- Polish Festival Seattle Needs Volunteers!
We’re still looking for 60 volunteers! Our Polish Festival Seattle is run entirely by volunteers, and we want You! Yes, You! Join our team on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Seattle Center. We have a variety of positions available, we especially need volunteers to help with transport in AM and PM.
Pick your time and spot – sign up for your spot with SignUp!
- Polish Festival Seattle – SobotkaPlease join us in giving a big Polish Festival Seattle welcome to Sobotka— a vibrant, multigenerational dance group that proves one thing loud and clear: you can dance at any age. With a unique and joyful repertoire, Sobotka is ready to light up the stage and celebrate Polish culture through movement, music, and community spirit.
- Polish Festival Seattle – ZabavvaGet ready to dance with Zabavva at the Polish Festival of Seattle ! This energetic cover band from Portland will be playing popular Polish hits from the 80s to today. As their name means fun, get ready for fun-filled musical journey through Poland’s greatest tunes!
- Polish Festival Seattle – Marcin PączkowskiGet ready for a unique musical experience with Marcin Pączkowski at the Polish Festival Seattle! Marcin will blend traditional sounds with modern electronic music in his original compositions. Join us for a captivating performance that bridges the old and the new in the most innovative ways.
- Polish Festival Seattle – David ConradWe’re thrilled to welcome back the incredibly talented Daniel Conard to the Polish Festival Seattle! David has captivated audiences all along the West Coast, and we’re so excited to have him return to our stage with a solo performance that blends with the best of Polish and American hits in a unique and unforgettable way.
- Polish Festival Seattle – Vivat MusicaA Polish Festival Seattle tradition! Vivat Musica, the festival’s longest-performing group, will be returning with a beautiful selection of music from their Biesada repertoire. Currently, they have 20 members, and this group is run by Marcin Pączkowski, Maria Grabowska as accompanist, and Mira Pawluskiewicz serves as the choir manager.
- Polish Festival Seattle – SyrenaKicking off the Polish Festival Seattle in true style — we’re excited to welcome back Syrena Seattle ! Since their last performance, Syrena has expanded their repertoire with other dances from Poland— and they’re ready to bring the energy to the stage!
- Polish Festival at Seattle Center is looking for co-lead for Wianki stationIs it you? Or you may know someone who is interested? Or perhaps you can help by picking up flower donations? Or perhaps you have abundance of lavender, or daisies or other flowers or grasses …Anything helps so Wianki station can actually be present during the festival.Please contact Asia Gromadzka on Facebook.
- Watch with Rick Steves – Poland
- Adam Dopierala at Polish Home Association Art GalleryThrough June 2025, the Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center presents the art of Adam Dopierala.
You can view the PHA Gallery most Friday evenings when the restaurant is open and at other PHA events. The works of the presented artists are available for viewing in our gallery and can also be purchased directly from the artist. Purchasing artwork is a significant recognition for the artist and additionally sponsors PHA. - Wyniki wyborów: Karol Nawrocki wygrał II turę zostając prezydentem Polski.Wybory Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2025 r.
- 2025 Seattle Polish Film Festival Early Bird Movie Pass on SaleEarly Bird Movie Pass Access to all the 2025 festival movies are available here. Visit SPFF website to get the latest news about this year festival.
- Seattle Polish Film Festival Poster CompetitionCompetition is open to all artists. Posters may be created in any media, but must be submitted electronically. Entries will be judged on their originality and artistic merit. The poster design should capture the essence of Polish/American cinema.
Submissions are now being accepted until 7/2/2025 for the 33rd Annual Seattle Polish Film Festival Poster. Be creative. Have fun. Win $250. - Ads in our newsletter
If you have a business or know someone who has a business and would like to advertise it to close to 2000 members of our community, please contact the editor.
- Seattle Polish Film Festival GiveawaySeattle Polish Film Festival will be giving away two tickets to the opening of the Seattle International Film Festival. Everyone who buys an Early Bird SPFF pass between May 1st and May 12th will be entered into a lottery to win 2 SIFF Opening Night tickets.
