Organizers of Buffalo’s annual Dyngus Day Parade have released information about five new award categories for 2010 parade participants. Awards will be based on creativity, originality and spirit.
2010 Dyngus Day Parade Award Categories:
- Dyngus Day Capital of the World Award: To be awarded to float or participating group that best visually depicts Buffalo’s title as “Dyngus Day Capital of the World.”
- Best Use of Red & White: To be awarded to the float or participating group that most effectively uses the colors of Polonia to decorate a float, vehicle or costume.
- Best Use of Pussy Willows: Will challenge participants to make a float or a costume out of pussy willows or to use the most pussy willows in their parade entry.
- Best Musical Performance: Awarded to the most animated, colorful and unique musical parade performance. From polka bands to kazoo choirs, all are eligible.
- Best Demonstration of “Love of Buffalo”: Dyngus Day is not just a celebration of Polish pride but a wonderful way to promote aspect of Western New York that make the community unique. This prize will be awarded to the float or group that most creatively demonstrates love for our hometown.
Buffalo’s Dyngus Day Parade, scheduled to take place at 5pm on Monday, April 5th, is the only parade of its kind in the world. The parade will travel through the Historic Polonia District passing numerous Dyngus Day celebrations including Corpus Christi Church, St. Stanislaus Church, Polonia Hall, Buffalo Central Terminal and a number of Polish-owned taverns.
The parade is sponsored by Dyngus Day Buffalo, the coordinator of more than 25 festival sites. Dyngus Day Buffalo promotes Buffalo, New York nationally as the Dyngus Day Capital of the World.
Parade entry applications are still available on-line at DyngusDayBuffalo.com. The deadline for parade entries is 5pm on April 1, 2010. Questions may be directed to Parade Director Bernadette Pawlak at (716) 812-3342 or BernadettePawlak@gmail.com.
A Polish-American tradition, Dyngus Day celebrates the end of the restrictive observance of Lent and the joy of Easter. Over the decades, Buffalo, New York has become the Dyngus Day Capital of the World, attracting thousands of people from across the northeast United States. Although celebrated in Buffalo’s Polonia neighborhood since the arrival of the first Poles in the 1870s, the city’s first modern Dyngus Day celebration was held 49 years ago by the Chopin’s Singing Society, a tradition that continues today. Dyngus Day 2010 will take place on Monday, April 5th.
Thanks Chris for the post. We hope that by adding awards, we will be able to increase the color and creativity of entries into the Parade. The Dyngus Day Parade is getting bigger and better EVERY year!