×

Slavic festival set to go global

YOUNGSTOWN — Simply Slavic will celebrate its 10th anniversary virtually.

Organizers announced they are canceling plans for a physical festival in downtown Youngstown on June 20 and instead will move the festivities online.

“Although our event doesn’t take place in spring or before the expected rebound in the fall, we know the demographic of our audience and we know that safety has to come before anything,” Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer, president of Marquee Creatives, said.

Two of the festival’s founding board members and a committee member were among those diagnosed with COVID-19.

“We felt it personally,” she said.

But with this being the 10th anniversary, they didn’t want to just cancel the event.

“This is a big deal for us,” Heschmeyer said. “We’re working hard to figure out a way to celebrate with our people.”

Rodina, the Simply Slavic mascot, will host the online event, and a mix of livestreamed and prerecorded performances will be featured from 6 to 10 p.m. June 20 through Facebook Live and YouTube. Acts will include Harmonia and the Chardon Polka Band.

Modern Methods Brewing Company in Warren is doubling production of its Rodina Czech Amber Lager, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward Simply Slavic’s scholarship program for Youngstown State University students.

“It just started brewing this week and will be released the week of the festival,” Heschmeyer said.

Babcia’s Lunchbox and Krakus Polish Deli & Bakery will offer special platters and other items that can picked up from their locations that weekend, and Youngstown’s Penguin City Brewing Co. will be delivering its beer.

Heschmeyer said they drew inspiration from the online celebration for Dyngus Day in Cleveland following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

“For Dyngus Day, we did a big Zoom (videoconference) with all the people toasting together,” she said. “We were all on the phone at one in the afternoon doing vodka shots. Dyngus Day Cleveland gave us a taste of what was possible.”

The virtual Simply Slavic will include a global toast at 7 p.m. featuring participants from around the world offering good wishes in their native languages.

“We hope to have participants from all 13 of the Slavic nations,” she said.

The sponsors who signed on before the pandemic still will be involved in the event, and organizers are accepting donations and additional sponsors. However, Heschmeyer admitted it would be difficult to offset the money brought in from visitors paying to attend an actual festival.

“It will just be a hit we’re going to take,” she said. “As a board, we’re committed to celebrating our culture every year, and we’re going to do it.”

agray@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today