Another Interesting Graphic from Cisco Networking Academy

Networking Career Path Graphic

Here is another interesting graphic from the Cisco Networking Academy.

This time, the graphic relates to Cisco networking certifications and job roles.

The graphic showed up both in my LinkedIn feed and in my Twitter feed over at @CRyanczak.

Basically, the graphic is trying to give you an idea on how to plan your future career in networking, using certifications and training provided by Cisco.

Cisco Networking Career Path

The graphic is divided into three sections:

• Entry-Level
• Associate-Level
• Professional-Level

Entry-Level

The Entry-Level section consists of what Cisco is calling "Networking Essentials (Version 3.0)". "Networking Essentials" consists of four online courses available from Cisco Networking Academy. The online courses are the following:

• Networking Basics
• Networking Devices and Initial Configuration
• Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting
• Network Support and Security

Apparently, these four courses are available as instructor-led courses. That's interesting as I have always assumed that these four courses were only available online. If you want to more information on how to attend these four courses in-person as opposed to online learning, then I suggest that you search around the Cisco Community website. Completing the four "Networking Essentials" online classes is supposed to put you on what Cisco terms the Network Technician Career Path. According to Cisco, these four classes provide a basic technical and theoretical foundation to qualify you for a Network Technician job role (see graphic). Whether these four online classes provide you with enough knowledge to get a network technician job remains to be seen. Thus far, I have completed both the "Networking Basics" and "Networking Devices and Initial Configuration" online classes. Right now, I have recently started "Module 6: Cisco Switches and Routers" in the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online course. After I complete the fourth online course, Network Support and Security, I am planning on starting to apply for Network Technican job openings in my area and see what happens. Of course, I will post updates right here on my blog as I apply for these jobs. Apparently, there are quite a few data center-related jobs in the Maricopa County area. Hopefully, I will be able to secure a network technician job somewhere in the Glendale-Peoria-Phoenix area.

Furthermore, Cisco maintains that completing the four "Networking Essentials" online courses will prepare you for Cisco's revamped certification for Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) in Networking. A few years ago, I remember when Cisco removed the CCST from its list of certifications. When the CCST certification was withdrawn, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification became the entry-level Cisco certification. Well, the CCST certification is now officially back. The question is will I even bother to pay the $120 testing fee for the certification exam? That is a good question. If you had asked me that question a few months ago, I would have answered in the affirmative. Now, I am not so sure.

As I have worked my way through the four online classes, my opinion on the value of the CCST certification has changed. In the amount of time that I have spent on these "entry-level" classes, I could have just started studying for CCNA back from square one. In other words, I spent A LOT of TIME and EFFORT on these "entry-level" classes, such as taking copious notes in several notebooks, watching all of the training videos, and completing the Packet Tracer exercises. As a result, there has to be some kind of payoff for that kind of effort.

On the other hand, I can say that I have learned A LOT about how computer networking works. If I have to complete another module about the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), then I think that my head will explode. As a result of these online classes, I am a better user of the Packet Tracer software program than I was when I attempted to study for CCNA a couple of years ago.

Getting back to the career progression graphic, I hope to complete the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online course within the next week or so. Once that online course is complete, I will then start the Network Support and Security online course. It is the shortest course of the four.

ADDED BONUS: While these four online classes may be classified as "entry-level", they BLOW AWAY anything offered by CompTIA for their Network+ certification. Believe me, I wasn't a very happy person when I tried to study for the Network+ certification. I still don't know how CompTIA considers the Network+ certification to be an "entry-level" certification, but that's for another blog post at another time.

Associate-Level

Moving on to the Associate-Level section of the career progression graphic...

Predictably, the centerpiece certification of the Associate-Level section is the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Surprised? Shocked?

