Don't miss this very important event. It only happens every 2 years. It's your chance to make a huge difference in the lives of Serbian children in orphanages and adults in mental institutions. Be a part of Lifeline's efforts that have made great progress in improving living conditions for so many. Great food, music, and entertainment are part of the program. Hope to see you all there! Order tickets now, or available at the door.

Details below:

Don't miss this lively Russian Festival in Goshen, Indiana. Your special invitation below is from Ludmila Chapman, who has been a Serb Fest vendor for many years (Ludmila's Russian Treasures). This is an opportunity to visit another Orthodox church parish and support their fundraising efforts. Call the church office 736-9191 if you need a ride.

With amazing energy, young guests from Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland enjoyed three nights of kolo dancing at St. Sava's Serb Fest 2012. Musical entertainment for dancing was provided by Orchestra Sumadija, Maestro, and DJ Spaz. See if you can keep up!

Save the date! Help support our friends in Lansing by attending this fun event filled with great Serbian food, music, and dancing.

St. Sava Church parishioners celebrated 97 glorious years on Sunday, November13 at St. Elijah's Hall, where we were treated to a fantastic meal. Srbadija Folklore dancers proudly  performed lively traditional Serbian dances. Alex Djordjevic recited the long, difficult poem "Ratsko" enhanced by the vocals of singers Maja Radjenovich, Rachel Gerbick, and Savka Popovich, accompanied and instructed by Joanne Samardzija. Several children recited poetry and read short historical stories presented in both Serbian and English languages, reassuring us of a future generation of church leaders. This extended program was a surprise to many of us, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Many Thanks to the children and parents who encourage them!

Keynote speaker Ljubisa Milicich gave an entertaining reflection of growing up among us in the Gary church, also reminding us of the reason we need to re-connect with the homeland. Executive Board president Dennis Svilar presented Ljubisa with a commemorate plaque to mark the occasion.

Where do they get the energy? Not a single pair of opanke was spotted in this young crowd, but you'll see some great dance moves. Young adults and teens from all over the Midwest came to St. Sava's annual Serbian Festival to meet up with old friends and make new ones. Music all three nights was provided by "DJ Spaz" and "Nocna Smena".

Srbadija Folklore Groups - Pee Wee, Junior, and Senior - performed for the crowd at Serb Fest on Saturday, August 6th. Some of these children even worked the food line, kitchen, and Sunday School tent during the weekend. We applaud them for dressing and performing in full costume in 90 degree heat. Still don't know where they get their energy! Their instructor is Nenad Nikolic. Thanks to all the groups for sharing an important part of our Serbian Culture with the northwest Indiana community.

DJ Spaz will entertain the dancers this Sunday on the patio, starting at 6:00 p.m., ending at 10:00 p.m. There's always lots of food available. This is a great way to spend an otherwise boring Sunday evening. Bring a friend.

Do you really think you can keep Serbs from celebrating? The food kept coming, the bar kept serving, and we got just a little wet early Sunday evening.  Grilling volunteers used their strengths to hold down tents. Mother Nature can't ruin our fun! We won't be inviting her next year. Seriously, "Ako Bog Da", we'll have a new Four Seasons Building built in time for next year's Serb Fest, so rain will never again be a problem. Borka Grimsgard, always a good sport, looked lovely in her fashionable rain bonnet.

Our sincere THANKS to everyone who visited our Serb Fest celebration this past weekend. We hope you enjoyed all the traditional food offerings and all the talented orchestras that performed non-stop music. Our culture is worth celebrating and very contagious!

Our folklore dance groups are fun to watch and remind us of how important it is to keep these traditions alive. The youth dance tent was filled with hundreds of teens and young adults dancing and singing the night away. It warms your heart to know that they still feel a connection and passion for our music and traditions.

"Tamburitza Spectacular", an exhibit of vintage string instruments was viewed by many, and may have inspired some future tamburasi, the brotherhood of musicians who seem to have a special bond and love for the music of the southern Slavs.

Once again, our sincere thanks to everyone who came to dine, enjoy the music, purchased baked goods, bought raffle tickets, sponsored our golf outing, and supported our main fund raiser. Please check back daily for many videos and photos from Serb Fest 2011, and always check the "Events" listing to see what's happening at St. Sava and other churches.

This video by Mike Paunovich is just a small sampling of the weekend events.

Today's hours are from Noon to 9:00 p.m., so this is your last chance to enjoy the food, music, and fun. Be sure to visit the Tamburitza Spectacular historical exhibit in the north wing. Tonight's highlight will be the BIG CASH RAFFLE Drawing for several prizes, including the $25,000 Grand Prize, plus the Smithsonian Prima made by Milan Opacich.

Pictured above are veteran tamburasi George Tatalovich, Wally Pravica, and Milan Opacich in the Serbian Historical Society's exhibit "Tambura Spectacular!"

