A taste of Gyanta …
Returning to the festival next week is Gyanta Ensemble from Montreal-Toronto, who have performed at the festival a number of years. A taste …
For additional info on the ensemble, check out its website …
A taste of Csárdás
Among the many dance groups that will be performing next weekend is Csárdás from Cleveland.
A taste of what you can expect …
For more information about the dance group, check out Facebook …
Birmingham Ethnic Festival offers food and fun this month
| Written by Melissa Burden |
| Thursday, 11 August 2011 13:36 |
| East Toledo and Oregon are the places to be in August as tens of thousands of people converge on the area to celebrate Hungarian, German and Swiss cultures.The 37th Annual Birmingham Ethnic Festival has been expanded this year. The popular festival, held on Consaul St., will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 2-10 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 21, from 12-9 p.m.
Of course, those in the know understand the “Fest” really begins with the VFW Post 4906 Fish Fry on Friday, Aug. 19. The post, located at Consaul and Caledonia Streets, will serve Lake Erie Perch, frog legs and shrimp. On Saturday, Calvin United Church of Christ, located at the corner of Consaul and Bakewell Streets, will hold a celebration of Hungarian Folk Dance from 5-10 p.m. Admission is free and food, live music and a cash bar will all be available. At the St. Stephen’s lot, there will be beer, food and music by Tru Brew from 5:30-10p.m. Don’t forget to cheer for your favorite team during the 15th Annual Waiter’s Race which will begin at 7p.m. on Consaul St. Spectators can watch as teams from several neighborhood organizations compete in a relay race up and down Consaul Street carrying trays of four glasses of beer. Last year, the team from the Hungarian Club won the race while spilling the least amount of beer. Other teams scheduled to compete are Tony Packo’s, VFW Post 4906, Ironworkers Local 55, and the Rumpus Room. The festival will also feature a special children’s craft area on Saturday from 2-5 p.m. in the Calvin United Church lot at Consaul and Bakewell. In keeping with tradition, Opening Ceremonies will be held Sunday at 12 p.m. at St. Stephen’s. “Shout,” a Beatles Tribute Band, will be playing from 5-9 p.m. Of course, it would not be the Birmingham Fest without Hungarian food being served. St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, the Hungarian Club of Toledo, and Calvin United Church of Christ will feature their famous chicken paprikas and kolbasz dinners. Hungarian pastries, paprikas noodles and gravy, kolbasz sandwiches, stuffed cabbages, and szallona sutes, otherwise known as Hunky Turkey, will also be available. This year, The Marine Corps League will feature Mexican foods, along with hot dogs, sausage sandwiches and corn-on-the-cob. VFW Post 4906 will be serving Shishkabob, pigs-in-the-blankets, sausage dogs, and szallona sutes. Michael Csizek, Birmingham Festival co-chairman and president of the Hungarian Club of Toledo, said the festival was expanded because of popular demand. “The Waiter’s Race keeps getting bigger and bigger each year,” Csizek said. “We had so many people watching the race and they were hungry and thirsty so we decided to begin on Saturday.” The festival has also become more family friendly with the addition of the children’s craft area on Saturday, Csizek said adding festival goers do not need to be Hungarian to enjoy the event. “The real reason to come to the festival is the food,” he said. “Nobody else in Toledo has Hunky Turkey. It is hard to describe but once you taste it you will want more.” For those who have never had Hunky Turkey, it is bacon grease dripped onto bread and topped with vegetables. Worried? Take an aspirin and just enjoy the experience. Tim Andrassy, book committee chair, said the festival highlights several cultures, not just the Hungarian culture. “There are numerous cultures in Toledo so we highlight that,” Andrassy said. “The Birmingham neighborhood is turning 120 years old so we are dedicating the guide to that. It really is just a great time with family, friends and food.” |
Festival Memories
What’s your favorite thing about the Festival? What are you most looking forward to this year? What’s your favorite memory of Festivals past? Leave comments below!
Waiter’s Race
JOIN US FOR THE 16TH ANNUAL
WAITER’S RACE on Saturday @ 7PM
One of the most popular events of the Birmingham Ethnic Festival weekend is the Annual Waiter’s Race, which is held on the Saturday evening of the Festival weekend. Teams from the neighborhood organizations compete in a relay race up and down Consaul Street.
