Beth Stebner A young spectator flies the Polish flag on Pulaski Day at St. Stanislaus Church.

Beth Stebner From top: Miss Polonia Manhattan 2010 poses with the marshal of St. Stanislaus. Father and daughter wait for the celebration to begin.

Though old churches punctuate several East Village streets, few are so consistently busy or cause as much sidewalk spillover from residents deviating their walking paths as St. Stanislaus on East Seventh Street near First Avenue.

Sunday marked the 73rd annual Pulaski Day Parade, a celebration of New York’s Polish-American community.

St. Stanislaus hosted one float – a red and white vehicle accommodating a four-piece band. Children wore traditional Krakowiaki garments – dresses and vests in vibrant, saturated colors. Many of the youngest spectators grew impatient waiting for the departure of the float, which this year brought up the tail end of the parade.

“I think the float is great,” said 2010 Miss Polonia Manhattan, Bernadette Deron. “It really represents Polonia.”

This post has been changed to correct an error. The original version misidentified the current holder of the Miss Polonia Manhattan crown.

Beth Stebner A brilliant, blue October sky formed the backdrop for the parade. This year’s theme was “Poland and America: Perfect Together.”