- Polish Movies at SIFFSeattle Polish Film Festival is cooperating with SIFF promoting two Polish/Polish connected films. The first one is “Under the Volcano”, in which a Ukrainian family on vacation in the Canary Islands suddenly find themselves stranded upon Russia’s invasion of their home country, sending them into fits of desperation and introspection as they wander the beaches speculating what comes next. The other one is “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass”, in which the Brothers Quay spin another fantastical stop motion yarn with the surreal story inspired by the work of Polish writer Bruno Schulz, about a young man on a ghostly train ride toward a sanitorium that may exist out of time and space.
- 2025 GiveBIG FundraiserThis year for GiveBIG WA, the Seattle Polish Foundation is asking for your support toward two vital causes: a Medical & Emergency Fund for our aging community members, and a much-needed Stage and Floor Remodeling Project at the historic Polish Home. The main GiveBIG event starts on May 6, but the fundraiser website is already up and running. To make donations go to the GiveBIG website and select the cause you want to support.
- Wybory Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej PolskiejPrzypominamy, że głosowanie w wyborach Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na terenie Stanów Zjednoczonych Ameryki odbędzie się w sobotę, 17. maja 2025 r.
Aby wziąć udział w głosowaniu należy do 13 maja 2025 r. złożyć wniosek o ujęcie w spisie wyborców. - Seattle Polish Film Festival passes are on saleGo to the Seattle Polish Film Festival website and click on the button “Buy 2925 Early Bird Pass”.
- Seattle Polish Foundation: Keeping Polish Heritage Alive in the Pacific NorthwestSeattle has long been a melting pot of cultures, and for the Polish-American community, the Seattle Polish Foundation (SPF) is the heart that keeps its rich heritage alive. If you’ve ever bitten into a delicious pierogi at the bustling Pierogi Fest at the Polish Home or danced to the rhythm of traditional Polish music at
- Jesse Eisenberg Granted Polish Citizenship Days After Poland-Set ‘A Real Pain’ Takes An OscarContinue reading
- Basia Niesulowski at Polish Home Association Art GalleryThe Polish Home Association is happy to announce the opening of an Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center. We are creating a forum for artists associated with the Polish community to present their art and to popularize and promote art in our community.
- Seattle Polish Women’s Club “Koło Pań” elected their new board of directors for 2025!President – Magdalena WysockaVice President – Barbara AugustyniakSecretary – Mira PawluśkiewiczTreasure – Henryka Posłuszny Congratulations!! We would like to invite you all to the Spring Bazaar at the Polish Cultural Center on April 12th, 2025 Noon to 5pm For any questions please email: polishbazaar@polishhome.org
- Seattle Polish Film Festival
This year Seattle Polish Film Festival will be happening in October, but if there is a Polish film showing up in Seattle area in the meantime, we’ll let you know about it, and remind you at the same time that we continue working on our festival to bring to you the best Polish films available.
This time we are encouraging you to check the film “The Death of Zygielbojm” (Śmierć Zygielbojma), directed by Ryszard Brylski. It will be streaming March 13 – April 13 during the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. For tickets please check the SJFF website: Home | Seattle Jewish Film Festival
- Polish Home Election ResultsAt the annual meeting of the Polish Home Association held on January 26, 2025, Lidia Jasklowska has been re-elected as the PHA President, Erik Lidzbarski as the Senior Vice-President and Roman Rogalski as the Treasurer. The following candidates were elected to the Board of Trustees:Jerzy Augustyniak, Olivia (Miasik) Blandy, Wanda Cieslar – Pawluskiewicz, John Golubiec,
- Grazyna, Grace, Kapa Funeral and Celebration of LifeLong time Polish community member, Grazyna Kapa, passed away peacefully after a yearlong battle with cancer on December 31, 2024. We invite you to join us in a celebration of her life! Remembrances: Funeral mass for Grazyna – Tuesday, February 4th at the Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle at 11:00 a.m. with a rosary
- NEW Polish Home Association Art GalleryThe Polish Home Association is happy to announce the opening of an Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center. We are creating a forum for artists associated with the Polish community to present their art and to popularize and promote art in our community.
