Now in its eleventh year, the Johnstown Slavic Festival celebrates the heritage, traditions and stories of the region’s Slavic communities. We are grateful to the sponsors whose generosity helps make this annual gathering possible.
The Polacek Family have been longtime enthusiastic supporters of the Johnstown Slavic Festival and have continued their support as Title Sponsor. Their generosity helps The Polacek Family Johnstown Slavic Festival continue to grow.
Between 1880 and 1920, thousands of Slavic immigrants came to Johnstown seeking work in the area’s mills and mines. By 1920, one in four Johnstown residents was of Slavic descent. Together, they built a rich network of churches and social clubs that preserved their cultures and strengthened the community.
Through food, music, art and fellowship, the Johnstown Slavic Festival celebrates the shared past of our ancestors and carries their traditions forward for future generations.
The festival honors people with roots throughout the diverse Slavic world and the Carpatho-Rusyn community.
This heritage festival speaks to all the triumphs and tribulations that all of our forefathers went through to come over here and what they dealt with being here. This is not just a celebration of Slovaks, but a celebration of all heritages and what they did to give us a better life.
— Bill Polacek
Heritage Johnstown provides organizational and technical support for the festival. Special thanks to UPJ, Delta Chi Fraternity, our sponsors and the many volunteers who help make the festival possible each year.
