For the kielbasa: Rockford Polish Fest's Jeff Bremer knows his way around a grill

Of all of the Rockford area's annual summertime festivals, forgive Jeff Bremer for being partial to one — Polish Fest.

One, he is Polish.

Two, he met his wife, Laura, at the 2003 Polish Fest.

And three, he and a friend, Joe Konetski, are in charge of the commercial-size charcoal grill serving fresh and smoked kielbasa topped with kapusta, a traditional Polish not-so-sour sauerkraut.

On Sunday, the one-day festival returns to the grounds of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish at 201 Buckbee St. in celebration of the fest's 40th anniversary.

"The fest has always been about bringing the neighborhood and the community in that area together through food, drink and music," Bremer said.

More: Welcome to the 'pierogi factory,' the secret behind Rockford's Polish Fest

Cooking is a family affair

Bremer, 58, of Roscoe, is a salesman by trade and a cook at heart.

"There's nothing that I'm afraid to cook, bake, smoke or grill," he said.

Shortly after marrying his wife, Bremer took over Polish Fest grilling duties from his father-in-law, James.

Bremer's said his zeal for the grill was developed at an early age when he was youngster hanging out in the kitchen with his mother, Luba; his aunt, Mary; his other aunt, Sophia; and uncle, Stefan — all of whom took turns cooking at other's homes for family gatherings and serving a variety of Polish dishes such as potato pancakes, kapusta soup, borscht, pierogis and cabbage rolls.

"And everyone would come over and make a whole day out of talking and gabbing and hanging out and eating," he said.

Bremer said he was a young adult when he tried his hand at making cabbage rolls and served it to his aunt, Mary.

"She said through broken English, 'Oh honey. I can die in peace because someone can make them now.'"

Celebration of food, culture

About 300 pounds of fresh sausage and 250 pounds of smoked sausage hit the grill outside St. Stanislaus Church each Polish Fest.

It's also where you'll find many as 20,000 pierogis, which are buttery dumplings, and other favorites like polish beef, ‘placki,’ which are potato pancakes, and kolaczki, which are Polish cookies with fruit fillings.

A Polish dance troupe from Milwaukee and live traditional polka music by the I.P.A. Tribute Band rounds out the day.

St. Stanislaus is one of Rockford’s smaller Catholic parishes dating back to 1912. It still welcomes new Polish immigrants to the Rockford community.

Polish Fest is St. Stanislaus' biggest fundraiser, the proceeds from which will be used to replace the church's parking lot.

This year's Polish Fest starts at 11 a.m., rather than 11:30 a.m. like years past.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's Polish Fest is a one-day feast of ethnic food and music