Village Returns to Renzie After COVID-19 Hiatus

• Eagerly anticipated event will be slightly smaller
• Some groups taking year off to ‘rebuild’

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams
The Tube City Almanac
August 03, 2021
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Weather permitting, Tube City Online will broadcast live entertainment from International Village on Facebook and YouTube, and at our home page, www.tubecityonline.com. Coverage will begin each day at 5 p.m.

International Village, a three-day festival of traditional ethnic food, music and dancing, returns to McKeesport’s Renziehausen Park Aug. 10–12 after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some ethnic groups have elected not to participate after being unable to practice for health and safety reasons. (Tube City Almanac file photo by Denise L. Ritter)

When it’s 3:01 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, longtime International Village emcee Mikey Dee knows where he’ll be — Renziehausen Park in McKeesport — and how he expects to feel.

“That’s when I’ll feel like we’re getting back to some kind of normal,” he said –- the minute after the ethnic celebration of traditional food, music and entertainment kicks off after a year’s hiatus because of COVID-19.

“I love the crowds. I love the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the Village. I’m a big, traditional guy,” he said.

Dee said he’s been involved with International Village since 1990. In addition to his emcee duties, which he’s splitting with stage manager Patrick Fisher so he can perform with his own group Wednesday, Aug. 12 in the Jakomas Blue Top Pavilion, he’s the entertainment coordinator.

When some of the usual performers, especially the groups, indicated they felt they could not return this year, the decision was made not to hire outside entertainment.

“Some of them had not been able to practice for more than a year,” he said, because of restrictions on the number who could gather indoors during the pandemic.

In the past, Dee explained, each participating food booth was required to provide entertainment, but that was waived this year.

“We have no expectations this year,” he said. “For some, especially among the dance groups, it is a rebuilding year.”

Dee said he, like others who even plan their vacations around the Village, is looking forward to seeing familiar faces and eating some delicious, traditional food such as the lamb sandwiches and various pastries available at the booths.

International Village got its start back in 1960 as part of McKeesport’s Old Home Week. The following year, it became its own festival and has continued to grow to a highly popular three-day midweek summer gathering that can attract up to 20,000 people.

Dates this year are Aug. 10 through Aug. 12 from 3 to 9 p.m. in Renziehausen Park. Admission is $2 at the gate.

Mayor Michael Cherepko is among those counting down the days until he has another opportunity to showcase the city.

“As mayor of the City of McKeesport, I’m thrilled to welcome guests from across the region (and beyond) back to the beautiful Renzie Park for our community’s signature event, International Village,” the mayor said.

“As always, the Village will be an opportunity for our local churches and community groups to share their favorite foods and their heritage with all of us. This tradition was greatly missed last year, and I couldn’t be happier to host it once again,” he said.

Cherepko thanked participating organizations for coming together to bring back International Village, and assured those who needed to take another year off that they’ll be more than welcome again in 2022.

The Polish group is one of the charter organizations dating back to 1960 that opted not to participate this year, but expects to return.

“Even in a normal year, it’s preparing a lot of homemade food,” representative Sharon Kish said. “We just could not get enough volunteers. It takes about two weeks of constant preparations, working in close quarters, and most of our volunteers are up in age. We’re hoping and planning a return for next year.”

Their usual entertainment counterpart is the Lajkoniki Polish dancers, who Kish said aren’t performing because they couldn’t get together to practice.

The Trafford Junior Tamburitzans, in addition to trying to overcome practice restrictions, lost their 20-some year rehearsal space in a church when officials decided they would no longer accept outside groups.

Representative Alan Paris said the group already is planning a Village return next year during its 50th anniversary season, which kicks off in September.

“Last fall, we tried a mini-session with about half the dancers working out outside in a park,” Paris said. “Then we found out the church was not opening back up to groups,” even when Covid restrictions were lifted. “So we had to scramble and come up with a backup plan now.”

He said with tentative plans to continue to participate in International Village, the group then found out several of the families who generally go above and beyond -- as entertainers and working the food booth -- were going to be on vacation that week. That’s when the final decision was made to sit out the event.

“As with all of our city events, International Village is nothing without its many volunteers,” Cherepko said. “From those who dedicate their time and talents by preparing food and entertaining these crowds year after year, to our committee and the volunteers who staff the gates, every person plays a huge role in this event’s success.”

International Village coordinator Dan Carr said adjustments have been made in various areas to allow the festival to return.

“We have opened up the circle area to allow for more future expansion areas and more food vendors next year,” he said. “We are also expanding the eating areas to better serve those who wish to continue to social distance. We are not requiring masks to be worn, but we encourage all to follow CDC guidelines.”

He said attendees will notice improvements in the walking areas, which now are paved. And although some groups and booths are not able to participate, he pointed out there will be continuous ethnic entertainment from the main stage, along with live entertainment each night at the Jakomas Blue Top Pavilion.

Those planning to go will be able to enjoy plenty of the ethnic dishes they love and look forward to each year.

Entrees and side dishes include lamb and Serbian sausage sandwiches, special rice bowls, vegetable spring rolls (lumpiang gulay), teriyaki grilled chicken, sarma (stuffed cabbage), Croatian potato salad, pierogis, gyros, Greek lemon soup, spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, spinach and meat pies, and other favorites representing many countries and cultures.

Attendees young and old with a penchant for sweets can sample a variety of desserts and goodies, including bakalava, funnel cakes with fruit or chocolate, fudge, lady locks, palacinka and krofne.

“We will still bring as much of the traditional International Village experience to the public as possible, and continually make necessary changes for improvement,” Carr said. “The International Village committee, staff, volunteers, and vendors are very much looking forward to seeing everyone.”
 

Bonnijean Cooney Adams is a freelance contributor. She can be reached at adamsclick@aol.com.

Originally published August 03, 2021.

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