PLYMOUTH — On Aug. 14 and 15, the streets of Plymouth will be alive with people, music and kielbasa. Local businesses, community organizations and musical acts will inhabit both sides of Rt. 11 between Elm St. and the Wyoming Valley West High School for two days, as Plymouth Alive hosts its 12th Annual Kielbasa Festival.
More than six area kielbasa vendors, including Fetch’s, Kaminsky’s and Tarnowski’s, will sell their choice sausages among nearly 90 other vendors of food, crafts, novelties and local business services. To accompany the sea of culinary, creative and entrepreneurial tents, musicians will be performing live at virtually every point throughout the two-day event.
On Saturday a “welcome home all veterans” parade will begin at 11 a.m. At 1 p.m., the American Legion Post 463 will hold a kielbasa competition on Center Ave., where the best bite among the vendors will be crowned.
Two stages will house more than 18 acts ranging from rock and roll to folk to polka. Friday night’s performances will include Flaxy Morgan and Iron Cowboy at the Band Graphics band shell. 40 lb. Head will play at the W.V.W band shell. Saturday’s acts will feature Infitnity, Music Room and Strawberry Jam among many others.
Susan Gryziec, a Plymouth resident of 40 years, has been involved with planning the festival since its inception and is the vice president of the committee. Gryziec said the festival started as a neighborhood revitalization project where those involved wanted to celebrate the diverse group of ethnicities in Pymouth and the surrounding area.
The Kielbasa Festival will have attractions for all ages. The kids zone, between Center Ave. and Eno Street, will include a bounce house, fish pond and face painting and balloon animals provided by Magical Fun & Games.
Among the local businesses represented, Wyoming Valley Motors and Mid Atlantic Waterproofing will have booths set up. Craft and novelty vendors like It’s All in the Bag, Scentsy and Dead Ahead Gifts will also be on hand.
Several local churches will be selling homemade festival faire and desserts along side area restaurants. The menu will include pierogies, barbecue, pizza, ice cream and candies.
Even the Plymouth Historical Society and Friends of the Plymouth Public Library will be represented on the festival grounds.
Gryziec said the festival is a big boost to all of the businesses in Plymouth, especially the downtown businesses. “It allows people to see what Plymouth is all about, the diverse stores we have here and the great downtown area, and we’re trying to build it up and make it better and better,” she said.
