poles in chicago constituted the largest ethnically polish population outside warsaw before 1918 when poland reemerged as an independent state. the city is one of the most important polish diaspora centers in the 21st century, and every labor day weekend the city celebrates at the taste of polonia festival in jefferson park. the southwest side is home to the largest concentration of górals (carpathian highlanders) outside europe; it is the location of the polish highlanders alliance of north america.