There are two major ways to study for the CCNA certification. First, you can attend an instructor-led course. Cisco breaks up the CCNA certification into three courses. In sequential order, the classes are:

1. CCNA: Introduction to Networks
2. CCNA: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials
3. CCNA: Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation

So, you how do you attend an instructor-led course for these three CCNA classes? The easiest way would be go to Cisco's webpage and then search for instructor-led training in your area. There might be Cisco-authorized providers in your area that specialize in providing training for IT certifications, such as CCNA, A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft Azure, and so on. You might also find that there is a community college in your area that offers classes that might prepare you for taking the CCNA certification exam. When I make another effort to study for CCNA, I will go through Cisco's website with a fine-tooth comb to find a provider that offers the three training classes for CCNA. Just know going in that the tuition for these three classes is EXPENSIVE. I could be wrong, but I think I remember seeing a $739 price tag from a provider in the Phoenix, AZ area for the CCNA: Introduction to Networks class. Aside from the cost of tuition, you might have to wait weeks or months to attend an instructor-led class at an authornized provider.

Don't want to attend an instructor-led class at a Cisco-authorized provider? Well, Cisco offers these classes online. Again, you will have to pay money to enroll in the CCNA online classes. Cisco doesn't offer these classes for free.

Believe it or not, there is a third option for studying for CCNA. It's self-study. You can purchase the official CCNA certification guides online from Amazon, from Cisco Press, or from a local bookstore. You can then download Cisco Packet Tracer for free from Cisco's webpage. The Cisco webpage has a ton of FREE resources for studying for CCNA. Probably too many. There is a caveat to self-study, however. The caveat is that you have to be very self-disciplined to study for CCNA on your own. It can be a daunting task to study for CCNA by yourself. I tried studying for CCNA by myself a couple of years ago. Once I got to the chapters that covered VLANs and the Spanning Tree Protocol after studying for a couple of months, I got OVERWHELMED. It was a humbling experience. Plus, it didn't help that I always seemed to be busy with work. When I study for CCNA again, I will seriously consider attending an instructor-led course(s).

According to Cisco, once you pass the CCNA certification exam, you are qualified to become a Network Engineer job role.

Congratulations.

Alternatively, according to Cisco's career progression graphic, you can go the DevNet Associate route after completing the CCNA: Introduction to Networks class. Once you pass the Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification, you are then qualified to be a DevOps Engineer. What is a DevOps Engineer? I couldn't tell you. In my six years working at the Social Security Administration's Tier 1 IT help desk, I never met anyone that had that certification or wanted to study for that certification.

Here is what Cisco has to say about the DevNet Associate certification from their own website: "Achieving Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification proves your skills in developing and maintaining applications built on Cisco platforms." The DevNet certification covers "the fundamentals of software development and design for Cisco platforms." That description could explain why I haven't met anyone that pursuing that Cisco certification.

Expert-Level

The third section of the career progression chart is labelled as Expert-level.

I have to admit that I don't know much about the CCNP certification. To be honest, the CCNP is not even on my radar.

Here is how Cisco describes the CCNP certification on their own website:

Achieving CCNP Enterprise certification proves your skills with enterprise networking solutions. To earn CCNP Enterprise certification, you pass two exams: one that covers core enterprise technologies and one concentration exam of your choice, so you can customize your certification to your technical area of focus. Candidates must pass the required exams to earn the certification. Having an active Specialist certification does not fulfill the exam requirements for Professional- and Expert-level certifications.

Thus, to achieve the CCNP certification, you must pass the certification exam for 350-401 ENCOR: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies. Then, you must pass the certification exam for one of the following concentrations:

• 300-410 ENARSI: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services
• 300-415 ENSDWI: Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions
• 300-420 ENSLD: Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks
• 300-425 ENWLSD: Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks
• 300-430 ENWLSI: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks
• 300-435 ENAUTO: Automating Cisco Enterprise Solutions
• 300-440 ENCC: Designing and Implementing Cloud Connectivity
• 300-445 ENNA: Designing and Implementing Enterprise Network Assurance

So, if you achieve the CCNP certification, what can you do with it?

Well, according to Cisco, the CCNP certification trains you to be a... (Wait for it.) Network Administrator.

Finally, if you haven't had enough of studying for CCNA and CCNP, you can then study for the CCIE certification. You can read about the CCIE certification here.

Cisco Packet Tracer and IPv6 Addressing...

