It's Pierogi Fest Time Again

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jul 23, 2013 8:30PM

Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist

The first time I biked from Chicagoist's Bridgeport headquarters to Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Ind. it took me less than an hour to get there, but nearly three hours to make it home; I ate so much pierogi on a 95-degree day I bonked by the time I reached South Shore.

Consider that a lesson learned. I've still enjoyed my pierogi in the ensuing years but I've been smarter about how much I've consumed, which has allowed me to take in the sights and sounds of the festival with deeper gusto.

Pierogi Fest is a quintessential small town Midwestern festival, with dancers, costumes, and Whiting's 119th Street transformed into a bustling carnival enjoyed by generations of people. On a typical July day you can wind up roasting on the street if you aren't careful; one friend who accompanied me a couple years back wound up suffering from heat stress on the return trip. But the forecast for the area this weekend is nothing short of stunning, with conditions much like today expected. I'll be down there again and I hope to see you there.

Pierogi Fest runs July 26-28 in Whiting, Ind. For a full schedule and times, visit the festival's website.