The Polish Genealogical Society of New York State is pleased to share the success of this past Sunday’s Polish Genealogy & Polonia Fair, held at the St. Stanislaus Adamski Social Center—an event that proved to be our most well-attended to date.
A total of 143 attendees signed in throughout the day—nearly double last year’s turnout—marking a significant milestone for this growing community event. From the moment doors opened, there was a steady flow of visitors, with lines forming early and continuing throughout the afternoon as attendees eagerly sought genealogy assistance and connected with fellow researchers.
Fittingly, this year’s fair took place on Polish Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja), adding an extra layer of meaning to a day dedicated to celebrating Polish heritage, history, and identity.
Throughout the event, Society volunteers and researchers worked continuously to provide one-on-one guidance, helping attendees identify ancestral towns, navigate records, and take meaningful next steps in their family history research. Despite the fast pace, the atmosphere remained welcoming and collaborative, with many expressing appreciation for the opportunity to receive personalized assistance.
This year’s featured speaker, Rick Falkowski, debuted a brand-new presentation, “Historic Polish People, Places and Events from Buffalo & WNY.” The presentation offered a fascinating look at Polonia’s contributions to the vibrant history and culture of WNY.
The day’s success was made possible by the dedication and teamwork of PGSNYS volunteers, who managed setup, assisted a continuous stream of visitors, and handled the demands of a record-breaking crowd with professionalism and care.
We also extend our sincere thanks to St. Stanislaus Parish for their generous hospitality and for offering a spaghetti dinner during the event, which contributed to the warm and welcoming community atmosphere. Appreciation is also extended to our partners and contributors, including Barbara Noreck Ruppert of GraveFinder at St. Stan’s and the Am-Pol Eagle for helping document the day.
In every sense, this year’s Polish Genealogy & Polonia Fair demonstrated the strength and enthusiasm of our community. With record attendance, meaningful connections, and growing engagement, the event continues to fulfill its mission of helping individuals discover, preserve, and celebrate their Polish heritage.
We thank everyone who attended, volunteered, and supported this event—and we look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.
