International Village: A celebration of friendship, traditions and culture
For the MVI
In 1960, McKeesport was preparing to celebrate it’s 165th anniversary. To honor the city’s rich history, officials wanted to pay homage to those who settled here. A melting pot of many nationalities, the traditions of the people who called the city home became woven into the very fabric of what McKeesport had become.
As part of Old Home Week festivities, a section of Market Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues was transformed into an international village. There was food, music and dancing from 10 nationalities represented in the city. The people enjoyed sharing their traditions and guests savored the opportunity to travel around the world – without leaving McKeesport.
It was so popular, the following year the village was set up on Stephen Barry Field in Renziehausen Park.
That was the start of an annual tradition that has continued every year since (except 2020). The essence of that first event continues, with food, music and dancing from around the world.
While some of the original nationalities are still represented, others have become part of the festival. Some features through the years included an international market, educational sessions, and an opening ceremony parade featuring flags and volunteers wearing clothing traditional to their heritage.
Each year, people look forward to International Village. Early in the year, folks who grew up in the city and moved away inquire when the Village is so they can plan their vacation to return home for a visit. Some use the setting for reunions and other village-goers visit from around the world. The festival continues to be a McKeesport tradition attracting thousands of visitors every year.
Friendship is a big part of the annual gathering. Some of those friendships were forged at the first Village while others started more recently. At least one resulted in a relationship that culminated with a marriage proposal on stage. Some of those friendships developed with shared funnel cakes, some during Kolo dances.
And sometimes those friendships have been remembered with a moment of silence from the Village stage.
In the early years of International Village, traditional fare was prepared in local churches by folks using recipes handed down through the generations.
Volunteers spent hours preparing dishes like pierogies, haluski and stuffed cabbage, and a cornucopia of mouth-watering desserts and pastries.
Some of those churches are still involved, while other groups representing nationalities have stepped up to keep the food tradition alive.
Like food, music and dancing continues to be an integral part of the Village.
Some of the performers from the first festival continued to entertain with song, dance and music for many years.
Sometimes performing was a family tradition, with a couple generations entertaining the crowds. In recent years, a second stage was added, featuring a different group each evening – giving folks a chance to show off their kolo and polka skills. The main stage offers an international musical journey featuring traditional instruments, costumes and songs.
International Village is more than food and music.
It’s the people working behind the scenes to put the festival together, the volunteers in the booths preparing and serving food, young people making sure the grounds are kept clean, volunteers greeting visitors as they arrive, public safety personnel keeping everyone safe, and those responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly on the main stage. Without them there would be no festival.
Each year, International Village allows the traditions of the people who settled in McKeesport to not be forgotten.
As long as the three-day festival continues, the food, music and dancing that once filled the air in the city will continue to live on for years to come.
