DJ Kishka On Dyngus Day Celebrating 10 Years With Virtual Event

For one day a year, Gordon Square turns into a Polish paradise. Clevelanders cheer as a giant Frankie Yankovic float opens into an accordion and dancing women dressed in Babushkas parade down Detroit Avenue. That one day is Dyngus Day, also known as “Wet Monday,” an Eastern European holiday celebrated the day after Easter.

This year, Justin Gorski, also known as the Polka-bumping DJ Kishka who helped bring the fest to Cleveland 10 years ago, was looking forward to partying with an expected 35,000 revelers. The event was readying new features such as an accordion contest and a Polish wedding party for a couple who met at the festival.

“There’s just not a party like this anywhere else in the world,” says Gorski, who is also the co-owner of Cleveland Vegan.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus had other plans.

But even a pandemic can’t stop the Polish spirit. Dyngus Day Cleveland is bringing the party to your living room with a livestream April 13 at 1 p.m. on Facebook. The festivities include a performance by the Grammy-award-winning Alex Meixner Band, a DIY pierogi session with Rudy’s Strudel & Bakery and at-home kielbasa instructions from State Meats.

We talked with Gorski about what makes Dyngus Day in Cleveland so special and how you can celebrate this year. More Info: facebook.com/dyngusdayctown

What is the history behind Dyngus Day?
It started out in Eastern Europe. It’s kind of a Pagan holiday, like a rite of spring. It was called Wet Monday. Some of the same traditions still go on like the boys would throw water on the girls and the girls would throw water at the boys. I think as Catholicism swept through Europe, they had Easter, which was religious, and then they would wait for the next day to have this celebration. Everyone would let loose a little more than they would on Sunday because you were going to church. We've been cooped up all winter, and you've been fasting, if you're Catholic, for 40 days. It's time to open up again and have some fun. That's all we're really trying to do.

What will you miss about Dyngus Day in Cleveland this year?
I’ll just miss the gathering. Just the energy there, you can't really describe it. It's just our grassroots kind of thing and the way we celebrate and the way people in Cleveland, they started making it their own. It's the first festival once the weather breaks where you can get out and spread your wings a little bit and get silly and just see a bunch of great musicians, see a bunch of great people.

Who should celebrate Dyngus Day?
Everyone's invited, all cultures. My family didn't really celebrate. I mean, we had pierogi and potato pancakes and kielbasa and all that kind of stuff, food wise. But my family didn't really teach me Polish and didn't do the Polish culture. Everyone’s got their own knowledge of how deep the traditions go and stuff like that. It's beautiful.

After the livestream is over, how can Clevelanders keep up the Dyngus Day celebrations at home?
You can stream live music; any Frankie Yankovic station will bring out the true Cleveland sound. You could still get dressed up even though you're at home. Take some pictures of yourself, post them up. If you do drink, have a beer or two, you know, you can maybe be a little bit less responsible since you're not driving. Get that Polish flag out there or whatever flag for whatever nationality you're from. Just be glad you're a Clevelander, still here and alive and well.