The Ann Arbor Russian Orthodox Festival will be held at 9900 Jackson Road in Dexter on September 21 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and on September 22 from 1-7 p.m.
“Everyone is welcome who comes with a desire to have good fun, make new friends, visit with the old ones, eat tasty food and learn something new,” Zhanna Skalitzky, Ann Arbor Russian Orthodox Festival committee member, said. “Over the years, the Festival has received local guests from nearby cities and townships, as well as visitors living hundreds of miles away in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York and Canada.”
Skalitzky said the festival is run by volunteers from a variety of backgrounds.
“They (the volunteers) share their time, energy, and love with our Festival visitors,” Skalitzky said. “This amazing help comes from people of many racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds: Polish, Tajik, German, Moldovan, Italian, Kyrgysz, Venezuelan, Russian, Tatar, Ukrainian, American, Canadian, Mexican, Jewish, Belorussian, Armenian, Serbian, Irish, Romanian, Greek, Bashkir, Dutch, Georgian, British… probably missed some.”
Festival origins
The Festival is at least ten years old and also has some specific religious origins.
“The Festival was started in 2013, however, this year, we are celebrating our 10th Anniversary,” Skalitzky said. “The Festival began as a way to remember the cultural heritage of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox parish and to strengthen the ties with the local community, members of which we had been for multiple decades. We wanted to open up our hearts and church home to all who desired to know more about us.”
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However, now people from all different backgrounds, heritages and religions come and enjoy the food, music and cultures. Food seems always to be one of the biggest draws.
“Izba (a Russian word for a dwelling) features different ethnic foods, such as shashlik, which is the Russian version of skewered and grilled meat,” Skalitzky said. “We also serve traditional red beet and cabbage soup, called borscht. For the Festival visitors, we make it vegan, as we do for ourselves during Orthodox fasting periods. Also, we cook meat-filled dumplings or pelmeni, a Siberian staple food. They can be accompanied by one of the ethnic salads, which are also vegan. Blinis or blintzes are offered with a variety of fillings to choose from, both savory and sweet. And the Tea Room has flavorful hot teas, traditional cold drinks and a number of scrumptious desserts, such as the Napoleon cake.”
Fun for all ages
The festival is also family-friendly and fun for little kids, teens, adults, and older people. The activities are varied and well-thought-out.
“The Festival strives to provide accessible and engaging experiences for people of all ages,” Skalitzky said. “We have an extensive children’s area with a bounce house, various organized activities, as well as free play on the festival ground. There are very interesting lectures about Russian culture and history for those who are more academically inclined. Many people of all ages find our displays of posters and cultural items enlightening and entertaining. Certainly, there’s ethnic cuisine to cheer any pallet. The virtually nonstop entertainment onstage and in the field is sure to please everyone. The shopping and vendor rows will satisfy the young, the younger and the youngest. The chess table is open for blitz games and for a relaxed play with your own friend or with one of our experienced grandpas. And a rather unique attraction we now have is for anyone to get a ride on a motorcycle! “
Music and dance
“A variety of musical instruments and styles will be featured at our festival, such as violin, accordion, cello, guitar, piano, saxophone, simple percussions, voice, and certainly a balalaika played by a virtuoso from the New York’s ‘Barynya’ ensemble,” Skalitzky said. “The music will encompass Russian folk, classical, popular and other traditional styles. Inside the church, visitors will have the unique opportunity to hear our church choir sing Orthodox hymns and folk carols. We will also feature the world-renowned Konevets-quartet singing a cappella on stage via live stream directly from St.Petersburg.”
Traditional dance and costumes will be featured as well.
“As for traditional Russian dances, we have an amazing group coming from New York,” Skalitzky said. “They are a professional company ‘Barynya’, performing some of the most intricate and elegant dances traditionally put on stage. Their costumes alone are a reason enough to come to the Festival! We also will have some simpler folk dances shown, e.g., ‘Chetvyora’, a Russian country square-type dance, one could say. Our own children and teens will be engaging the audience with this and other folk dances and traditional games. A group of Cossacks from Chicago will boast their amazing saber-handling skills onstage as they dance to Russian folk music. Also, because Russians appreciate classical ballet as a form of art, we like sharing this passion with the festival visitors — there will be ballet performances as well!”
The festival is free to enter and free parking as well.
Ann Arbor Russian Orthodox Festival. 9900 Jackson Rd., Dexter. September 21 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and on September 22 from 1-7 p.m.
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Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
