WARSAW — Come and Polka-Long kicks off the 2016 First Friday’s year-long theme of A Decade of Change, Friday, March 4. The evening will be a tribute to Thaddeus Kosciuszko and have a Polish theme.

There will be Polish music, food, and drink, and an opportunity to learn how to polka.

Paula Bowman, Warsaw First Friday coordinator, stated participating restaurants will be a part of the polka-long where participants will find special Polish food. There will be a pierogi toss and pierogi eating contest and polka lessons. All going on downtown.

The evenings events will be held from 5-9 p.m.

The polka-long, a food and beverage trail through downtown restaurants, will give individuals an chance to visit restaurants and enjoy different Polish food and beverages. Tickets, six for $30, will be sold at the registration booth on the courthouse lawn near the cannon. These tickets can be used for food items or drinks. Participating restaurants include BMacs, 110 Craft Meatery, Mad Anthonys and Rex’s Rendezvous.

The polka-long will go from 6 p.m. until after 9 p.m. “If there is a drink you like you can buy more,” said Bowman. “It is open to any age,” she added noting however, those under 21 will not be allowed to enter those businesses without a family room and alcoholic beverages will not be allowed outside the businesses.

Food items will include pierogis (stuffed noodle with various kinds of ingredients rolled in butter and bread crumbs; glumpi (stuffed cabbage covered with a tomato sauce); kielbasa (a sausage); borscht (a soup made with potato, beets, sausage) various desserts; and Polish drink specials.

The pierogi toss will take place at 7 p.m. This event is similar to a balloon or egg toss. Hands will be greased to handle the pierogis, as partners pass the pierogis back and forth between each other until the last pair remain.

The pierogi eating contest will be at 7:30 p.m.

Every half hour throughout the evening Teena Nichols, instructor at Giverny Fitness, will give Polka Lessons, while Polka music plays throughout the evening.

Kosciusko County Historical Society will offer special activities. Located in a tent in the middle of the block on Buffalo street, the historical society will provide information on Kosciuszko. Footprints can be followed from the tent to the Historical Museum where followers can learn about the start of Kosciusko County and visit the museum.

“It will be a fun Polish night,” said Bowman, adding it will be an evening for those of Polish descent to show off their roots.

Looking forward, April will feature on the county’s religious roots featuring Billy Sunday, music from Rodeheaver and the building of the Christian community. It will be Musical May featuring music from the 1900-1940 with a band, singers, dancers in period costume taking center stage. June, focusing on the 1950s, will kick off the Walk-N-Wander and the unveiling of the storm drain artwork. Details for the rest of the year will be announced later.