Hundreds enjoy music, food, fraternity at Valley Slovak Festival

Hundreds enjoy music, food, fraternity at Valley Slovak Festival

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

For Betty McDonough of Canfield, the Mahoning Valley Slovak Fest at St. Matthias Church on the South Side is a reminder of the music her parents’ generation enjoyed.

“The music is what my mom’s general always came for — polkas and Slovak folk music,” she said Sunday evening at the festival that hundreds attended.

“Growing up, I don’t think we went to a wedding that didn’t have a polka band. It’s what you were used to.”

McDonough said the music the Del Sinchak Band played was giving her that nice, nostalgic feeling she wanted.

For Loretta Ekoniak of Youngstown, a big part of the festival’s attraction is the food.

From tables manned by members of Youngstown’s three Slovak Catholic churches — St. Matthias, Sts. Cyril and Methodius and Holy Name of Jesus — Slovak food was purchased and eaten in large quantities.

“If we want haluski, pirohy, stuffed cabbage; this is where we have to go to get them,” Ekoniak said. “People just don’t make it anymore. They don’t know how to make it anymore.”

The festival continues until 9 p.m. today.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.