Crowd enjoys food, crafts and music at Edwardsville Pierogi Festival

Jun. 11—EDWARDSVILLE — Patrons of the 8th annual Edwardsville Pierogi Festival hit the ground running Friday as the popular event kicked off with a record number of vendors and the best weather possible.

"It's great to see all the people here," said Edwardsville Mayor Sherri Cordes. "This event begins the community together. We have great food, great crafts, great music and great weather. It's really a great time for all."

Jackie Moran of the Edwardsville Hometown Committee echoed the mayor's comments as she looked around and smiled.

"We have a record number of vendors this year, 82," Moran said. "The festival gets people out of the house and they can enjoy the great food, shop all the craft stands and listen to good music."

Cathy Soprano, borough manager, said the festival has really grown over the years.

"We encourage everyone to come out and have a great time," Soprano said. "This festival means so much for the town and everybody has a great time."

The 8th annual Edwardsville Pierogi Festival kicked off Friday and runs through Saturday, featuring food and non-food vendors, rides, games, live entertainment, and on Saturday, a Pierogi Cookoff and Pierogi Parade.

"Many are new vendors," Moran said. "We are thankful to every one of our 32 sponsors that supported us this year — without them this wouldn't be possible. We are hoping for a very successful weekend that will help benefit our ongoing goal of funding new playground equipment for Veterans Park on Main Street and all the other events we sponsor year-round."

Moran said the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival began in June 2014. The event was first held on Main Street and in 2017, it moved to John Hopkins Park.

Food vendors

The food vendors include Bavarian Nuts, Bills's Soda Stand, Cal's Concessions, Cibo's Pizza, Cold Hearted Juice, Cousin Dom's Garlic Knots Sliders, Dave Norman Concessions, Down Home Homemade Pudding, D'Island Grill, D.P.'s Apple Dumplings & Funnel Cake, Dymski Pierogi's, Eat Up Now, EJK Concessions, EJK Giant Orange, FonDippity Food Truck, Glen Lyons Bros. Kielbasa, Hot Potato Tornado Potato, Joe's Homemade Donuts, Joe's Homemade Pierogi, Ken I Eat Catering, Kernel Moonies Kettle Corn, Lou's Concessions, Maddy's Dog House, Murt's Mobile Diner, N.E.P.A Rogi, Polish Connection, Resurrection of the Lord Polish National Church — Chicken BBQ and Pierogi, Simply Delicious deserts, Snook's Wings & Things, St. John's Edwardsville, Saturday only pierogi @ the church, The Pretzel Hut, The Winnie Bagel, T.N.T Pierogi Plus, Tony Thomas Catering, Uncle Buck's BBQ, Udder Delight's Ice Cream, and Yogi's Potato Pancakes.

It's safe to say there is something for everyone at the festival.

Cooking up some pierogi was Marie Ondish of Polish Connection in Plymouth, now in their fifth year.

"We love it here," Ondish said. "We have a lot of authentic Polish food and we've come up with a few new offerings."

Ondish said she is featuring a pierogi grilled cheese sandwich, a pierogi taco and traditional Polish delicacies.

Around the corner, Sherri Cannon was at her Dead Ahead stand, which offers Grateful Dead merchandise and "hippie apparel," like tie-dyed shirts.

"We got a large shipment of pants in — patchwork, tie dye, harem pants plus about 8 pair of patchwork shorts," Cannon said. "Plus a ton of tie dye headbands, stickers, shirts , incense, oils and purses."

Anna Maronna, of Hamburg, was back at her Busy Beehive tent. She was selling her items — made of resin. She said the most popular items are "skulls and dragons."

Maronna said, "I like cherubs, but I probably wouldn't sell a lot of those. People like the skulls and dragons. They put them on their shelves and admire them."

The craft vendors are in row after row at the John Hopkins Memorial Park off Main Street, and the food vendors are located adjacent. A nearby tent has a stage where the bands play one after another.

Pam Smith of Shickshinny was at her "Scentsy" tent, offering all sorts of items that can fill any space with soothing smells. Smith said she has many items, like wickless candles, or warmers, and plug-ins for the home.

A few tents away Cary Hawkins, owner of Caryn anne Handmade Clay Earrings/jewelry was talking about her items that she makes in Kingston.

"Everything you see is handmade by me," she said.

Laura Keller, library director at the Plymouth Public Library, said she was at the festival to promote events and programs offered at the library.

"And we're giving away books to children," she said.

Non-food vendors list

American Remodeling Ent., Anne's Face painting, Tattoos, Marionettes, Bow Wow Brigade, Butterfly House Soap Company, Candy Queen, Caryn Ann Designs, Corner Post Credit Union, Country Mtn Dips & More, Dead Ahead Gifts, Deep Roots Hard Cider, Dream Catcher Pony Rides, Dr. Edwards Memorial Church Welsh Cookies, Edwardsville Hometown Committee Raffle & games of chance & pierogi merchandise, Endless Dreams Animal Rescue, First Keystone Community Bank, Friends Of Camp Louise, Fortunato's Creations, Harth Enterprises, Holy Smoke Cheese, Honeybee Pampering with Perfect Posh, Huey's Amusements LLC, Jr. Fire Chief Brian Lyons Lemonade stand with Evlyn the Bird Whisperer, Jireh Purses & More, Joyce Zhang Toys & Novelties, Kiddie Kartunes, Kim's Paparazzi, Kimberly's It's in the Bag, Kitcheneez, Konefal's Wine in the Woods, Lighthouse Woodcrafts, Marisol Sinchico Dream Catchers & More, Michael Mootz Candy, My Liberty Threads, Nomad Distilling & Spirits, Olde Country Jewelry, Old World Bird Fan's, Pa. State Police, Plymouth Public Library, Pond Creek Candles, Scentsy, Strong Fit Mind, Sundance Vacations, Susie B Handbags, The Sand Box Sand Art, T-Mobile, U.S. Army, Vic's Vittles-Dog treats, Victory Baptist Bible Church

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.