Kielbasa and Polka

Most people think of wet T-shirt contests and drag racing when they think of Polski Day, but those stereotypes couldn’t be less true. Allow us to whip up some Polish history for you. Polski Day actually commemorates the signing of Poland’s constitution in 1791 — a fairly progressive step toward equality. Granted, it was less than a year before Russia ran its army over the freedom lovers in the War in Defense of the Constitution (seriously) and Poland lost its statehood, but it was a good run while it lasted. Celebrate Poland’s year of democracy with the 25th-annual Polski Day celebration today at All Saints Church (229 South Eighth Street in Kansas City, Kansas, 913-621-2709). Festivities run from noon to 7 p.m. and feature a parade starting at the corner of 18th Street and Central, polka music, a Polish mass and a traditional Polish dinner.

Sat., May 2, noon, 2009