) will be selling his sketches of local sites such as St Stan's Church, Holy Rosary Church, St. Casimir's Church and others. Brenda Miller, a talented "paper cutter," will have her art for sale and Wanda Perry, from Philadelphia, will be on hand with embroidered items such as table clothes, table runners and embroidered linen. Polish Treasures will be there with imported Polish items such as pottery, crystal, wood chess sets and boxes. Jewelry will include amber and silver jewelry from Gdansk, Poland there will also be a number of books of Polish Interest available. About 2,000 people are expected to attend the festival that supports the Polish Community Association, their cultural activities (such as the neighborhood East Baltimore Christmas Caroling) and other Polish organizations in the area.