Participants race down the street carrying a tray and four glasses of beer. They must try to win the race and not spill the beer. The winner is announced at the Festival’s opening ceremonies Sunday by our own Waiter’s Race judge, the Honorable Amy Berling. Thank you Judge Berling for being with us since the first year!
The 2010 winners were the team from the Hungarian Club. This makes six in a row for the club. We have seven other teams that want to stop that winning streak. These teams include Tony Packo’s, VFW Post 4906, Ironworkers Local 55, and the Rumpus Room. Please come out and cheer for your favorite team! You will have a great time! This year’s race begins on the VFW end of Consaul Street.
Waiter’s Race past champions
1996 – Rumpus Room
1997 - Knights of Columbus
1998 – Tony Packo’s Restaurant
1999 – Rumpus Room/East Side Raiders
2000 – Consaul Tavern
2001 – Rumpus Room/East Side Raiders
2002 – Rumpus Room/East Side Raiders
2003 – Rumpus Room/East Side Raiders
2004 – Rumpus Room/East Side Raiders
2005 – Hungarian Club
2006 – Hungarian Club
2007 – Hungarian Club
2008 – Hungarian Club
2009 – Hungarian Club
2010 – Hungarian Club
Come out and watch the Hungarian Club try to defend their title! We’ll see you in Birmingham Saturday night!
Festival Map
Annual VFW 4906 Friday night fish fry
Friday night is really the unofficial kickoff of the annual Birmingham Ethnic Festival, and as always, the VFW Post 4906 hosts its annual fish fry.
On the menu: Lake Erie perch, frog legs, and shrimp.
The VFW post is located on 2161 Consaul Street at Caledonia. Call 419-698-4411.
Festival Schedule – Opening Ceremonies
Although the schedule is expanding a little this year, Opening Ceremonies will still be held on the steps of Saint Stephen’s Church at 12 noon on Sunday, August 21.
- Posting of the colors by VFW Post 4906
- American National Anthem sung by Elaine Schwind
- Hungarian National Anthem sung by Betsy and Suzy Ujvagi
- Welcome and opening remarks by Peter Ujvagi
- Introduction of special guests
- Tribute to the Birmingham neighborhood
- Presentation of the Friend of the Birmingham Neighborhood Award
- Award presented to the 16th annual Waiter’s Race winning team
Please join us in recognizing the people who have made Birmingham a great place to live this year, the 36 before it, and for future generations!
Festival Entertainment Schedule – Sunday
Calvin United Church lot
1pm Szikra Citera Egyuttes
1:30pm Kis Szivek
2pm Csárdás Dance Company
2:30pm Kodaly Ensemble of Toronto
3pm Echoes of Poland
3:30pm Rumblin’ Rhythm Cloggers
5 PM The Bridges
St. Stephen’s lot
1pm Rumblin’ Rhythm Cloggers
1:30pm Kodaly Ensemble of Toronto
2pm Gyanta Ensemble
2:30pm Ballet Folklorico Imagenes Mexicana
3pm Szikra Citera Egyuttes
3:30pm Kis Szivek
4pm Echoes of Poland
5-10pm Shout! Beatles Tribute Band
VFW 4906 lot
1pm Ballet Folklorico Imagenes Mexicanas
1:30pm Echoes of Poland
2pm Szikra Citera Egyuttes
2:30pm Kis Szivek
3pm Csárdás Dance Company
3:30pm Kodaly Ensemble of Toronto
4 – 6pm Gyanta Ensemble
*Subject to change
Festival Schedule of Events – Saturday
Besides all the events that will be happening on Consaul Street on Sunday, we’ll have other events going throughout the weekend, as well!
Calvin United Church of Christ (Consaul and Bakewell)
Time: 2 – 5 PM – Special Children’s Craft Area
Cost: $3.00 per child
Join us as we create unique Hungarian folk crafts.
Time: 4 PM Learn childrens Folkdance
Enjoy fun crafts! Child friendly food available along with Hungarian specialties.
*Child must be accompanied by an Adult.
Time: 5-10 PM
Enjoy a celebration of Hungarian Folk Dance and music at Folklor Táncház! Admission is free and there will be food, live music and cash bar.
Saint Stephen’s Church (Consaul and Genesee)
Time: 4:30 PM
Mass
Time: 5:30-10 PM
Food, beer and music by Tru Brew
VFW Post 4906 (Caledonia and Consaul)
Time: 6 PM
Waiters Race will begin on the VFW end of Consaul Street this year. Come down for a great race, and stay for a great time!
