Friday, June 11: Polka Fest kicks off today

 
The 56th Annual Syracuse Polish Festival kicks off at noon with the raising of the Polish flag over Syracuse City Hall. The three-day event runs through Sunday.

Here’s this year’s entertainment lineup:

Friday: 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

• Salt City Brass (Syracuse, NY)
• Knewz (Buffalo, NY)
• Little Poland Dance Ensemble (Utica, NY)
• Grammy Winner Al Piatkowski (Cazenovia, NY)

Saturday: Noon - 11:00 p.m.

• Fritz’s Polka Band (Verona, NY)
• Ashley Cox (Winner SAMMY for Best New Artist)
• New Faze and Tony Blazonczyk (Chicago, IL)
• Lowicz Dance Ensemble (Edmonton, AL, Canada)
• Lechowia Dance Company (Toronto, ON, Canada)
• Pole of the Year 2010 award
• Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra

Sunday: Noon - 6:00 p.m.

• John Gora i Gorale (Burlington, ON - Canada - *Grammy Nominee)
•  Cracovia Polish Dance Ensemble (Brampton, ON, Canada)
• Lowicz Dance Ensemble (Edmonton, AL, Canada)
• Dennis Polisky and The Maestro’s Man (Grammy Nominee)
• Scholarship awards
• Miss Polonia 2010 Awards

In addition to the music, there will be lots of Polish food and beverages, exhibits, children’s entertainment, Polish arts and crafts, and amusement rides. Admission is free.

Also today

• The 31st annual Jamesville Balloon Festival gets underway today at 4 p.m. at Jamesville Beach. Music starts at 7 p.m. with Kane followed by John Waite at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $7 and includes parking.
• The Bomb performs at 7 p.m. at the Verona Firemans Field Days (Rock Road, Verona).
• Damdog is at the Pulaski Farmer’s Market (Main Street, Pulaski) starting at 5 p.m.
• The Guise performs at Green Lakes State Park (Route 5, Fayetteville) at 5 p.m.
• The Mario DeSantis Band performs for a benefit concert for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at the Springside Inn (43 W. Lake Road, Auburn). The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 for individuals and $100 for couples.
• The Shaun Luu Horrorfest featuring Cowards, Tiger Flowers, Mistletoe, End of the Year and Like Wolves, takes place at the Westcott Community Center (826 Euclid Ave.) starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $7.
• The Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra performs at 8 p.m. at Center Court, Driver’s Village, North Syracuse. General admission is $10, $5 for students and seniors.
• Dan Duggan, Peggy Lynn, Tom Hodgson and Henry Jankiewicz perform as part of the Summer Solstice Concert at Esperance Fruit Farm (7456 Hawley Road, Red Creek). Music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children.

