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Festival celebrates 'modern Polish culture'

Andy Watson
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
BBC Daria Szymonowicz has brown hair and wears glasses. She is wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering which says "North East Polish Fest"BBC
Daria Szymonowicz says it is really important to showcase the Polish community

Hundreds of people have gathered to eat food, listened to music and enjoy the first Polish festival of its kind in a city.

The North East Polish Festival at the Polish Centre on Maple Street in Newcastle hosted about 200 people from across the region.

Organiser Daria Szymonowicz said the event helped to showcase her community.

"It's also a chance for the wider community to come and learn about our culture which we're very proud of - especially the food," she said.

She said many Polish people in the region had lived there for many years.

"Thanks to being welcomed, thanks to feeling good and feeling like it's home we've been able to grow and can now showcase and share our talents and what we do with the local community," she said.

Dozens of people in a tent in front of a table filled with trays of food. On one side of the table are people serving and on the other are people looking to buy the food. One woman in a bandana looks and smiles at the camera (in the centre).
People were treated to Polish cuisine at the festival

Ms Szymonowicz previously told BBC Radio Newcastle that the festival was started by a group of Polish women who had formed a group on social media in 2020.

The event was a celebration of modern Polish culture, she said.

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