Lucky Gordon Gerbick would like to sell you that winning raffle ticket, so what's his secret?.....Must be that hat!

New hours:

FRIDAY 4 - Midnight

SATURDAY - Noon to Midnight

SUNDAY - Noon to 9 pm

Just in time to get you in the mood for Serb Fest, Jay Leno kicks it off with guest Super Serb Novak Djokovich on Tuesday's Tonight Show. Novak Djokovich has been a positive representative and role model for all Serbs, and Jay Leno has taken a liking to our World Champion Tennis Player. Who would have imagined Serbian kolo dancing on the Tonight Show.........maybe Kolo Dancing with the Stars is in the near future?

This is your invitation to a memorable 3 day weekend of non-stop Serbian music, great food, dancing, and a whole lot of culture! Bring the family, co-workers, and friends to enjoy the sights and sounds of old country traditions. Take a few minutes to visit "Tambura Spectacular", a free exhibit of Milan Opacich's personal collection of 60 vintage tamburitza string instruments, photos, sheet music, and artifacts. Children will  enjoy amusements on Saturday and Sunday. You can golf with your Serbian friends Friday. BIG CASH RAFFLE TICKETS will be sold for the $25,000 cash prize!  Everyone's welcome!

Please copy and share the link below to this commercial with friends by email or facebook.

http://youtu.be/3CYaa5g4KQU                                Hope to see you there!

NOCNA SMENA is the featured entertainment for this Sunday night. Cevap Pita Pockets, Krofne, and cool drinks will be available for purchase. Plan a relaxing night among friends before next weekend's Serb Fest.

Join us for music and dancing outdoors and under the stars!

Sunday Evening July 17, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church

9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville

Featuring music by:

DJ SPAZ

FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE for purchase.

Sunday Nights don't have to be boring any more!

Photos from last Sunday night with Nocna Smena:

This Father's Day weekend will be full of activities supporting the New Gracanica Diocese Annual Golf Outing, hosted by St. Elijah Cathedral in Merrillville. After golfing, enjoy great food, music, and dancing at the church hall. Hope to see you there!

FREE PARKING

FEATURING BBQ LAMB, ATHENIAN CHICKEN, PASTICHO, GYROS, SOUVLAKIA, GREEK SALAD, SPANAKOPITA, TIROPITA, PASTRIES, GREEK WINE & BEER, AND OTHER DELIGHTFUL TREATS.

DINE IN / CARRY-OUT

50/50 RAFFLE

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS EVENT, CALL

(219) 462-4052

After 2pm (219) 241-2422

GREEKFEST.BIZ

Enjoy the sights and sounds from this year's Serb Fest. Join us next year as we host another fun weekend. Thanks to "Prazna Flasa" for providing background music.

No wonder the food was so good.

Leave it to this group to make work so much fun that you'll want to work the food tent next year. They serve.......they sing.......they dance........who knew?

Three choirs from Merrillville and South Bend decided to join together and perform for this year's "One Love Serbian Song" Festival in Chicago during Memorial Day weekend. They had so much fun practicing and performing together, so they decided to stay together and continue performing as a group. The  dining crowd at St. Sava's Serb Fest was treated to a casual performance. Milan Medich directs, and Nick Sever, Steve Baroevich, Dan Orlich, and Mike Jaksich have all volunteered their time for this choir. Many new friendships have resulted from this effort. Membership is open. Contact your church choir director for details.

In spite of the intense heat, all 3 folklore groups entertained the crowd in full costume on Serb Fest Saturday. Several dancers were missing because of family vacations planned, and they had no formal practice all summer. Thanks to all the dancers for a great show and special treat!

Our sincere Thanks and appreciation are extended to everyone who visited this year's Serb Fest. It was our pleasure to serve you. We hope you had a great time and enjoyed the Serbian food, entertainment, and live music. Your support will help fund future improvements and building on our church property.

Check back daily for photos, videos, and a listing of our golf sponsors, all local businesses that need our support.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! ZIVELI!

Serb Fest Sunday will be full of non - stop music, dancing, and great food: cevaps, lamb, pig, raznicici, palachinke, and strudel. All this with a background of wonderful live Serbian music. You can even dance off those calories and start all over again. At 5:00 pm, the combined choirs of St. Sava and St. Elijah in Merrillville along with St. Peter & Paul from South Bend will perform a medley of Serbian Folk Songs, accompanied by tamburitza musicians. You won't want to miss this performance. Visit the historical exhibit in the north wing, featuring the Serbian Sisters Circle and Serbs in Sports. Bring the kids, there are plenty of activities for all age groups. Sunday Hours: Noon to 10 pm.

