PACIM

Screening of "Budapest Diaries" ("Dziennik z wycieczki do Budapesztu")
2026-04-14 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents “Budapest Diaries” (“Dziennik z wycieczki do Budapesztu”), directed by Rafał Kapeliński.
“Loosely based on an event from writer-director Kapelinski’s childhood, this poignant coming-of-age drama is set in 1981, as Poland’s political and economic crises worsen. It follows 11-year-old Irek and his beautiful mother Hanna on a bus trip from Poland to Hungary. Although she claims that she wants to show Irek a more beautiful and colorful world, he eventually discovers that the reason for their journey is more complex than he ever imagined.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "Father" ("Otec")
2026-04-16 14:05 - 16:00, 2026-04-17 23:50 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents “Father”, directed by Tereza Nvotová.
“A tragic mistake shatters the life of a devoted father, shaking his marriage and isolating him in guilt. But when he and his wife come to see that the tragedy was something rooted deep in the architecture of the human mind, a fragile path toward forgiveness begins to emerge. With its unique narrative approach, Father challenges the audience’s perceptions of guilt, tragedy and empathy. Inspired by real-life events.“
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "The Altar Boys" ("Ministranci")
2026-04-16 14:15 - 16:30 | Edina Mann Theaters, 3911 W 50th Street, Edina, MN, 55424, United States
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents a film directed by Piotr Domalewski “The Altar Boys” (“Ministranci”).
“Frustrated by the indifferent attitude of adults and Church institutions towards social injustice, a group of altar boys from a poor parish decides to implement their own plan for moral renewal. Armed with youthful rebellion and their own interpretation of the Bible, they become secret judges, helping those in need and meting out punishment for sins. Told with humor and energy, Altar Boys is a story about growing up, faith, and the fight against hypocrisy.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "The Altar Boys" ("Ministranci")
2026-04-17 14:10 - 16:30 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents a film directed by Piotr Domalewski “The Altar Boys” (“Ministranci”).
“Frustrated by the indifferent attitude of adults and Church institutions towards social injustice, a group of altar boys from a poor parish decides to implement their own plan for moral renewal. Armed with youthful rebellion and their own interpretation of the Bible, they become secret judges, helping those in need and meting out punishment for sins. Told with humor and energy, Altar Boys is a story about growing up, faith and the fight against hypocrisy.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "Erupcja"
2026-04-17 21:15 - 23:00 | Edina Mann Theaters, 3911 W 50th Street, Edina, MN, 55424, United States
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF45)* presents “Erupcja”, directed by Pete Ohs, and starring Charli XCX.
“Bethany (Charli XCX) has arranged a trip to Poland with her doting boyfriend, who she fears is about to propose. Not so coincidentally, they are staying in the same neighborhood as her childhood friend Jel (Lena Góra) with whom she shares a special relationship, literally causing volcanoes to erupt and throwing their trip, and her boyfriend, into uncertainty.
Director Pete Ohs wrote, edited, and produced this assured comedy that features stellar performances by Charli XCX (in her feature film debut) and Lena Góra, whose onscreen rapport is pitch perfect.”
PACIM members and supporters can use the code PACIMMSPIFF45 for discounted tickets.
* PACIM is a proud sponsor of MSPIFF45.
Buy Tickets

Screening of "Erupcja"
2026-04-18 21:45 - 23:30 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis, 55414, MN, 55414

Locating Records from Poland Online
2026-05-01 14:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Topic: Locating Records from Poland Online
Finding records from Poland for genealogical research is a critical step in exploring our Polish ancestry but Poland’s complex history and the language barrier can be confusing. After a brief overview of Poland’s changing borders and their impact on the languages in which historical records were created, Julie will explain the process of identifying one’s ancestral village and illustrate the use of gazetteers to determine the parish and civil registry offices. She will introduce key websites for locating historical records online and offline, with an emphasis on sites that offer indexed records and digital images. Julie will suggest strategies to help you get around the language barrier, and demonstrate how you can trace your Polish ancestry from the comfort of your own home.
Zoom Registration Required: https://tinyurl.com/rp2zubuw
Presenter: Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz
Julie is a genealogist, writer, and speaker with nearly 30 years of experience in researching her family’s origins in Poland, Germany, the U.S., and Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the State University of New York in Buffalo and a master’s degree in endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley. She currently serves as President of the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State (PGSNYS) and has previously served as Vice-President for the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc, and Secretary of the Polish Genealogical Society of Massachusetts (PGSMA). Her articles have been published in the newsletters of a number of genealogical societies, and she is the author of a genealogy blog, From Shepherds and Shoemakers.

Constitution Day Bicycle Rally
2026-05-02 13:00 - 16:30 | Huset Park, 530 Mill St NE, Columbia Heights, MN, 55421, United States
Polish Saturday School in Minneapolis invites you to a Bike Rally celebrating Polish Constitution Day.
Participants will meet at the USAAF Airlift 1944 Warsaw Uprising Memorial in Huset Park and ride from there along the Mississippi River. A detailed route map is available via the event link.
Registration: Please use the provided link to register.
About the Ride: This is a recreational rally, not a race. Participants are encouraged to ride in groups based on age and fitness. Parents must supervise their children throughout the event. The main route takes about 2 hours, with an option to return early to the picnic area. A longer route will be available for experienced riders.
Younger Children: Options include joining from designated parking areas along the route or riding shorter loops at Huset Park.
Weather: The rally will take place in warm weather with light rain. It will be canceled (not rescheduled) in case of cold and heavy rain. Updates will be provided the day before or the morning of the event.
Bikes: Participants must bring their own bicycles; no transport will be provided.