- Passing the Torch at the Seattle Polish NewsThe Seattle Polish News has finally a new editor-in-chief. Bohdan Raciborski volunteered to run our news service in 2025. He replaces Ryszard Kott, who created the Polish News Seattle in 2002 as an independent news service and has served as the publisher and the editor-in-chief ever since. The service has four other editors currently, namely
- Seattle Polish Film Festival NewsZbigniew Konofalski returns as the Festival Director after the resignation of Michal Friedrich. The Festival will take place at the Egyptian Theater during one weekend of November 8-10. SPFF will be screening some of the newest films from the 2024 Gdynia Festival, like “White Courage”, “Simona Kossak”, and “Kulej.” More: SPFF website
- Flood Relief for PolandUpdate as of Oct 31, 2024: SPF has received about $1,700 in PayPal donations and $2,000 from PHA; together with $5,000 from SPF, $8,700 has been wired to the Caritas charity in Poland. Dear Friends of Poland, As you have seen in the news, there has been terrible flooding in Central Europe, including Poland, recently.
- AD: Syrena Dance Ensemble Invites New DancersEveryone is welcome, no experience is needed age 13+:) Come to try out traditional Polish dancing, meet new people, and perform with us! First practice is on Friday, September 27th at 7 pm at the Polish Cultural Center, 1714 18th Ave, Seattle. More: Contact us at Polishfolkseattle@gmail.com
- Polish Cultural Center Closed Till SeptemberThe restaurant and the bar at the Polish Cultural Center have closed for the summer. The summer break will last two months, through July and August. Both the restaurant and the bar should reopen as usual on the first Friday after Labor Day, that is on September 13, 2022. More: Polish Cultural Center website
- Aniela Sidorska’s “Porcelain War” Wins at SIFFThe movie “Porcelain War” has won the Best Documentary and the Golden Space Needle awards at this year’s Seattle International Film Festival. Sidorska was the principal producer and the creative force behind the movie; she is also a member of the Polish community in Seattle. The film received the US Grand Jury Prize at the
- Welcome Prof. Agnieszka Jeżyk to the UW Polish Studies!Dr. Agnieszka Jeżyk has just arrived in Seattle for her new position as the Maria Kott Endowed Assistant Professor of Polish Studies at the UW Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. In January 2024 she started teaching her first course “Modern Polish Literature in English” focusing on intellectual and cultural history in literary works during
- Seattle Polish News Looks for New TalentThe Polish News looks for editors, graphic designers and web & media wizards. Please join us! It would be great for new people to get involved and to eventually take over. If you are interested in joining, or discussing what it would involve, please contact Ryszard at rkott.media2@hotmail.com. The Seattle Polish News is an independent
- Natasza Caban’s American Bike TrekUpdate: Natasza is now expected in Seattle at the beginning of October. Local Polish bikers and fans prepare a welcome for her. If you are interested in meeting Natasza etc. please contact Krzysztof at krystof_pk@q.com. World traveler Natasza Caban has started her motorcycle tour of the America’s. After gaining fame for sailing solo around the
- Fr. Galant & Scout Master Las Decorated by Deputy Speaker M. GosiewskaAt the recent meeting with the Polish community of Seattle, the Deputy Speaker of the Polish Sejm, Małgorzata Gosiewska, decorated the following people with Polish orders and medals. Father Andrzej Galant of the Polish Parish in Seattle received a Knight’s Cross of the Order Polonia Restituta, the second highest Polish civilian order, and also a
- Seattle Polish News Looks for New BloodPolish News looks for contributors! We need editors, graphic designers and web & media wizards. Please join us! The Seattle Polish News is an independent news service serving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest since 2002. It has been published by Ryszard Kott who has also served as the editor-in-chief for all this time. Several people
- The Grand Piano Is In! Thank You!The grand piano in memory of Barbara Strutynski has been purchased! On behalf of the Seattle Polish Foundation and the Polish Home Association I would like to express our deepest gratitude to all people whose generosity made it possible. I have never seen such a swift, widespread, and generous support and such a big outpouring
- UW Courses Accessible to the Public in WinterThe winter quarter at the University of Washington brings again courses that can draw people interested in Polish language and culture. As usual, seniors 60+ can register to listen to these courses for a token fee (in range of $10) through the UW Access Program. Notable courses include: More: Registration for the current quarter through the Access
