Fat Thursday, also known as Tlusty Czwartek in Polish, is a Christian feast day celebrated on the Thursday immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, marking the culmination of the Carnival season and the final opportunity for indulgence before the Lenten fast.
This tradition, deeply rooted in Catholic customs, encourages the consumption of rich, fatty foods such as doughnuts and pastries to use up ingredients like lard, eggs, and sugar that are traditionally abstained from during Lent.
Paczki Day has become famous in Cleveland on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) but the John Paul II Polish American Cultural Center hosts a party on Fat Thursday in line with traditions in Poland. 
Polish Cultural Center President Ray Vargas and Tony Brancatelli
There was Polish food such as Pierogi, Kielbasa, Golabki, Kapusta, etc. and, of course, paczki! There were Polish drinks including Tatra beer from Zywiec Brewery in Poland. Tatra beer is named for the highest peaks in Poland, in the Tatras mountains.
There was music from the Tom Katrenich Orchestra and tours of the Polish Museum, Library and Heritage Garden.  Tom Katrenich Orchestra
The Center was packed for the occasion, even attracting visitors like Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer from Polish Youngstown! Aundréa says it's about an hour and fifteen minute ride so
check out some of the Polish Youngstown events.
The event, as always, was run by dedicated volunteers. Here are some of them.
Ray Vargas, Tony Brancatelli, Tom Kaschalk,
John Niedzialek and JPII Center Founder Gene Bak
In Poland, where the observance is most prominent, an estimated 100 million paczki are consumed annually as of recent estimates, averaging about 2.5 per person. I admit that I did my share! This sweatshirt sums up the feast. I believe it translates to something like "If this sweatshirt is clean I want paczki."
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