By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — For the past 34 years, the Czech & Slovak Festival has brought Eastern European traditions to Dearborn Heights, including food, family and festive celebrations.
This year’s 35th annual celebration, scheduled for July 21 and 22 at Sokol Czech & Slovak Cultural Center, 23600 W. Warren Ave., is no different.
The festival is described as one of the largest Czech and Slovak festivals in Michigan, with organizers selling their wares – authentic cuisine, pastries, imported beers, wines, crafts and more. Strolling musicians and dancing performances are also slated to perform.
The continuous lives bands include Hank Haller, 2 to 8 p.m., Jerry Robotka in the festival’s beer tent from 7 to 10 p.m., July 21 and Millie Okapal, 1 to 7 p.m. July 22.
Ethnic Festival Chairman James Mack said festival goers will attend the two-day event for various reasons but they will always come to have fun, as previous years have shown.
“We have continuous music for both days,” Mack said. “We have dancers from Slovakia, we have marvelous food and we have a big dance floor. That is a pretty good deal for five bucks.”
Although there are no carnival-style rides at the festival, there will be plenty of activities for the children and adults, Mack said, with a family-like atmosphere.
“People like it,” Mack said. “People like ethnic festivals.”
Doors open from 1 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 a day for adults and children under 14 years old are fee.
For more information on the festival contact James Mack at: 734-542-4820 or 586-924-9233 or go to their website at sokoldetroit.com
(Sherri Kolade can be reached at [email protected])