The festival’s mascot “Rodina,” portrayed by Sophie Heschmeyer, and accordion player Luke Politsky, Simply Slavic board treasurer, walk the grounds during the opening ceremony.,,,, Photo by John Patrick Gatta

YOUNGSTOWN —- Friday was opening night of the newly expanded three-day Simply Slavic Festival at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in downtown Youngstown.

This is the 15th year for the cultural festival, which continues noon to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

New events include a polka Mass on Sunday as well as a Mascot Day as the festival introduces two new costumed characters to join festival fixtures such as Rodina and Stan the Pierogi. Baba Yaga, a mysterious old woman with magical powers, is a famous character from Slavic folklore. Baba Roga is a mischievous “boogeywoman” familiar to those in the Balkan and Slavic regions.

The Chardon Polka Band, which takes a nontraditional approach to ethnic music and has been a festival favorite for years, is the Saturday headliner.

Admission is $5 with children ages 12 and younger admitted free. For more information, go to simplyslavic.org

Here is the entertainment schedule for Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday

• 12:15 p.m. — Veseljaci (Croatian Tamburitza)

• 1 p.m. — Opening Ceremony

• 1:40 p.m. — Living Traditions Folk Ensemble (Polish/Rusyn)

• 2:35 p.m. — Radost

• 3:30 p.m. — Selo Croatian Ensemble (Croatian)

• 4:30 p.m. — ZAPS (Ukrainian)

• 6 p.m. — Harmonia (Gypsy)

• 8:30 p.m.- The Chardon Polka Band (Polka)

• 10:30 p.m. — Vatra Lighting Ceremony, followed by dance featuring Harmonia, Chardon Polka Band & Friends

Sunday

• 11 a.m. — Catholic Mass officiated by the Rev. Joseph Rudjak with music by Rex Taneri Orchestra (Slovenian)

• Noon — Welcome Ceremony, Ecumenical Prayer and Baking Contest Winner Announcement

• 1 p.m. — Mascot Showcase

• 1:30 p.m. — Da Polka Bums (Polka)

• 3:30 p.m. — T.O. Nocne Sove

• 4 p.m. — Mikey Dee (Tamburitza / Southern Slav Polka)

6 p.m. — Closing Remarks

ABOVE: Saturday

• 12:15 p.m. — Veseljaci (Croatian Tamburitza)

• 1 p.m. — Opening Ceremony

• 1:40 p.m. — Living Traditions Folk Ensemble (Polish/Rusyn)

• 2:35 p.m. — Radost

• 3:30 p.m. — Selo Croatian Ensemble (Croatian)

• 4:30 p.m. — ZAPS (Ukrainian)

• 6 p.m. — Harmonia (Gypsy)

• 8:30 p.m.- The Chardon Polka Band (Polka)

• 10:30 p.m. — Vatra Lighting Ceremony, followed by dance featuring Harmonia, Chardon Polka Band & Friends

Sunday

• 11 a.m. — Catholic Mass officiated by the Rev. Joseph Rudjak with music by Rex Taneri Orchestra (Slovenian)

• Noon — Welcome Ceremony, Ecumenical Prayer and Baking Contest Winner Announcement

• 1 p.m. — Mascot Showcase

• 1:30 p.m. — Da Polka Bums (Polka)

• 3:30 p.m. — T.O. Nocne Sove

• 4 p.m. — Mikey Dee (Tamburitza / Southern Slav Polka)

6 p.m. — Closing Remarks