36th Annual Slovak Heritage Festival

The 36th Annual Slovak Heritage Festival returns to the Cathedral of Learning on Sunday, November 1, from 12 PM to 4 PM. It's one of the biggest Slovak events in the country, and this year it's taking over the Commons Room on the first floor of the Cathedral, right on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland.

It's a wide-open afternoon, so you can move through it however you like. There are vendor tables and informational displays to wander through, and the Czechoslovak Room is open for you to explore. You'll find traditional music and dance performances throughout the day, and lectures on Slovak culture if you're in the mood to sit and listen. There's also food, pastries, and gift items on hand, and you might even cross paths with the ambassador.

The festival is hosted by the Slovak Studies Program, which is part of the Slavic Languages and Literatures Department at Pitt. It's the only permanent Slovak Studies Program in the United States, and they describe their work as encouraging young people to learn about Slovakia and the role of Slovaks in America, while promoting and preserving Slovak heritage, language, and culture. For a few years during the pandemic, the festival moved online and was hosted by Rick Sebak, but it's back in person now.

Admission is free, and since it's a Sunday, parking in Oakland is free too. The festival runs from 12 PM to 4 PM in the Commons Room on the first floor of the Cathedral of Learning, 4200 5th Ave.