Cisco Packet Tracer and IPv6 Addressing

Yesterday, I used Cisco Packet Tracer for the first time in several weeks.

I completed a Cisco Packet Tracer exercise from "Module 4: IPv6" in the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online class from the Cisco Networking Academy. 

The exercise involved configuring IPv6 on a router, two servers, and four computers.

The exercise was fairly simple. It involved opening the Cisco IOS on the router, activating IPv6, and then setting the IPv6 host address for the router as well as entering the IPv6 address for the default gateway.

After that, it was a simple matter of entering the IPv6 host address and the IPv6 address for the default gateway for each host (the laptop and desktop computers) and the servers.

The last step of the exercise involved running ping tests from each host to ensure that they can contact the internet service provider.

Cisco Packet Tracer and IPv6 Addressing

In Conclusion

All-in-all, the IPv6 addressing exercise was a relatively simple one to execute. Still, it's good to get the feet wet and get some experience using IPv6. For IT, IPv6 is the wave of the future. It's just a matter of time before IPv6 replaces IPv4 when it comes to addressing for computer networks. I will be working on another IPv6 addressing exercise for Cisco Packet Tracer later this morning.

New Ethernet Cable Tester...

New Ethernet Cable Tester

On Monday afternoon, I bought a Klein Tools Ethernet cable tester from a Home Depot in Peoria, AZ. Just as a disclaimer, I refer to anything in Peoria, AZ that is south of Bell Avenue as being located in "South Peoria". I live close to the isthmus that runs between Glendale, AZ and Sun City, AZ that connects "North Peoria" to "South Peoria". Yes, the city boundaries of Peoria, AZ are strange. It would make for an interesting post to investigate why.

Anyway, I bought an Ethernet cable tester because I wanted to test the Ethernet cables that I made using the T-568A and T-568B cabling standards. To put it another way, I made a straight-through cable and a crossover cable. Now, I want to test both cables to see if I did it correctly.

While making the cables, I took a series of photos with my cell phone camera.

In the coming days, I will write a post about making a straight-through cable and a crossover cable.

Stay tuned.

It Has Been a Couple of Days...

It Has Been a Couple of Days

Yes, I am completely aware that I haven't updated my blog over the past couple of days.

In fact, I left my most recent post incomplete.

Then, there are posts that I need to re-write and/or update.

Plus, there is my backlog of posts that I keep intending to write about.

If I don't update my blog, then those posts don't get written.

It's that simple.

Restarting the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator...

Restarting the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Last night, I re-acquainted myself with the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator.

Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

When I started studying for the CCNA certification a couple of years ago, I went ahead and bought a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator. The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press came with a demonstration copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator on an included DVD. The author of the Official Cert Guide, Wendell Odom, recommended trying out the Network Simulator.

After trying out the sample exercises on my Dell laptop, I was impressed enough with the product to download my own copy from Pearson's website.

Creating Your Own Computer Networks

As you study for the CCNA certification, you will eventually want to try to make your own computer network diagram, also called a logical topology diagram, consisting of switches, routers, desktop computers, laptop computers, cell phones, printers, and so on. In addition, you will also want to try using Cisco's command line interface (CLI) program, known as the Cisco IOS, to configure all of those switches, routers, desktop and laptop computers, cell phones, and printers for your computer network. The Cisco IOS looks and feels quite similar to the Command Prompt for Windows. Creating your own logical topology diagram and then properly configuring every device on the diagram are both very important skills to know how to do.

Fortunately, there are several computer programs available that will assist you with both tasks. Just know that there are things to know about each program.

CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

The CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator from Pearson Vue, the program that I recently re-started using, is probably the program to get if you want experience with using the Cisco IOS. Beginning with Chapter 4 of the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, you get several exercises per chapter that focus on using the Cisco IOS to accomplish various tasks. For the most part, the exercises guide you step-by-step until completion. The idea is to get the user comfortable using the Cisco IOS. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of commands for the Cisco IOS, so you might as well just jump in headfirst. With each succeeding chapter from the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, the exercises get a little longer and a little more complex. One thing that the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator does not do is let you create your own logical topology diagrams. The program does have logical topology diagrams; however, the diagrams are to illustrate what the network looks like. You cannot make any changes to the diagram. The main focus of the Network Simulator, based on my experience, is getting comfortable using the Cisco IOS. I highly recommend buying a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, which will cost you approximately $100 to download from Pearson Vue.

Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Cisco Packet Tracer

You can also use Cisco's Packet Tracer program. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you create your own logical topology diagrams with Cisco-approved icons. With Cisco Packet Tracer, you don't have to use the Cisco IOS to configure devices. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you click on radio buttons and/or manually enter items like IPv4 or IPv6 addresses or default gateways without entering into the Cisco IOS. You can pick and choose what icons you want to have on your diagram and then choose how to connect the devices with the click of a mouse. However, if you want to manually configure a device in the Cisco IOS, you can do that to. In fact, if you configure a device without using the Cisco IOS, Cisco Packet Tracer will automatically generate the appropriate commands in the Cisco IOS. I kid you not. The idea of Cisco Packet Tracer is to replicate the experience of having phyiscal networking equipment on a computer without having to buy networking equipment. Cisco Packet Tracer was designed for users with ZERO netowrking experience. In case you didn't know, many of those home networking kits that you can buy on the internet from vendors can be quite expensive depending on the equipment and the options you want. Best of all, Cisco Packet Tracer is F-R-E-E from Cisco. Yes, Cisco doesn't charge a penny for Cisco Packet Tracer. However, you do have to register with Cisco Networking Academy to download the program. With all of the great things that Cisco Packet Tracer does, do you need to buy your own home networking equipment to experiment with? No, you don't. I have a friend who passed the CCNA certification exam by only using Cisco Packet Tracer. On the other hand, if you can afford to buy a home networking kit, then more power to you. Buying a home networking kit consisting of a router, a couple of switches, and so on is an interesting idea. Perhaps I will write about this topic in another post. Another possible downside to Cisco Packet Tracer could be that if you already have networking experience, you might find Cisco Packet Tracer to be on the simple side of things.

Cisco Packet Tracer Screenshot

Cisco Modeling Labs

In addition to Cisco Packet Tracer, Cisco also offers Cisco Modeling Labs. From what I can tell, Cisco Modeling Labs is a more advanced version of Cisco Packet Tracer. Cisco Modeling Labs apparently gives the user more options and greater flexibility in creating networks than what is offered by Cisco Packet Tracer. I have got to admit, the user interface for Cisco Modeling Labs looks pretty slick. There is a downside to Cisco Modeling Labs, however. The downside is that Cisco Modeling Labs is not free. A one-year license for personal use will cost you around $199. Still, that's cheaper than buying your own networking equipment. I have never met anyone who has used Cisco Modeling Labs, so I don't know if the application is worth the money. When the time comes to kick Cisco Packet Tracer to the curb, I might give Cisco Modeling Labs a try.

Cisco Modeling Labs Screenshot

The GNS3 Option

Don't want to use the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, Cisco Packet Tracer, or Cisco Modeling Labs? Well, GNS3 just might be the networking application you have been looking for. From what I can tell, GNS3 will let you create complex networking topologies with the best of them. It also helps that the graphics definitely catch the eye in a way that Cisco Packet Tracer doesn't. According to the documentation, GNS3 is free and open source. Not only that, GNS3 will provide you with all kinds of options that are not provided by Cisco Packet Tracer. There is an important caveat to mention about GNS3 before you might consider using it. GNS3 does not use the Cisco IOS. If you want to use the Cisco IOS, or any other vendor's CLI, with GNS3, you will have to install Cisco IOS into GNS3. That means either getting a license to use Cisco IOS or copying it from another device. On their website, there is a proclamation that GNS3 is "by network pros for network pros". That statement is a good indicator that GNS3 might not be the best program to use if you are brand new to networking. I see that GNS3 is used by at least 20 high profile organizations for network planning and testing. As a result, you might want to wait until you get some networking experience under your belt before downloading GNS3 onto your laptop. Did I write that GNS3 looks really cool?

