St. John Paul II bust installed in Polish Cultural Garden in Cleveland

The Polish Cultural Garden in Cleveland has busts of several famous Poles: Copernicus, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Frédéric Chopin, Madame Marie Sklodowska Curie, Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Adam Mickiewicz. They circle a beautiful fountain in the Garden at the corner of East Blvd and St. Clair in Cleveland.


The bust of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was recently moved to make way for a new bust of Saint Pope John Paul II which was added to the Polish Garden.

Gene Bak and the Polish American Cultural Center spearheaded the effort to honor Saint John Paul II.  John Paul visited Cleveland when he was Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyla and said Mass at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus.

Photos and video of John Paul II bust

Czechoslovakia 100th and Prague Spring 50th anniversaries

2018 is a special year. Not only are we celebrating 100 years of the founding of Czechoslovakia, but also 50 years since Prague Spring - the loosening of the tight grip of the communist regime by Slovak Alexander Dubcek, that came to a sudden halt on August 20, 1968 when the country was invaded by Soviet forces.

To commemorate these anniversaries, a re-installation and a re-dedication of two plaques in the Czech Cultural Garden took place on Sunday, August 19, 2018.  Members of the Czech Slovak and Rusyn communities participated.

Czech national anthem plaque

Slovak Flag

See more from the Czechoslovakia 100th anniversary celebration

Nadezda Petrovic Bust dedication in Serbian Cultural Garden

Under the leadership of Alex Machaskee, the Serbian Cultural Garden in Cleveland continues to grow. A new bust of Nadezda Petrovic was dedicated on Sunday August 19th in the Serbian Cultural Garden. His Grace Bishop Irinejand Fr. Dragoslav Kosic officiated at the dedication.

Photos and videos of the Petrovic bust dedication

14th Annual Cleveland Oktoberfest - Win free tickets

A glockenspiel that rocks on the hour, polka bands rocking the festival, traditional Bavarian food to delight your tastebuds, and don't forget the beer! It's all part of the 14th Annual Cleveland Oktoberfest, Labor Day Weekend, Friday, August 31, through Monday, September 3rd, 2018 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.

The Cleveland Oktoberfest welcomes back Paulaner as the presenting sponsor of Northeast Ohio's largest annual outdoor ethnic festival. Founded in 1634, Paulaner's longstanding dedication to purity in brewing has made them the #1 selling Oktoberfest Bier in Germany, and one of only six breweries represented at the Munich Oktoberfest.

All ages will find much to do at the multi-cultural festival, with Wiener Dog Racing, ethnically-diverse dancing groups, fireworks, puppet shows, sand sculpting, a Masskrugstemmen contest, hayrides, a Bavarian Shopping Village, polka lessons, educational seminars, and music, food and beer.

Learn more and enter to win free tickets to Oktoberfest