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Everybody is welcome to a Winnipeg festival celebrating Serbian heritage through food, music and dancing this weekend, organizers say.
The fourth-ever Serbian Days festival kicked off at the Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in the Tuxedo area Saturday morning.
Besides traditional Serbian dances and music, this year’s event featured guest performances from Greek, Hungarian, Italian and Punjabi folk groups.
Pedja Stankovic, board president of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, said the decision to hold a multi-cultural event was meant to show off Serbian hospitality.
“They invite us for their events as well,” he said Saturday.
“I want to encourage people to come visit us, see Serbian culture as well.… They have to for sure try the food, and enjoy the show.”
About 85 dancers of all ages are performing in this year’s event, which supports the work of St. Sava church. Stankovic said more than 2,000 Serbs have made Winnipeg their home — and that the numbers keep growing.
Up to 600 people were expected to attend the festival this weekend. The guests included Serbia’s ambassador to Canada, Stefan Tomasevic.
Tomasevic said it’s a big year for Serbian Canadians, with both countries celebrating 85 years of diplomatic relationships.
The country is also celebrating the restoration of direct flights between Toronto and Belgrade, which were halted 34 years ago amid the violent breakup of Yugoslavia.
“You will always find great hospitality among Serbs,” Tomasevic said. Winnipeggers at Serbian Days “will enjoy the music and the folklore and our food…
“They will have opportunity to grab some souvenirs from Serbia and to have some nice memories of our country.”
Serbian Days wraps up Sunday.
About 85 dancers of all ages are performing in this year’s Serbian Days. (Kevin Nepitabo/CBC)