Not only is this Monday, April 1, is usually simply known as April Fool’s Day, But this year, it also marks Easter Monday, Wet Monday, or Smigus Dyngus.

In Cleveland, most people know the Monday after Easter as Dyngus Day— a day to celebrate Polish culture and blow off a little bit of steam after observing Lent.

Polish tradition has the boys showering water on girls with squirt guns and tapping them with pussy willows. In Cleveland, traditions are more about music, good food, polka, and beer.

In true Cleveland Polish tradition, revelers on Monday will fill the Gordon Square Arts District and the surrounding area to celebrate Dyngus Day 2024 with plenty of polka music, beer, food, contests, and other festivities on two stages along the closed sections of Detroit Avenue and around town.

DJ KishkaCelebrating the 14th annual Dyngus Day in Cleveland, the tradition was started by Justin Gorski—AKA DJ Kishka—who was inspired by Buffalo’s Dyngus Day celebration (the self-proclaimed Dyngus Day Capital of the World), and his own collection of polka records at the Happy Dog.

Gorski says he’s hoping to see 60,000 people throughout the day at this year’s event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Although he’s hoping for good weather, he says the weather has never stopped people from having a great time on Dyngus Day.

“We had a couple of years where it snowed or rained, or the weather was super windy,” Gorski reflects. “And people still came out, which is nice. They're true Clevelanders. But it’s always better when the weather is nice.”

The celebration this year has an expanded footprint—and some streets are closed so people can polka their way along Detroit Avenue from West 54th to West 58th Street, in addition to indoor events at Gordon Green, the event center at 5400 Detroit Ave.

The weather issue is one of the reasons organizers added Gordon Green to the footprint, Gorski says. “It's a spot for people to go for inclement weather,” he explains.  “They'll do an inside party and people can still hear some polka music, have their pierogi, and a couple of beers and celebrate however they want.”

But people are free to roam the closed streets, no matter what the weather is like.

“The street is closed down, so once you get into Gordon Green, then you can walk freely back and forth and, obviously, you can get out if you want, we won’t force you to stay,” says Gorski. “We got a bunch of food vendors, paczki, pierogi, obviously, kielbasa, and all that fun stuff. I think we're doing the Okocim beer this year.”

Dyngus Day kicks off with a 10 a.m. mass at St. Stanislaus Church, 3649 E. 65th Street, while DJ Kishka will host an opening ceremony on the Gordon Green Stage at the same time.

The live music and entertainment lineup begins with the Chardon Polka Band on the Happy Dog Street Stage from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by Don Wojtila from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Gemütlichkeit Cleveländer Musikanten from 4:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Dyngus Day“It's like a 20 piece Oompa German oompa band,” laughs Gorski of the Happy Dog Stage closing act.

On the Gordon Green Stage, Fred Ziwich performs at 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., followed by Eddie Rodick from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contestants for the Miss Dyngus Day competition at 4:30 p.m. will be pulled from the crowd randomly by DJ Kishka at the Gordon Green Stage. The competition will be followed by a Pierogi Eating Contest at 5 p.m. for those 18 and older who are up to the challenge to win $100.

Then, Die Ünprönöüncëäblës take the stage from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Various nearby restaurants and bars will also  participate in Dyngus Day by serving Polish-themed food, drinks, and entertainment.

DJ Kishka got his start at the Happy Dog nearly 20 years ago when the scheduled band didn’t show for the bar’s regular Polka Night.

“I went home and grabbed my polka records, and the owner was a friend of mine, so he didn't mind,” Gorski recalls. “I got up there and just started playing polkas. And that's kind of how the Kishka thing was born. And then I started doing it once every month or so and it was me and three people sitting at the bar. I knew if one of those guys that tapped their foot that I was doing something right.

Dyngus DayGorski says that in the early years of Dyngus Day, much of the activity was centered around Happy Dog and the Angel Printing building across the street.

“They are so sweet, they've helped us out for years and years,” he says. “And they're Polish, so they were like, ‘yeah, we can have a polka party on a Monday.’ So we'll still have beer and food in that little parking lot.”

In the last two decades, Gorski had perfected his DJ Kishka persona and had become known for both the act and Dyngus Day.

“Over the years, I built my schtick up, got the fake beard and hat, and made my own iron-on DJ Kishka t-shirt.”

For much of Dyngus Day’s Cleveland history, Gorski and his wife organized the event. But he says they handed the logistics off to professionals about six years ago. “I still show up and kiss babies and get to do my goofy self and enjoy it,” he says. “And they order the port-a-potties and the security.”

And it’s a day that DJ Kishka and his entire family continue to enjoy.

“It has its own kind of feeling and it's always been really nice. It's always been kind of a grassroots Cleveland thing, and everyone just kind of comes out and dresses up in their own way and celebrates it in their own way. It's just such a good feeling.

“It's just such a nice, fun, time,” he continues. “Everyone is in a good mood and just laughing and listening to the music and dancing around and it's just such a Cleveland thing, so I'm really proud of that.”

Tickets to Dyngus Day are $12, children under age 12 are admitted free.

Flight V.I.P. tickets are $85 and include admission, one Flight Cleveland drink voucher (red or white wine), one Gordon Green drink voucher (seltzer or beer), one t-shirt voucher (redeemed at the official merch stand in Gordon Green), and access to Flight Cleveland's private space (indoor and outdoor) and restrooms. Flight Cleveland offers close views of the Detroit Road stage and a comfortable atmosphere.