McTaggert Irish Dancers, October 3, 1999. Photo: Elizabeth Mosby Adler

St. Andrew Orthodox Church (Ethnic Fair)

St. Andrew Orthodox Church's fair highlighting church members' ethnicity originated with a single Saturday Middle Eastern Luncheon and Crafts Fair in 1989. One hundred and twenty people attended this first luncheon. In 1992 and 1993, the Church held a Slavic Fair in the spring and a Middle Eastern Fair in the fall. These were combined as the Ethnic Fair in 1994, and the Ethnic Fair has been held every year since then.

In 1999, in its sixth year, the St. Andrew Orthodox Church's Ethnic Fair was held the weekend of October 1st and 2nd. It highlighted the mixed cultures of the church membership with food, music, and dance. Dolmathes, hummus, baklava, tabbouleh, and more was served -- all prepared by church members. Local musicians and dancers provided entertainment. The fair site sported a tent with a platform for dancing, chairs on the grass for the audience, a children's play area, picnic tables, grills and serving tables. Inside the church, the walls were decorated with ethnic decorations, and pastries were sold in the church basement. Visitors toured the sanctuary and learned about the architecture and history of the church, and choir concerts illustrated Eastern European and Middle Eastern Orthodox liturgical music.

The project is documented with 27 color snapshots, eight slides, a page on the St. Andrew Orthodox Church Ethnic Fair, and a 14-page essay on "Multicultural Diversity in the Inner Bluegrass," by Elizabeth Mosby Adler.

Originally submitted by: Ernie Fletcher, Representative (6th District).

More Local Legacies... Additional Kentucky Local Legacies Local Legacies for all U.S. States

The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

Learn More About It... MODS METS