The annual Kielbasi Festival was originally scheduled to take place Saturday, May 16th, 2020, in Shenandoah, but due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the event was postponed until later in the summer. The festival draws thousands to the through borough to celebrate the Polish Sausage. That didn't stop some businesses in Shenandoah from celebrating Kielbasi.On Saturday, Kowalonek's Kielbasy Shop, Shenandoah, held their own "Take Out" Festival to allow kielbasi lovers to still get their kielbasi fix.
Kowalonek's served the same menu items that they would typically have at the festival which included Kielbasy Mac & Cheese, Kielbasy & Sauerkraut, Kielbasy Loaf Sandwhich, Kielbasy Cheesesteaks, Kielbasy Casserole, and Kielbasy Bacon Bombs.
Mark Kowalonek, one of the three Kielbasy Kings of Shenandoah and owner of Kowalonek's, stated that he was just happy to have reopened after being closed since the state began the stay-at-home order. Kowalonek's had opened two weeks prior and had been closed since before and during the Easter holiday, a busy time of the year for the business.
Customers lined up the street to get their favorite items, and of course practiced social distancing. Customers were allowed into the store one at a time to place their orders.
Also participating in celebrating kielbasy on Saturday in Shenandoah was the Vernalis Restaurant. The restaurant opened it's doors Saturday morning and offered their favorites of Polish Noodles, Halupkis, Pierogies, Homemade Bean Soup, Haluskie, Bundukies, and their famous Shenandoah Egg Rolls which are made with kielbasy.
The new date of the official Kielbasi Festival will be Labor Weekend, on Saturday, September 5th, 2020. The event is sponsored by Downtown Shenandoah Inc.
Story and Photos by J. Reed
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| Shenandoah Egg Rolls from the Vernalis Restaurant |