Concert in Honor of Polish Constitution Day
2026-05-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Church of the Holy Cross, 1621 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55413, United States
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM, Holy Cross Catholic Church will host a concert in honor of Polish Constitution Day, presented on the eve of Poland’s historic national holiday commemorating the Constitution of May 3, 1791.
The Holy Cross Choir and a chamber orchestra will perform a vibrant program of Polish sacred choral music spanning more than four centuries, from the splendor of the early Baroque to the powerful spiritual language of modern Poland. Many of these remarkable works are rarely performed in the United States, making this a unique opportunity to experience the richness of Poland’s sacred musical tradition.
Holy Cross Director of Sacred Music Samuel Backman writes:
“During my years at Holy Cross, I’ve grown more and more fascinated by the rich cultural traditions of Poland—especially its sacred music. After a great deal of research and many hours preparing and performing editions from the original sources, I’m thrilled to bring these beautiful and often overlooked treasures of Poland’s musical heritage to a twenty-first-century American and Polish-American audience.”
The program will feature music by distinguished Polish composers, including Szarzyński, Gorczycki, Mielczewski, Jarzębski, Surzyński, Klonowski, Dankowski, and Górecki, highlighting the depth and beauty of Poland’s sacred choral tradition. A special highlight of the evening will be Wojciech Dankowski’s beloved Mass in E Minor, cherished in Poland for its noble simplicity and devotional character.
Admission is free, and all are warmly welcome. Whether you come to celebrate Polish culture, rediscover the music of your heritage, or simply enjoy a beautiful evening of choral and orchestral music, we would be honored to have you with us.

European Friendship Ride
2026-05-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota, 385 Michigan Street, St. Paul, MN, 55102, United States
Alliance Française, Germanic American Institute, and Czech and Slovak Sokol would like to invite members and friends of PACIM who enjoy going for bike rides to join them on a spring ride they are sponsoring on Europe Day, May 9, 2026. This 32-mile ride will be a circular route between the three organizations, with stops at each. The purposes of the ride are:

to meet others who enjoy both biking and European culture
to acknowledge the shared values and peaceful cooperation that unites the nations of Europe, as recognized by the observance of Europe Day in many countries in Europe
to increase communication and familiarity between the European cultural organizations in the Twin Cities area

For detailed information about this ride, please see the information and registration page at www.sokolmn.org/eurobike26
The ride will start at Sokol’s CSPS Hall in St Paul, ride up the river to the Alliance Française Joly Family Center for International Understanding in Minneapolis, then head back down the other side of the river to the Germanic American Institute house on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Finally, we will end up back at the Sokol hall. The route is almost all on bike trails or marked bike lanes and offers beautiful views of the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Falls.
Water and snacks will be provided at each stop, along with an opportunity to learn a little about the organization.
To participate in this event, please register and sign the waiver here. To support the host organizations in providing refreshments at the three stops, there is a $15 fee for this event.
To preview the planned route, click here.
Please register by Thursday, May 7.

Polish Fest at Urban Growler Brewing Co.
2026-06-07 13:00 - 17:00 | Urban Growler Brewing Company, 2325 Endicott St, St Paul, 55114, United States
Join us on Sunday, June 7th starting at 1PM as we celebrate our Polish roots with an afternoon full of beer, food, music, and tradition.

If you’ve never been before, think Oktoberfest… but Polish and in June.

Here’s what you can expect:
Grodziskie — traditional Polish-style smoked wheat beer
Polish sausage and delicious Polish fare served all day
Live performances from the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers from 2PM–3PM

Bring your friends, grab a pint, and celebrate with us in the Taproom & Beer Garden.

Don’t forget to say “Hello” at the PACIM table and see what programming we have to offer in the following months!

Na zdrowie!

Polish Picnic 2026
2026-08-15 11:00 - 17:00 | Huset Park, 530 Mill St NE, Columbia Heights, MN, 55421, United States
Mark Saturday, August 15 on your calendar and join us at Huset Park in Columbia Heights for Polish Picnic 2026!
The event is organized by PACIM, Sister Cities International Columbia Heights, and the Polish Saturday School, and will feature:
🎶 Live music and traditional dance performances by Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo polka band and the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers
🍽️ Delicious Polish cuisine and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase
🎈 Entertainment for all ages, including:
• Games, arts, and crafts
• Splash pad
• Playground
🤝 Participation from many local organizations and community groups
…and much more!
The event is free and open to everyone!
Check back here for more details, which will be published soon.
If you are able to help at the event, please contact us at office@pacim.org or call 612-718-7718.
All volunteers will receive a discount code for meal purchases, and those helping with food service will receive a PACIM logo T-shirt (while supplies last) to wear during the event and keep afterward.
* Citi Ordinance $10.201 prohibitions on consumption of alcohol in city parks do not apply to Huset Park on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