GNS3 Networking Diagram

In Conclusion

For now, I will be using both Cisco Packet Tracer and Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator for studying for CCNA. At some point, I would like to try out Cisco Modeling Labs.

Module 4: IPv6 Addressing...

Starting New Course Module

Yesterday, I F-I-N-A-L-L-Y started "Module 4: IPv6 Addressing" in the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting Course from the Cisco Networking Academy.

Module 4: IPv6 Addressing

The first three modules in the online course ("Physical Layer", "Data-Link Layer", and "Routing at the Network Layer") took longer than anticipated to complete.

I am far behind where I want to be in terms of completing this online course.

What is IPv6?

In its simplest form, Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the new method for assigning addresses to hosts on a computer network. IPv6 was designed to eventually replace Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), which is/was the most popular method for assigning addresses to hosts on a computer network. IPv4 is starting to lose its usage dominance to IPv6 due to a variety of factors. The main reason why IPv6 is being adopted widely is that we are running out of unique IPv4 addresses to use. Why are we running out of IPv4 addresses to use? Well, for computer netowrks to operate properly, each host on the network needs its own unique IP address IOT communicate with other hosts on the network. Due to the explosion of desktop computers, laptop computers, servers, printers, switches, routers, cell phones, tablets, wearable technology, and the Internet of Things, the pool of available IPv4 addresses has been nearly exhausted. As a result, IPv6 was created to solve the issue of IPv4 address exhaustion. In addition, IPv6 was designed to be more flexible than the rigid structure of IPv4. Thus, IPv6 is in many ways radically different from IPv4, yet IPv6 serves the same purpose. Plus, like everything in IT, the technology changes. When technology changes, there is usually greater flexibility and more options available.

Here are two examples of an IPv4 address:

• 192.168.1.5
• 185.107.80.231

Here are two examples of an IPv6 address:

• 2001:0000:9d38:6ab8:1c48:3a1c:a95a:b1c2
• 0123:4567:89ab:cdef:0123:4567:89ab:cdef

See the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses?

Here is a good chart that shows the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses that just happened to show up on my LinkedIn feed recently.

Differences between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses

Anyway, the time to start implementing IPv6 is now.

The time to start learning how to use IPv6 is now.

Like I wrote earlier, the purpose/function of IPv6 is the same as IPv4. However, it is quite different from IPv4 in many ways.

Just know that there is A LOT of information out there on the internet that covers the differences between IPv4 and IPv6. I kid you not. I just might even make my own contribution to about information about IPv6 on the internet. I haven't decided.

That said, I STILL need to read Chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14 on IPv4 Addressing in the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide. I keep putting it off. Well, guess what? That needs to change. I need to sit down and work through those four chapters as IPv4 won't be going away any time soon.

To be honest, when I originally studied for the CCNA certification from Cisco, I got bogged down in the chapters for Part III: Implementing VLANs and STP. Therefore, I never made it to Part IV: IPv4 Addressing.

I will have to work on rectifying that as soon as possible.

Attending the Phoenix Polish Festival 2024...

Attending the 19th Annual Polish Festival

Way back on Saturday, April 13th, 2024, I attended the 19th Annual Polish Festival on the grounds of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Phoenix, AZ.

19th Annual Polish Festival Website

My sister informed me that she was going to attend the 19th Annual Polish Festival. She said that she had always wanted to go. However, in previous years, she said that something always came up at the last minute. After performing a quick internet search I noticed that this year's Polish Festival was being held on April 13th and 14th of this year. My sister said that she was going to go to the Polish Festival on Saturday, April 13th. As a result, I made plans to attend the Polish Festival that day as well.

Getting to the Polish Festival

When Saturday, April 13th, arrived, I made the drive out to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. I drove east on Bell Avenue out of Sun City and drove past Highway 101 and the Arrowhead Towne Center shopping area. I made a right turn onto 67th Avenue. After a short distance, I made a left turn on Greenway Road. I was suddenly driving in an area of Glendale, AZ I had never been in before. Suddenly, I could tell that I was officially driving in Phoenix because the City of Phoenix logo was present on all of the road signs on the traffic lights. Once I got to 29th Avenue, I made a left turn and looked for a parking spot at the NAU-North Valley branch campus. From there, the organizers of the Polish Festival had a shuttle van that would drive you over to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish a short distance away to the south.

