Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
We're back in person!
On Sunday, November 6, 2022, from 12:00PM to 4:00PM, the Slovak Studies Program, with the help of our generous sponsors, will host the 32nd Annual Slovak Heritage Festival in the Commons Room of the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. We are excited to be back in person again for a joyous day of Slovak culture, history, food, crafts, and education.
Admission is free, and masks are optional. We hope to see you at the 32nd Annual Slovak Heritage Festival at Pitt!
Schedule of Events:
Festival Main Stage - Commons Room
12:00 Opening, Slovak National Anthem, Introductions
12:15 Pittsburgh Area Slovaks (PAS)
12:45 Fujara Music by Ben Sorensen
1:00 Alena Kotlan, Slovak Accordion Songs
1:20 Helene Cincebeaux, Slovak Folk Dress & Parade of Kroj
1:40 Jerry Jumba Slovak and Rusyn Accordion Songs
2:25 Rusynskŷ Betjare (Rusyn Rascals)
3:15 Pirohy Triathlon Competition
3:20 The Pittsburgh Slovakians
Lectures
30 years since independence – proud Slovakia facing a perfect storm
1:30 PM in Room 332
Ambassador Javorčík will discuss the major events from the history of the independent Slovak Republic. 30 years ago, Czecho-Slovakia split into two independent countries, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. This is now known as the “Velvet divorce” due to its peaceful nature on January 1, 1993.
30 years of the Slovak Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh – What is the vision for the future?
2:30 PM in Room 332
The new director of the Slovak Studies Program Dr. Kamenárová will share more about what the program offers to college students and community members and present her vision for the future of this unique and valuable program.
Dennis Ragan studied the Slovak language under the late Prof. Martin Votruba and will address the requisites for learning Slovak, the importance of instructor-led learning and exposure to spoken Slovak, learning Slovak grammar, and other resources available to aid learners.
Za Boha a Národ: How the Slovak-American Press Helped Define Slovak-American Culture
3:30 PM in Room 332
This talk by Ben Sorensen will highlight how the Slovak-American Press in many ways shaped the Slovak-American identity, sometimes in ways that did not reflect the realities of the Slovak experience in America.
Slovak Americans still feel the implications today in how they view themselves as well as how they view their history in America.
Films
Ask at Home 1968 Documentary by Barbora Bereznakova
1:00 PM and 3:00 PM screenings in Room 232 CL
A documentary encouraging the intergenerational dialogue about political event's impact on family lives in CZECHOSLOVAKIA over the 20th century where the regime changed over four times in a hundred years. This film focuses on the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968, which has many similarities with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Treasures of Slovakia
Running continuously throughout the day in the Czechoslovak Nationality Room - Room 113 CL
This video from the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is a virtual tour of their exhibit “Treasures of Slovakia” that tells the story of the history and culture of Slovakia.
Czech and Slovak Christmas Traditions
Running continuously throughout the day in the Czechoslovak Nationality Room - Room 113 CL
Czechoslovak Nationality Committee Vice Chairman, Joseph Bielecki talks about common Czech and Slovak Christmas Traditions.
If you would like to be added to the Slovak Heritage Festival email list so that you never miss a festival, please write to <slavic@pitt.edu>
Thank you to our sponsors:
First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, First Catholic Slovak Union, GOSECA, Ladies PA Slovak Catholic Union, National Slovak Society - NSS Life, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, REEES, Slovak Catholic Sokol, Sokol USA, SLI
