Decade of dough: Whiting's Pierogi fest is in its 10th year honoring the stuffed dumpling delicacy.

• Author: Kaelble, Steve
• Position: Around Indiana

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO keep in touch with one's heritage, especially when it's tasty.

That's the philosophy behind Whiting's annual Pierogi Festival, scheduled this year for July 23-25 in the northwest Indiana community's downtown. "It came about because of the ethnic background of the area," which is heavily Eastern European, with Slovakian, Polish and Hungarian traditions, among others, explains Gayle Faulkner Kosalko, executive director of the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the event.

"Many of the traditions we were raised with are dying off," she says, including the making of Eastern European pierogis, which are doughy dumplings stuffed with everything from fruits to meats and cheeses. "You don't find Grandma doing this anymore," Kosalko says. "She's off golfing and living in Florida."

Apparently there was quite a hunger for the tradition. In 10 years the Pierogi Fest has grown to a major event, drawing some 50,000 people. "People call from all over the country, as early as January to get their flights ready. And we get tons of people from Illinois."

Those who come can, of course, indulge in the culinary treat for which the festival is named, with pierogi sales totaling more than 300,000 a year. But that's just the beginning. Friday night is the annual Mercantile International Polka Parade, featuring such perennial favorites as the Precision Lawnmower Drill Team and the Twirling Babushka Brigade, whose talented members use toilet plungers as batons. Festivities also include a pierogieating contest...