BIG CASH RAFFLE TICKETS can be purchased for the $25,000 Grand Prize, Total $50,000 Pay Out Raffle. Purchase tickets from any church member or at the food ticket tents for $100. We're very happy to see that Lucky Gordon Gerbick broke out of the hospital just in time to sell you a winning ticket wearing his lucky hat. Pictured below are National Treasures Gordon Gerbick and his buddy Milan Opacich. Visit Milan today in the north wing exhibit room (museum).

Saturday hours are from noon to midnight, so come spend a few hours relaxing with us. Enjoy live Serbian music and come hungry, we're well prepared to offer up some great Serbian specialties. There's something new this year: St. Sava Folklore Group 'Srbadija' will perform traditional dances in full costume at 5:00 pm. Church Tours schedule will be announced. The Serbian Bakery has  palachinke, strudels, and assorted pastries to satisfy your sweet tooth. Exhibits honoring our hard - working Serbian Sisters Circle (Kolo),  Serbian athletes, Mile Kosanovich, Karl Malden, and our music can be seen in the North Wing from noon to 10 pm. Please join us, everyone's welcome!

Little Lukie Hayden accompanied "Prazna Flasa" Friday and received his first $1 tip. The boys in the band want him to join them, but he'll just start his own band Prazna Drink Box. Just wait til you see the video!

Get ready for the main event: SERB FEST 2010. Find your dancing shoes and cameras, and start dreaming about cevaps, raznici, lamb, and palachinke. Bring all your non-Serb friends to this great celebration of culture. Golf foursomes and sponsorships still available. Check back daily for event info. Everyone is welcome!

SERB FEST HOURS

FRIDAY, NOON TO MIDNIGHT

SATURDAY, NOON TO MIDNIGHT

SUNDAY, NOON TO 10 PM

Get ready for the MAIN EVENT: SERB FEST 2010. Let's use our social networking tools to help get the word out. Simply copy this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83YFYOfB230

to an email or post to your Facebook videos to help get the word out. Invite all your friends and family for a weekend of great food, music, dancing, and Serbian culture. Welcome to Serb Fest 2010!

Enjoy the slide show video from last week's Serb Fest 2009. In a few days, check back to see the slide show video from this year's exhibit presented by the Serbian Historical Society. Thanks to Milan Opacich for sharing background music from the "ZORA Tamburitza from Old Gary" CD.

At the re-dedication of the WWII Memorial Monument in early June, several Veterans were in attendance. One Veteran, George Tatalovich, thoroughly enjoyed the day. Play the video about the monument re - dedication in the videos section on the right, and you'll see an "animated" George pointing to his name listed on the monument.  The music fits his personality. He was spotted at this year's Serb Fest with his family.

Enjoy the pictures from this year's wonderful Serb Fest. Beautiful weather and non-stop music provided the perfect background for a great weekend.

Yes, Serb Fest now has a commercial!

Send this to all your Serbian friends and relatives, to friends who know Serbs, and to those who wish they were Serbs...........That's just about everyone, isn't it?

• To send this blog:

• Click on the blog title (permanent link)

• Copy the URL, paste it an email, and send to to all your friends.

Be sure to attend St. Elijah's Serb Fest July 17, 18, and 19. Come for the delicious Serbian food and baked goods, dancing, and relax while you enjoy fantastic Serbian music. St. Elijah Cathedral is located at 8700 Taft Street, Merrillville.  Sign-up and details for the Saturday Golf Outing are below.

The Brkich triplets will perform at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19th. You won't want to miss this special event!

Father Aleksandar Novakovic
&
The Executive Board President Nick Beader
Would like to invite YOU to participate at our annual

GOLF OUTING
On Saturday, July 18 at
St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
8700 Taft, Merrillville, IN 46410

Our SerbFest GOLF OUTING will be held
at Summertree Golf Course in Merrillville

For details and to sign up call
Nick Beader (219-405-2175) or Pete Grubnich (219-663-1558)

Re-live the fun at this year's Serb Fest, Northwest Indiana's best ethnic festival. If you missed this year's event, visit us next year, always the first weekend in August. This annual fund raiser will help build facilities for future festivals and events on the Church grounds in Merrillville. Serb Fest is staffed by dedicated volunteers of all ages. The first day is always kicked off with the Golf Classic, followed by a Serbian Buffet, and the evening is filled with music, dancing, and of course, more great Serbian food. This 3-day event includes a Big Cash Raffle with a $25,000 Grand Prize, many live bands, and a Cultural Exhibit. Serb Fest Menu includes BBQ Lamb, Cevaps, Raznici, Sarma, Chicken, Palachinke, Krofne, Nut Rolls, Strudels of many flavors, and the fabulous Serbian Bakery! See you next year! Watch all 3 Slide shows below.

Helpful Hint: You can double-click on the arrow, go directly to YouTube, RE-START, and click on HIGH QUALITY for a better picture.