Simply Slavic bringing marketplace and homemade food back to downtown Youngstown
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- Simply Slavic 2025 returns June 13–14 with food, music and cultural exhibits.
- Vendors will offer Slavic cuisine, folk art, pottery, baked goods and souvenirs.
- Heritage Tent features local-led displays on Slavic nations, languages and history.
The fourteenth annual summer celebration of Slavic culture and heritage is coming up, and organizers released the list of vendors and live music set to make this year’s event memorable.
On June 13 and June 14, head to downtown Youngstown for folk dance performances, homemade food from vendors and educational exhibits, all part of Simply Slavic 2025.
Admission to the Simply Slavic Festival is $5 per person; children 12 years old and under get in for free.
Dave Slanina is in charge of vendors for the fourteenth Simply Slavic Heritage Festival happening at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre.
“We want people to taste the flavors and hear the stories that bring our Slavic roots to life,” Slanina said. “Our food and marketplace vendors are bringing the very best from Poland, Slovakia, Serbia, and more.”
Simply Slavic starts at 5 p.m. on Friday; try chimney cakes called trdelník from Steel City Chimneys, a Pittsburgh-based food truck that tops grilled dough with a decadent sugar and walnut mix.
Youngstown’s Houseband is set to close out Friday night’s celebration with a live performance at 9:15 p.m. at the amphitheatre.
“Whether you come hungry, curious or both - you’re going to leave full of exposure to Slavic culture,” Slanina said.
The St. Nicholas Russian Dancers will perform a traditional Russian folk dance on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
All weekend long, get Serbian baklava from Balkan Bakery & Cafe, Polish comfort food from Babcia’s Lunchbox and ice cream from Hornyak’s Milkshakes.
Munch on pierogi from The Pierogi Lady and bring home a pierogi ornament that’s handfelted from Cute as a Dumpling in the marketplace.
Cataract Press will be selling Slavic mugs, t-shirts, magnets, embroidery and jewelry, and Kasia’s Polish Pottery is bringing authentic and eye-catching Bolesławiec Polish dishes.
Additional vendors, businesses and food trucks participating in the 2025 Simply Slavic festival include:
Amber Treasures
BROM (Alexander Brokhman)
Carol Novosel
- Chuck’s Roasted Meats
- Crago’s Concessions
- Doughlicious Bakery
Euro Haus/Little Europe
First Catholic Slovak Union
- Fredo’s Deli
- J&J Concession
- Krakus Polish Deli & Bakery
- OH Donut Co.
Peppermint Recordings
The Polish Arts Club of Youngstown
- Rimedio’s Bakery
- Sabi’s
Slovene National Benefit Society
SNPJ Heritage Center
- Sweet Sips
Loretta Ekoniak is the coordinator of the Heritage Tent, which will include a more in-depth exploration of Slavic traditions. Several booths will be set up explaining which nations in Europe represent the Slavic countries and regions.
“Our goal is to educate as much as we entertain,” Ekoniak said. “We want visitors to connect with their ancestry—or learn about one they never knew. These tents are built by local volunteers who take pride in sharing their culture with the world.”
The 2025 Heritage Tent displays include: Carpatho-Rusyn Territory, Croatia, Czechia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Learn about the nations’ flags, guides to languages and notable figures from Slavic history.
Simply Slavic started in 2011 as a way to celebrate Slavic heritage and show appreciation for all the Slavic roots in Youngstown.
Find more information on the Simply Slavic website.
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM.
