Simply Slavic, the downtown festival created specifically to celebrate Greater Youngstown’s colorful Slavic community will take place on Saturday, June 16th 2012 from Noon to Midnight on Federal Plaza East. The event was created last year to educate both the region’s large number of Slavic descendants and the community-at-large about Slavic heritage. “Nearly 4,000 people joined us last year to enjoy our showcase of Slavic culture,” says Ken Shirilla, event chairman, adding that attendees came not just from the Valley but from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and beyond. “The overwhelming, positive response of the community proved that a festival of this nature could become a reality among different groups with a common background.”

Numerous local parishes and organizations have already enthusiastically signed on to support and participate in this effort. These include: the City of Youngstown, Sts Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, PolishYoungstown, American Slovak Cultural Association of Mahoning Valley, The Carpatho-Rusyn Society, and many others. "This year we are expanding the Festival site to two city blocks to give our guests more elbow room and allow people to interact in a better street fair-like layout,” Shirilla adds. “We also will have more food vendors to feed the people later into the day and provide non-stop live entertainment until midnight."

Entertainment at this year's festival is scheduled to include celebrated folk ensemble Harmonia and renowned polka group The Del Sinchak Band. We are also welcoming the folk performances of Happy Hearts Tamburiztans, Noćne Sove Tamburitzans, Youngstown Ukrainian Dancers, Jamie Marić, St. Nicholas Russian Youth Dancers, Krakowiaki Polish Folk Circle, and Living Traditions Folk Ensemble. Music, dancing, and ethnic entertainment is scheduled to play well into the night.

The Mahoning Valley has a proud ethnic heritage. This history has been highlighted at different festivals and events held in recent years all around our region. Simply Slavic’s mission is dedicated to educating both the large number of local Slavic descendents and the Greater Youngstown community-at-large about Slavic heritage. We showcase the rich traditions of Slavic culture by celebrating the food, music, dance and customs of the various Slavic ethnicities which are represented in our metropolitan area. We also present information regarding the European nations from which our beloved ancestors arrived. By expanding the community’s knowledge through the experience of celebrating Slavic culture, we hope to both honor our ancestors and enrich the lives of all who are exposed.

Over 3,000+ individuals attended the first annual Simply Slavic Festival in historic downtown Youngstown to share in celebrating the Mahoning Valley's rich Slavic Heritage. Find out how you can get involved or sponsor this year's event and don't forget to mark your calendars for the second annual Simply Slavic Heritage Festival on June 16, 2012 in Downtown Youngstown, Ohio!

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