Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office announced an Oct. 19 Polish Highlanders Culture Day in Chicago, pairing a Daley Plaza gathering with recognition of community leaders during Polish American Heritage Month.
The outdoor program was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET (noon CDT) in Daley Plaza. A public reception was planned immediately afterward across the street at the treasurer’s office, 118 N. Clark St., Room 112.
Community leaders were to receive Certificates of Excellence during the reception. The office listed Jan Król, president of the Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America, among those to be recognized, along with alliance officers, cultural figures and Royal Court members.
Górale is the Polish name for the Highlander community from the Tatra foothills of southern Poland. The office highlighted regional dress, woodcraft, folk music and dance among its traditions and said the celebration was intended to help preserve them for future generations.
A Polish state archival finding aid records the alliance’s registration in Illinois on Nov. 6, 1929.
