Polish American Council of Texas (PACT)

09/11/2026

Coming to Netflix on September 16 - "The Doll" based on the novel by Bolesław Prus.

09/09/2026

A SPECIAL GUEST GROUP IS JOINING US AT DOŻYNKI!

This year, our Dożynki stage is getting a special visit from our Lithuanian neighbors! We’re excited to welcome Smiltis- Houston tautinių šokių kolektyvas, a Houston-based ensemble bringing Lithuanian music, dance, and tradition to the Houston Polish Harvest Festival this year! 🎶

And if you’re wondering… why Lithuania at a Polish festival? Well, there are a few hundred years of history behind that answer. 👀📖

Poland and Lithuania were united for centuries, first through a dynastic union beginning in 1385, and later through the Union of Lublin in 1569, which created the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth — Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów. 👑 Until 1795, it was one of the largest and most culturally diverse states in Europe, bringing together Poles, Lithuanians and many other peoples, languages, faiths, and traditions under one Commonwealth. 🇵🇱🤝🇱🇹

Poland and Lithuania go WAY back — nearly 600 years back. So really, Smiltis isn’t crashing our Polish Festival… they’re just showing up to the family reunion. 😂 Because this is Houston, thankfully they only had to cross town instead of cross the Atlantic!

That’s what Dożynki is all about: keeping old traditions alive, sharing them with the next generation, and celebrating the friends and neighbors whose histories have been tangled up with ours for centuries — different dances, different languages, and the same love for making sure everyone knows exactly where we came from! 💃🕺

Come cheer on Smiltis, experience a little Lithuanian folk culture, and give our Houston neighbors the BIG Polish Festival welcome they deserve next weekend!

08/29/2026

08/24/2026

Panna Maria is home to the oldest permanent Polish settlement in the United States.

Since 1854, this community has carried forward a story of faith, family, and perseverance. Our exhibits, archives, and educational programs exist to preserve that history for generations to come.

That legacy is at the heart of our October 3rd celebration.

Visit polishheritagecentertx.org to plan a visit before the big day.