Happy Apple Festival in Winona highlights Polish Heritage

Event raises money for Winona Polish Museum

WINONA, Minn. (WKBT) — The Polish culture is on display in Winona Sunday.

The Polish Cultural Institute and Museum held the annual Smaczne Jablka, or Happy Apple Festival.

Along with fresh picked apples, the event features Polish food, music and arts and crafts. There is also a display that highlights the history of the Diocese of Winona.

It’s a way for people with a Polish background to share their heritage with the city. “Not a humungous group, it was only one fifth of Winona that had Polish blood in their system but it’s enough where we’ve always stayed pretty loyal,” said Father Paul Breza from the Polish Museum.

The annual festival helps raise money to operate the Polish museum during the year.