- GoFundMe Page for the Mroz FamilyFriends have set up a GoFundMe page to help the Mroz family with the medical and funeral bills. Please contribute to this fund if you can. Andre Mroz fell ill early November and ended up in the ICU fighting for his life. Andre lost his fight on November 19,2022. The family needs assistance with medical
- Andrzej Mroz Has DiedAndrzej Mroz, the former Solidarity leader, local community activist and one of the most recognizable members of the Polish community died on November 19, 2022, due to complications after a cardiac arrest. He was 67. Andrzej Antoni Mróz was born on June 21,1955 in Bliszczyce in Silesia, Poland. He obtained a vocational school diploma as
- Best Movie of the Seattle Polish Film FestivalThe Seattle Polish Film Festival announced viewers’ choice award for the best movie of the festival. The Seattle Spirit of Polish Cinema Award goes to the following movie: The runners up with the same number of votes were For the best documentary, a Certificate of Recognition went to Congratulations! More: SPFF website
- Final Push for the Grand Piano FundraiserDear Members and Friends of the Polish Community, Thank you for your incredible support for the grand piano fundraiser in memory of Barbara Strutynski! We have received about $42,000 in donations, which is more than we expected, and donations are still coming in! We appreciate that very much as it makes it possible to buy a better quality
- Ryszard and Maria Kott Recognized as 2022 UW LaureatesAt the annual Recognition Gala at the University of Washington on September 16, Ryszard Kott and late Maria Kott have been recognized among the 2022 UW Laureates for their contributions over the years to the Polish Studies program at the UW Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. The Slavic Department is currently looking for candidates for the Maria
- Barbara Strutynski Has DiedBarbara Strutynski, an outstanding longtime member of our Polish community died on August 24, 2022, in her home with her family by her side. She was almost 86. Known to everybody as “Pani Basia”, Barbara was a community pilar, active since the early 1960s untill the pandemic. During this time, she founded and directed different
- Polish Movies on the “35mm.online” Streaming PlatformThe Polish public movie producer, Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych (WFDiF), created a movie streaming platform “35mm.online” presenting Polish cinematography. About 4000 fully digitalized and restored movies are now available for viewing. The platform is available on the web, as a mobile application and as a smart TV application. The website works in Polish and
- Polish Cultural Center Closed Till SeptemberThe restaurant and the bar at the Polish Cultural Center have closed for the summer. The summer break this year will last two months, through July and August. Both the restaurant and the bar should reopen as usual on the first Friday after Labor Day, that is on September 9, 2022. More: Polish Cultural Center
- Polish Summer Courses in SeattleThis is your chance to attend a course of Polish during the summer Polish School at the Polish Cultural Center The school offers separate courses in Polish for children and adults in July and August. Classes are at weekly meetings that are 2 hours each, price is $100 a month. Please find detailed info here,
- Maria Kott Endowed Professorship of Polish StudiesThe University of Washington has established the Maria Kott Endowed Professorship of Polish Studies at the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. This is the first endowed professorship of Polish Studies on the West Coast of the United States and is in perpetuity, which assures that the Polish language and culture will be taught at
- James Hicker Has DiedJames Allen Hicker, one of the pillars of the Polish community of Tacoma, has passed away peacefully on December 1, 2021, after a short illness. He was 88. James was born on May 3, 1933, in Tacoma. He attended Lincoln High School and graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1955 with a BA
- Kamila Kanczugowski Is the New Chef at the Polish Cultural CenterKamila Kanczugowski, the well known and liked chef in the Polish community, accepted a new position at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski; for now it is on a temporary basis. She has already started, so you can drop by to enjoy your favorite Polish dishes right away. Kamila is mostly known from Sebi’s Bistro
- Polish Choir’s Recording Commemorates Poland’s Independence DayThe local Polish Choir Vivat Musica! presents a recording with a medley of Polish patriotic songs celebrating Poland’s Independence Day on November 11. The date commemorates the anniversary of Poland regaining its independence in 1918 after over a century of partitions. You can listen to this recording on YouTube.
