McKeesport pride on display at 65th International Village

By the MVI

For six decades, countless people have flocked to McKeesport’s annual celebration of the many cultures that have shaped its communities. International Village, the threeday extravaganza of ethnic cuisine, music and dancing, brings McKeesporters together unlike any other gathering.

“Each year, the Village reminds us of the ‘Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger’ sentiment that McKeesport area natives carry with them for a lifetime,” Mayor Michael Cherepko previously said. “This festival not only celebrates many of the nationalities who came together to form our melting pot of a community, but it also serves as a reunion for the past and present members of our community to gather and celebrate.”

The 65th iteration of McKeesport’s multicultural celebration, International Village, runs from Aug. 12 to 14 at Renziehausen Park. Gates open at 3 p.m. each day. The event boasts more than a dozen food vendors doling out dishes from various cultures. Entertainment at the Blue Top Pavilion begins at 5 p.m. each night, while a lineup of musical and dancing performers take the stage from 6 to 9 p.m. on the main stage each night.

This year’s International Village features a smorgasbord of more than 100 dishes originating from 16 different countries and Hawaii.

International Village attracts McKeesporters of all ages each year, and it serves as a reunion of former and current residents.

City Administrator Tom Maglicco previously said International Village is “like a reunion without having a reunion.”

“It’s another great meeting point where you run into classmates of yours that you haven’t seen in years,” Maglicco said.