Sun 8/31 @ 10AM-8PM
Living in northeast Ohio offers the opportunity to travel the world without leaving home, taking in cultures from around the world. And while those cultures have become increasingly diverse in recent years, some, especially Eastern European cultures, have been in this area a long time.
One of those early settler groups was the Hungarians, and Ohio’s biggest Hungarian Festival, put on by the American Hungarian Friends of Scouting, takes place this weekend for the 69th year at Parma’s German Central Park.
It starts at 10:30am with a flag-raising ceremony followed at 11am with Catholic and Protestant church services in Hungarian. The main attraction — the kitchens — start serving at noon, and as always, the food is the star at ethnic festivals, with chicken paprikas, stuffed cabbage grilled pork steak, Hungarian sausages, chimney cakes, jam-filled crepes — you’re not full yet, are you? — tortes, pastry, strudel and espresso. Beer and wine are available, and you can get the food to go if you think it’s too much to eat in one day.
Then kick back and enjoy music by Walt Mahovlich and his ensemble Harmonia and special guests from New Jersey, the Fészer Band, The Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble and other scouts will perform in traditional costumes from 2-5pm, with Hungarian folk dance lessons and open dancing to Hungarian folk music starting at 6pm. Also on the schedule: a live animal show at 2:30, a book fair, folk art and crafts, souvenir and novelty vendors, and kids’ activities and crafts.
Admission is $10, free for kids under 10. Parking is free. Get more information here.