- Milena Dickens is the New Principal at the Polish School in SeattleStarting this fall, the J. Słowacki Polish School in Seattle has a new principal. Maria Grabowska, who has led the school since 2014, has retired and Milena Dickens accepted the position. Thank you, Marysia, for your gentle leadership and especially for keeping the school running during the pandemic. The Polish community is grateful to you!
- Polish Consul Decorates Local Polish-AmericansOn October 16, 2021, Jarosław Łasiński, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles, honored local Polish-Americans with the following medals: Bogdan Smyczynski of Tacoma and Józef Eugeniusz Kucharczyk of Auburn each has received The Cross of Freedom and Solidarity, awarded to the former Solidarity activists by the President of Poland. Jerzy and
- Kaysy Ostrom Directs a Play in KirklandKaysy Ostrom has directed a play I Never Saw Another Butterfly, performing live at the main stage of the Studio East theatre in Kirkland, from October 8 to 17, 2021. Kaysy is a granddaughter of Krystyna Balut, who was a child survivor of the brutal WWII deportations of Poles by the Soviet Union and in
- Marion Ossowski Has DiedMarion Jan “Marian” Ossowski, a longtime member of the Polish community, died on September 13, 2021 after battling COVID-19 for several weeks. He was 70. Regretfully, Marion was not vaccinated; his wife Alicja, who survived COVID-19 and recovered, urges everyone to get vaccinated. Born in Szczecin in 1951 and trained as a railway technician, Marian
- Memories Wanted for the Polish Scouts’ 35th Anniversary BookMemories from Polish Scouting in Seattle and with Scoutmaster Martha Golubiec. To honor the 35th anniversary of Polish Scouting in Seattle, the local scout troop Kaszuby is creating a memory book to commemorate the milestone. The troop asks the current and past Polish scouts from Seattle and Tacoma and their families to submit their memories,
- 1981 Martial Law – Interview Subjects Needed for an Anniversary Research ProjectThis year will be the 40th anniversary of the imposition of the Martial Law in Poland on December 13, 1981. For all who lived through it, including the Polish News editor, it was a terrible shock. Many people died, thousands of Solidarity activist went to jail, and countless lives were broken. The military coup crushed
- New Polish Theatre Group in SeattleAnna Kulakowska has launched a new initiative at the Polish Cultural Center with an audacious goal to start a theatre! Together with Paulina Phung, she is organizing a theatrical group and calling on all theatre enthusiasts – actors, makeup artists, set designers, script writers and more to get in touch.There is a history of a children theatre,
- No Consular Visits To Seattle Anytime SoonThe Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles does not plan a passport visit to Seattle before or during summer 2021; the program to visit different cities has been suspended since spring 2020. A consular visit in the fall is a possibility, but it’s not decided yet – it would come to pass only if
- Call For Videos: Polish Festival Seattle 2021Polish Festival Seattle will have a livestream video on the Festival day, July 10, 2021 showcasing traditional Polish costumes along with dance, music and other activities. We invite members of the Seattle Polish community and also our PNW neighbors to submit short videos that go along with this summer’s costume theme or just show off
- UW Courses Accessible to the Public in SpringThe spring quarter at the University of Washington brings again courses that can draw people interested in Polish language and culture. As usual, seniors 60+ can register to listen to these courses for a token fee (in range of $10) through the UW Access Program. Notable courses include: Second-year Polish with instructor Krystyna Untersteiner; the coursereinforces the
- Polish Social Security ZUS for Polish AmericansPoland and the United States have an agreement about Social Security systems for their citizens; Poles living in the USA can receive Polish social security benefits managed by the Polish state insurer ZUS as well as American benefits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ZUS moved to online its 2021 consultation tour of American cities for the