At the clubs

• Back On Track Again Tavern (Route 11 Brewerton) – Mike and Stan, 9 p.m.
• Badlands Saloon (Syracuse St., Baldwinsville) – Paul Taylor, 9 p.m.
• Best Western Carriage House Inn (300 Washington Street Watertown) – Smoke and Mirrors, 9 p.m.
• Bosco’s Village Pub (210 Cogswell Ave., Solvay) – Karaoke with Ormond Entertainment, 8 p.m.
• Bridge Street Tavern (109 Bridge St., Solvay) – Main Event Music, 8 p.m.
• Buffalo’s (2119 Downer St., Baldwinsville) – Expozure, 9:30 p.m.
• Bull and Bear Pub (125 E. Water St.) – Boots n’ Shorts, 10 p.m.
• Caddyshack Tavern (402 Old Liverpool Rd.) – Karaoke with Cornell Entertainment, 6 p.m.; DJ Skeet, 10 p.m.
• Calypso Cay Restaurant and Bar (11 Dockside Dr., Central Square) – George Leija, 7 p.m.
• Carnegie Café (Maplewood Hotel, 7th North St. and Buckley Rd.) – CXtec Dinosaurs, 7 p.m.
• Charlie's Place (Route 11 Hastings) – Shotgun Sunday, 9:30 p.m.
• Cooper’s Landing (7459 Murray Dr., Cicero) – DJ, 9 p.m.
• Creekside Books and Coffee (25 Fennell St., Skaneateles) - Sarah Horner and Greg Carroll, 7:30 p.m.
• Devaney’s Riverside Grille (9347 Stickle Rd., Weedsport) – Fulton Chain Gang, 8 p.m.
• Dewittshire Tavern (3010 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt) - Old School, 10 p.m.
• Empire Brewing Company (120 Walton St.) - Cloud 9, 11 p.m.
• Erie Mill (103 S. Main St., Canastota) - Jamie Notarthomas, 8 p.m.
• Expectations Bar and Grill (6-8 Ovid St., Seneca Falls) - Mike Sims with Stan Prezley, 9 p.m.
• Falcon Lanes (75 Pulaski St., Auburn) – Gary Dunes Band, 9:30 p.m.
• Fireside Inn (2345 W. Genesee Rd., Baldwinsville) – Brian McArdell and Mark Westers, 7 p.m.
• Frank’s Country Roadhouse (7119 Minoa-Bridgeport Rd., East Syracuse) – Chris Taylor and the Custom Taylor Band, 9:30 p.m.
• Froggy’s Tavern (3898 New Court Road, DeWitt) – El Kabong, 9 p.m.
• Fusion Room (3705 Brewerton Rd., North Syracuse) – Tempter, Hell To Pay, Remnants of Kings, American Primitive, Dirty Little Secret, 9 p.m.
• Giving Tree Café (310 Stewart Ave., Ithaca) - Salt City Ramblers, 8 p.m.
• Hottie’s Night Club (181 Grant Ave., Auburn) - Shaded, 10 p.m.
• Hotel Adams Steak and Brew (400 Church St., Adams) - Catastrophe Me, 9:30 p.m.
• Ithaca Plantation Bar and Grill (1285 Dryden Rd., Ithaca) - The Smoking Loons, 6 p.m.
• Johnny B’s Jukebox (103 N. Geddes St.) – Karaoke with Ormond Entertainment, 5:30 p.m.; DJ Styles, 10 p.m.
• Kelley’s Bar and Restaurant (5076 Velasko Rd.) – Kim Fetters and Andy Rudy, 9 p.m.
• Kitty Hoyne’s (301 W. Fayette St.) - Tommy Connors, 9 p.m.
• Knights of Columbus (47 Market St., Auburn) - Tuff Luck, 8 p.m.
• LWB'S Camillus Grill (72 Main St., Camillus) – 4onTheFloor w/Scotty Trudell, 9 p.m.
• LaGraf's Pub (Tenth Street Oswego) - Dave and the Bear, 5 p.m.; Forbidden Dawn, 9 p.m.
• Lake Como Inn (1297 E.Lake Rd., Cortland) – Raised On Radio, 9 p.m.
• Lake Effect (7 Syracuse St., Baldwinsville) – Dark Hollow, 6 p.m.
• Legends Sports Bar and OTB (Erie Blvd, Rome) – DJ Sugarbear, 9:30 p.m.
• Limp Lizards (4628 Onondaga Blvd., Geddes) – Dr.Killdean, 9 p.m.
• Mac’s Bad Art Bar (1799 Brewerton Road, Mattydale) – Grind, 10 p.m.
• Mohegan Manor (58 Oswego St., Baldwinsville) - Jimmy Cox, 6:30 p.m.
• Old City Hall (159 Water St., Oswego) - Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin, 2 p.m.; Gary Frenay and Arty Lenin, 6 p.m.; Brian McArdell and Mark Westers, 9 p.m.
• Pfohl’s Beachhouse (310 Park Ave., Sylvan Beach) – Surf City DJ, 9 p.m.
• Pizza Man's Pub (50 Oswego St., Baldwinsville) - Sweet Lou, 10 p.m.
• Rain Lounge (218 Franklin St.) – DJ Keene, 10 p.m.
• ShamROCKS! Rock and Roll Irish Pub (109 East Taft Road, North Syracuse) – The Hellfish, 9:30 p.m.
• Shifty’s (1401 Burnet Ave.) – The Noisy Boys, 4 p.m.; Dave Hanlon’s Cookbook, 9 p.m.
• Singers’ Karaoke Club (1345 Milton Ave., Solvay) - Karaoke with DJ Fixx, 6 p.m.; Karaoke w/Dr.Fantastic and Mr.Automatic, 9 p.m.
• Solsville Hotel (7243 Valley Rd., Madison) - Redneck Rodeo Cowboy Band, 9 p.m.
• Soul Full Cup Coffeehouse (81 W. Market St., Corning) – Mark Zane and Steve Pederson, 7:30 p.m.
• Trapper’s Pizza Pub (5950 Butternut Dr., East Syracuse) – Now and Then, 7 p.m.
• Ukranian National Club (125 Washington St., Auburn) - The Horn Dogs, 9 p.m.
• Village Tavern (6 E. Main St., Marcellus) – Dave Hawthorn, 7:30 p.m.
• Wise Guys (201 S. Salina St.) - E.S.P, 5 p.m.
• Yesterday’s Royal (13 Canal St., Sylvan Beach) – Brass Exchange, 9:30 p.m.