Romanian Heritage Festival

This post documents my experience on August 29, 2010.

On the way back from the Great Trail Festival, I decided to stop in Canton for dinner. And what a better place to stop than at…

…St. George Cathedral Romanian Heritage Festival.

Sure, I just went to a Romanian festival last week at St. Mary’s in Cleveland, but this time, I had a better idea of what to eat.

Being only the second heritage festival at St. George’s, it really wasn’t that big in size.

The children’s activities in the alcove…

…were my first indication that it was a small festival.

But they did have some interesting activities…

…like getting your picture in Romanian clothes for $5.

And there were bands inside and out…

…with plenty of dancing.

Plus there was the church to check out…

…with its beautiful artwork…

…statues and stained glass.

Unfortunately, I did end up missing a tour of a second church on the property, St. Panteleimon. Built in Romania in 1999 to replicate 14th to 17th century Maramures churches, it was donated to the Romanian Catholic Diocese of Canton and reconstructed at St. George’s.

But part of the reason for overlooking this church…

…was the hunger that brought me to the food line.

On their menu were similar items to St. Mary’s…mititei (sausage made from pork and beef), sarmale (cabbage rolls), and mamaliga (polenta with cheese)…

…but this festival had a $9.50 sampler plate with everything I wanted. There were also some wonderful bread and a tomato-cucumber salad.

I sat at a table and listened to the Romanian band, chatting occasionally with two woman seated there. They ended up getting the same dish that I did. And why wouldn’t they? It was perfect!

With my plate eventually clean, I realized how full I was…