- Visit COVIDWA.COM for Vaccine AppointmentsSituation changes quickly indeed! Our last week tips how to find a vaccination appointment are already obsolete. The vaccination site in Wenatchee and Kennewick are still available, but there is a better way to find an appointment provided by local tech volunteers. Their new WA COVID Vaccine Finder site aggregates information from different places offering
- 2021 Contest “BE A POLE”The Wspólnota Polska Association and the Świat na Tak Foundation in Poland invite children and teachers from Polish schools abroad to the 2021 edition of the annual contest “Be a Pole”. The students can prepare a work of visual art, a short poem or essay in Polish or a video clip illustrating one of the
- Help With a Tribute to Martha GolubiecSeattle-Gdynia Sister City Association (SGSCA) is preparing a presentation about Martha Golubiec’s contributions to the SGSCA and its programs. She was a co-founder of the organization. Please share your pictures, stories, fun facts, video clips and other memories that can be used in the tribute to Martha.More: Please contact the SGSCA President, Zbigniew Konofalski. Read Martha’s obituary.
- Martha Golubiec Has DiedMartha Golubiec, a longtime member of the Polish community, died on January 22, 2021 in Seattle after a long illness. Bursting with energy and ideas, she was a community pillar since the 1960s till recently. During this time, she initiated, spearheaded or contributed to many of the developments that were crucial to the community centered
- AD: Job Offer at Marek’s BakeryMarek’s Bakery and Deli is Now Hiring! Needed: an event person to sell Pączki at events and farmer markets. Must be 21+ because some of our events are in a brewery. Send resume to mareksbakery@gmail.com
- PHA Annual Meeting and ElectionsDue to the pandemic and state wide restrictions on public gatherings, the Polish Home Association election season is different than usual. As election procedures evolve and keep changing, the following is a list of most important aspects of this year’s annual meeting and elections as of January 14, 2021. Usually, the elections for different officer
- Polish Home Dining Room & Bar Opening Postponed AgainTaking into account the current pandemic situation, the Trustees and Officers of the Polish Home Association decided to postpone the opening of the dining room and the bar at the Polish Cultural Center Dom Polski till further notice.
- UW Courses Accessible to the Public in WinterThe winter quarter at the University of Washington brings again courses that can draw people interested in Polish language and culture. As usual, seniors 60+ can register to listen to these courses for a token fee (in range of $10) through the UW Access Program. Notable courses include: Second-year Polish with instructor Krystyna Untersteiner; the course is
- No Consular Visits To Seattle For NowUpdate in January 2021. There are still no visits planned for the nearby future. You have to fly to LA to file an application in person. You can also fly to Vancouver, BC, but you cannot currently drive there from Seattle. To schedule a visit, use the online reservation system System Zdalnej Rejestracji (e-konsulat.gov.pl) In
- Flights To Poland and EU Under COVID-19 RestrictionsWhile American citizens cannot enter the EU countries, you can fly to Europe on a different passport, such as a Polish one. There are two ways to do it: on regular flights or “rescue” flights. For regular flights, it’s the usual. You can book a flight on a regular airline such as Delta using your
- Polish Schools and COVID-19The local Polish Schools in Bellevue and Seattle are adapting to the difficulties created by the pandemic with their school year starting around mid-September. There is also a recommendation for an online school in Poland. Szkoła Polska im. Ks. J. Twardowskiego w BellevueThe School will have all the classes online, which is the same way the