Pierogi Nuts Invade Indiana

In Whiting, Indiana, residents take their pierogis seriously. Pictured here are Mr. Pierogi and Ms. Panczik, official mascots of the wild and crazy annual Pierogi Fest.

Thursday, July 22, 2010 0:29 GMT

Tomorrow (Jul. 23) through Sunday (Jul. 25), the town will celebrate its European heritage with the 16th Annual Pierogi Fest, a wacky homage to the beloved food.

The schedule includes a singing performance by “Mr. Pierogi” – a devotee who no longer goes by his real name – a pierogi toss, and a pierogi eating contest that lasts three minutes.

Event organizer Mary Lu Gregor, who dresses up each year as “Ms. Paczki” the polish jelly roll mascot, says each vendor sells about 25,000 pierogis at the fest, which comes out to roughly 5 million since the party began in 1994.

Although people may think pierogis are only filled with cheese and potatoes, Gregor assures there are loads of other variations, including spinach, mushroom, meat, and prune ones.

A skilled judges’ panel that includes a “picky teenager” goes around taste-testing them all to ensure utmost quality.