BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) "We're back," proclaimed Eddy Dobosiewicz, founder of Buffalo's Dyngus Day festival on WBEN Monday morning.
The spirit of Dyngus is alive and well in Buffalo, especially after celebrations
were canceled in 2020 and scaled-back in 2021.
"Dyngus Day is about renewal and rebirth. What could be more appropriate than to celebrate this reawakening that humanity is going through, than to have a celebration here in Buffalo, the Dyngus Day capitol of the world," said Dobosiewicz.
He says it warms his heart to see full faces and smiles again and a return to pre-Covid celebrations. "We learned so much over the past two years, and took a lot of things for granted. I'm looking forward to experiencing fun again."
Plans for this year's festival didn't come together until mid-February when the committee finally decided to go ahead and hold it. "I've never seen so much anticipation and energy in all the years we've been doing this," said Dobosiewicz.
One of the best attended Dyngus Day events is the parade. About 150 vehicles or units have signed up to participate in it.
The parade route changed this year. The parade steps off at 5pm on Memorial Drive and runs west on Broadway to Fillmore Avenue. Best viewing spots are anywhere along Broadway.
One of the best parts of Dyngus Day is the chance to experience 'old' Buffalo, or the city's Polonia district.
"One of the reasons that we started the parade," said Dobosiewicz, "was to shine a light on the East side." Although the festival really takes place all across Western New York, the heart of it really takes part in the historic Polonia district.
He said the neighborhood near the Broadway Market has so much significance, not just Polish history, but world history, that needs to be showcased.
"The last three administrations of the city allowed this area to crumble, but we think it is poised for a resurrection and we're trying to shine a positive light on it. Although it looks very poverty-stricken and blight-ridden right now, if you look beyond that, you can see that there's an infrastructure, that already exists, that is poised for a turnaround."
