Sugar Creek Slavic Festival

Ancient traditions of Slavic culture brought by immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Croatia, and Poland had been present even in Sugar Creek's earliest days. Celebrations were carried out in the customary manner between the residents of the town throughout the late 19th and most of the 20th century. It was not until 1985 that many of Sugar Creek's families decided to hold an official, annual festival to welcomingly entertain the public. These festivities include a wide variety of Slavic traditions, such as food, dance, and music.

In 2005, the Ambassador to the United States of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Ratislav Kačer, made an appearance at the festival to celebrate the event's 20th Anniversary.

Slavic Heritage

The early Slavs came from Indo-European lands, spreading from various parts of Asia into Eastern Europe about 2,000 BC. Under the pressure of nomadic hoards the Slavic tribes crossed the Carpathian Mountains and pushed their way down to the Balkans. Others moved westward toward the upper Danube, and still others eastward toward the River Dniper and Black Sea. This migration continued from the fourth through the eighth century, giving birth to the Slavic nations that we know today.

For many centuries the Slavic tribes used the same common language. Starting with the migration into Eastern Europe some dialectical differences began to develop among the various tribes. For many centuries the Slavic tribes used the same common language. Starting with the migration into Eastern Europe some dialectical differences began to develop among the various tribes. Generally, linguists divide the Slavs into three main groups - Western Slavs, Southern or Yugoslavs, and Eastern Slavs. The Western Slavs embrace modern nations of Czechs, Slovaks, Lusitian Serbs and Poles. Southern Slavs include Serbs, Croats, Slovenians, Macedonians and Bulgarians. The Eastern Slavs are subdivided into three separate branches: Russians (or Muscovites), White (or Bielo-Russians) and Rusyns (or Ukrainian).

In the late 1800s and early 1900s political and economic tension triggered a wave of emigration from the Slavic nations to America. These hard working people came to form settlements in cities and neighborhoods, like Sugar Creek, where jobs and the American Dream welcomed their arrival. Today, millions of Americans trace their family heritage to the Slavic nations. Celebrations, like the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival, remind us of those roots and the sacrifices made by those who came before us seeking a better life.

"'2007 Festival"'

The 2007 Sugar Creek Slavic Festival will be held June 8th and 9th in Sugar Creek, Missouri. Scheduled entertainment includes Grammy Award Winner Brave Combo, Polka Hall of Fame member Don Lipovac, Ed Grisnik Orchestra, Sugar Creek Tamburitzans, Kolo Kids and the Sugar Creek Ethnic Dance Troupe. More information on the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival can be found online at www.slavicfest.com.

[http://www.slavicfest.com Sugar Creek Slavic Festival] [http://www.brave.com/bo Brave Combo]