‘A Taste of Serbia’ this weekend at St. Sava

The celebration of ethnic food and culture in McKeesport has become a popular event as it enters its seventh year.

A McKeesport church is ready to celebrate an annual tradition of delicious Serbian food, hospitality and culture this weekend.

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, located at 901 Hartman St., will host its seventh annual “A Taste of Serbia,” sharing a variety s of authentic Serbian foods, desserts and entertainment from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday and noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.

“The food festival is our main fundraiser that we have for our church to survive,” said Joyce Yovetich, co-chair of the festival. “We are celebrating our 125th year of our parish, so this is a pretty big event for us this year.”

A full celebration of the church’s 125th anniversary will take place in November. It is the oldest parish in the Eastern United States and the third-oldest Serbian Orthodox church in the country.

Despite being launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual festival received tremendous community support and has continued to grow.

The festival’s menu features a wide variety of traditional Serbian specialties that have long been popular at St. Sava events and McKeesport’s International Village, according to public relations chair Sue Vilushis, who hopes there will be good weather this year.

“I’m excited every year,” Vilushis said. “The fact that this was our seventh year, now that it’s coming around every year, people look forward to it, and they definitely have their likes of what food they love and what they gravitate toward. I was excited for this. I love this kind of stuff.”

Some of the foods include the award-winning hand-breaded haddock filet sandwich, available Friday only, as well as the boneless slow-roasted sliced lamb sandwich, available both days.

Other popular entrees include Ćevapi, which are classic handrolled, skinless meat sausages, burek, Serbian-style stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut and red kidney bean soup, halushki, hot sausage sandwiches and more.

Side dishes include Serbian potato salad and Serbian coleslaw, both prepared with a signature oil-and-vinegar dressing. Guests can also enjoy refreshments at the outdoor Kafana Bar.

For dessert, guests can choose from a wide selection of Serbian pastries, including apple strudel, palačinke (cheese-filled crepes), gibanica (sweet cheese strudel), nut rolls, apricot rolls and a variety of other sweet treats.

“We have a lot of people that are not of Serbian descent, or they’re not participating in our church, but they may have some ethnic background,” Yovetich said. “Maybe their grandparents were, but they remember the food. So they want to come, and have the food that their bubbas made when they were little.”

From 3 to 7 p.m Saturday, Orchestra RADOST of Pittsburgh will perform a variety of ethnic music for listening and dancing. A 50/50 raffle drawing will also be held during the festival.

Admission is free, and free parking is available in the church parking lot, with additional street parking options. Cash and credit cards will be accepted for food purchases.

Guests can enjoy their meals inside the church hall or outdoors in the courtyard under a tent, rain or shine. Walk-up ordering will be available both days, and no pre-orders will be accepted.

Last year, the festival had about 70 parishioners volunteer their time between the two days, preparing, cooking and serving food along with cleaning up and setting up.

They have around the same amount of volunteers this year, Yovetich added.

There are seven major sponsors, who have donated at least $250 or $500. Four sponsors are on the placemats, and there are entertainment sponsors and yard sign sponsors as well. Sponsors include Lea’s Floral Shop, Pribanic & Pribanic, Di’s Kornerstone Diner, Jordan Banana and more.

Joanne Rocknage, the priest’s wife, who runs the kitchen, said the festival allows people to experience Serbian traditions and the church is very excited for the festivities this weekend.

“Not only is this an outreach for our church, but it is a good fellowship for everyone to meet our neighbors, and work together in the church community itself,” Rocknage said. “Also, it’s for everyone to know what the Serbian community does as far as the foods and stuff we make. We hope to entertain everyone and feed everyone.”

For a complete menu and additional information, visit stsavapa. org.