Polish Heritage Day will return in Gloucestershire with live performances, traditional food and music for the first time since 2019 with £5,000 of support from Gloucestershire County Council.

The event will take place in the newly redesigned King's Square in Gloucester city centre from 12pm on Saturday, 14 May. The event traditionally takes place in early May to coincide with Polish National Flag Day and the Day of Polish Community Abroad.

Gloucestershire County Council has been able to support the day with £5,000 of funding from the Build Back Better - Market Towns fund. The fund aims to boost the economy of Gloucestershire's market towns and high streets following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total of £500,000 of funding awarded to support over 67 events.

With help from the funding provided by the county council, the Polish Association Gloucestershire has been able to organise a celebration of their nation's culture and history.

The day will once again feature traditional Polish food, music, dancing and performances after the 2020 and 2021 editions of the event were cancelled due to the pandemic.

In response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the association has been instrumental in organising donations at the county council depot on Eastern Avenue in Gloucester.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to provide funding to help organise Polish Heritage Day.

"This is a great opportunity for people to get out and celebrate with Gloucestershire's Slavic community.

"I would also like to thank the Polish Association Gloucestershire for their invaluable work in assisting the council with donations for the humanitarian effort in Ukraine."

Jaro Kubaszczyk, chairman of the Polish Association Gloucestershire, said: "I would like to welcome people from across the county to join us in King's Square to celebrate Polish Heritage Day.

"Support from Gloucestershire County Council has boosted the event and we are excited to be able to host our first Heritage Day events since 2019."