JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Slavic enjoyment, foods, crafts and presentations will be highlighted at this ethnic celebration.
The seventh once-a-year Johnstown Slavic Pageant will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and from noon to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in the parking large amount and the courtyard of the Heritage Discovery Heart, 201 Sixth Ave., in the Cambria City portion of Johnstown.
“The festival is held below at the Heritage Discovery Heart due to the fact its themes, which includes immigration to the place and steel and coal heritage, are directly connected to the background of Slavs in this region,” claimed Richard Burkert, president and CEO of Johnstown Spot Heritage Affiliation.
Brian Subich, party committee chairman, mentioned the pageant was the thought of the late Dan Kisha, who desired to have an party that was only and strictly Slavic.
“What will make the Slavic pageant exclusive is we entertain with Slavic performers and give Slavic foodstuff and drink, but we also educate with our speaker collection and cooking demonstrations,” he said.
“The cooking demonstrations and academic speakers aid to showcase our Slavic roots and provide to teach the subsequent era to have on the traditions.”
Subich stated the festival continues to expand each individual 12 months.
“The initially 12 months, there were most likely 300 to 400 men and women, but as the years have absent by, it has grown noticeably and now we get thousands of men and women every single working day,” he claimed.
“Once individuals get to the pageant, they recognize this is authentic and truly conventional. I consider they like that.”
Performances will take area on the major stage in the Heritage Discovery Heart parking whole lot and in the courtyard.
“There’s a range of Slavic nations, so there’s not just just one sort of music,” Subich explained.
“We check out to get a cross-part and get bands that everybody can get pleasure from and join with.”
Primary stage leisure for Friday will contain John Stevens Polka Band from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., adopted by folks dance lessons from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Sviraj from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Bronco Toter will accomplish on the courtyard stage, followed by Jessica Schulte from 8 to 9:30 pm.
On Sept. 17, the primary stage amusement will function St. George Grownup Tamburitza Ensemble from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Pajtasi from 2 to 3:30 p.m. St. George Adult Tamburitza Ensemble from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Gerdan from 5 to 6:30 p.m. folk dance lessons from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and Radost from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Courtyard performances involve Jessica Schulte from noon to 1:30 p.m., adopted by Jim Vizzini from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Bronco Toter from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Jerry Intihar from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
“Every yr, we like to deliver in new musicians and research for musicians and bands that persons have not read or witnessed,” Subich stated.
He explained that Ukrainian band Gerdan is fronted by 2020 Grammy Award winner Andrei Pidkivka, who produced the soundtrack of HBO’s miniseries “Chernobyl.”
“All of the customers of the band emigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine, and they’re based out of Washington, D.C.,” Subich claimed.
“When we say that we convey in genuine Slavic audio, I really don’t know what additional validation I could present to people today than that.”
Authentic Slavic foods will be provided from Ace’s, Babcia’s Lunchbox, Darlington Inn, Fredo’s Deli, Gosia’s Pierogies, Klosky’s Cuisine, Life’s A Address, Aged Environment Catering, Phoenix Tavern, St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Metal Town Chimney Cakes, Tulunes and the William Penn Association.
“This calendar year, we have more food sellers than we’ve ever experienced and a couple new kinds,” Subich claimed.
“There will be some foodstuff that people today have by no means heard of prior to.”
Beers representing eight Slavic nations will be accessible.
They include things like Karlovacko (Croatia), Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic), Primator (Czech Republic), Zywiec (Poland), Ozujsko (Croatia), Lomza (Poland), Czechvar (Czech Republic) and Baltika (Russia).
Stone Bridge Brewing Corporation will offer its Slavic Suds Pivo, which is created solely for the pageant.
Slavic crafts will be available for sale, and a wide variety of businesses will be on hand to share facts, which include the William Penn Association, Johnstown Space Genealogical & Historic Modern society, Very first Catholic Slovak Union and Slovenian Countrywide Reward Culture.
“There’s almost everything from matryoshka dolls to pysanky eggs to handmade Czech glass and beads,” Subich said.
Cooking demonstrations will be held Sept. 17 in Galliker’s Café.
At 1:30 p.m., Cheryl Chovanec will make a pigs-in-the-blanket casserole.
Brian Shustrick will make pelmeni Ukrainian dumplings at 2:30 p.m.
At 3:30 p.m., Georgette Brnilovich will make Serbian burek, a pastry produced of phyllo dough and crammed with meat or cheese.
On Sept. 17, speakers will present connected subjects in the discovery center’s education center.
From 1 to 2 p.m., Rick Vukmanic will present “Croatians – Who We Are and Exactly where We Appear From.”
Users of Gerdan will share the classic tunes of Ukraine from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Donna Vranesivich will existing “Srbski Warodnd Seirbian People Costumes.”
There is no admission fee to attend the festival.
“We want to entertain and teach at this festival,” Subich reported.
“Hopefully, people today will go residence with some thing they’ve learned, regardless of whether it’s how to pronounce a foodstuff they purchased or a beer they drank, how to make a standard food items or just have a much better comprehending of their Slavic heritage.”
The Heritage Discovery Center and Johnstown Children’s Museum will supply cost-free admission during the festival.
Paid parking, which gains the celebration, will be available in the Greatest Window & Door good deal on Sixth Avenue, near Broad Street.
According to JAHA, the Slavic folks immigrated from nations such as Belarus, Bosnia and Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Macedonia and Ukraine.
The Slavs also include the Carpatho-Rusyn men and women, whose descendants are existing in the Johnstown place.
From 1880 till 1920, hundreds of Slavic immigrants came to Johnstown to discover employment in the area’s mills and mines.
By 1920, 25% of Johnstown’s people were of Slavic descent. They designed a abundant community of church buildings and social golf equipment to help their way of life and lifestyle.
For additional information and facts on the festival, visit www.johnstownslavicfestival.org.
