A battle of the bands is brewing around a Cleveland ethnic tradition that, once thought endangered, is suddenly too popular.
If you’ve never seen a Polish Constitution Day Parade, this year could offer double the viewing opportunity. The Polish-American community is busy planning two parades, in city and suburb, both on May 2.
A decision to move the annual parade from Fleet Avenue to Parma did more than infuriate the Slavic Village faithful. It inspired them to organize a counter parade, which they are calling the “original” Constitution Day Parade.
Both sides are mustering their loyalists.
Parma’s 2 p.m. march will showcase bands from Parma, Valley Forge and Normandy high schools on May 2, a Sunday.
Slavic Village, beginning at noon, will counter with bands from Cleveland Central Catholic and South High School.
“Big Chuck” Schodowskiwill lead marchers up Ridge Road in Parma as grand marshal.
Slavic Village is seeking crooner Bobby Vinton. It already has the blessing of the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, the mother church of a community of 225,000 Polish Catholics.
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Article courtesy cleveland.com