Location of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish

Food and Drink at the Polish Festival

The Polish Festival itself was held on the grounds of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. Right in what would be the parking lot. The Polish Festival was organized along the lines of going to Oktoberfest. In order to get food or drinks, you had to purchase tickets from the ticket counter. There were row upon row of tents that offered Polish food. For 22 tickets, I got the combination platter, which consisted of Polish sausage, stuffed cabbage, several pierogies, a large potato pancake, and a couple slices of bread. You could get some food items, such as pierogies or sausage, al a carte. There was even a line for crepes. There were also tents offering Polish-themed desserts. For alcoholic drinks, you had a choice between beer or wine. For beer, there was only one brand of beer offered: Zywiec Pale Lager. Zywiec is pronounced as "Zhi-vietz". Just as an aside, the Zywiec Brewery was founded in 1856 by Archduke Friedrich von Habsburg, a member of the Habsburg Royal Family in Austria-Hungary. Currently, the Zywiec Brewery is owned by the Heineken Group. Zywiec Pale Lager beer is pretty decent. Zywiec is the name of a small town where the brewery was founded. Since it was a H-O-T and SUNNY day, the beer was refreshing.

Zywiec Pale Lager Beer

The Polish Festival Itself

Besides food and drink there were was a tent that offered all kinds of souvenirs (t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, scarves, drinking glasses, key chains, etc.) for sale. The tent was doing brisk business. I thought about buying a couple of souvenirs, such as a baseball cap, a scarf, and a replica Polish Men's National Team soccer jersey, but I ultimately changed my mind at the last minute. There were tents for various Polish-American associations and charity groups. Then there were the usual vendors that you would typically see at a public event. There were two large tents with tables and chairs for people to sit and eat. When I got to the Polish Festival, seating was standing room only. The Polish Festival was actually fairly crowded. I was surprised by the large attendance. There were people everywhere. In front of the two large tents, there was a performance stage. The festival organizers brought in dancing troupes from both Tucson and Los Angeles to perform traditional Polish folk dances while wearing Polish folk costumes. Since the temperature had to be at least 90 degrees that afternoon, I am sure that the dancers were hot and sweaty. The disc jockeys even played a Polish song that was quite similar to the "Chicken Dance" song that gets played ad nauseam at Oktoberfest. There was a playground for little kids to play. It shouldn't have been a surprise, but there was a sizable monument to Pope John Paul II, known in Polish as Jan Pawel II. Thinking about it now, I never bothered to go inside the church itself and take a tour. As a result, I didn't get to see any of the artwork, sculptures, or architecture. Incidentally, Czestochowa, Poland is home to the famous Black Madonna of Częstochowa religious artwork, which is housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery. Oh well, as the saying goes, maybe next year.

The Photos

My photos from the Polish Festival are quite disappointing. At the time, I wasn't posting to my blog, so I wasn't taking photos with the idea of posting them to my blog. I noticed that the longer I was at the Polish Festival, the less energy I had. Since I bought so many tickets, I ended up drinking four or five beers. Plus, it was an abnormally hot day for the middle of April and shade was in limited quantity due to large number of people at the festival. Next year, I will take more photos.

Sausage, perogies, stuffed cabbage, potato cake, bread 

Sitting under one of the tents.

View of the performance stage.

People at the Arizona Polish Festival.

View of the performance stage.

People at the Polish Festival.

More people at the Polish Festival.

People arriving and people leaving.

Homemade Kolaczki

In Conclusion

All-in-all, I had a good time at the 19th Annual Polish Festival. I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. You can show up, get some food, drink a beer or two, and hang out for an hour or two. Take a tour of the church. I recommend that you wear a long-sleeved shirt and a wide-brimmed hat just in case.