Heritage Day celebrated in Shenandoah
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SENTINEL PHOTO - A crowd roams the Heritage Day festival on North Main Street in Shenandoah on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
SHENANDOAH – Beginning with its Parade of Nations at 10:00am, Shenandoah celebrated Heritage Day Saturday with a festival along North Main Street.
Various ethnic foods and craft vendors lined the downtown thoroughfare throughout the afternoon as polka music was heard in the Veterans Memorial Garden, adjacent to the A.P. Damato Post.
New to this year’s event is an art show, featuring artistic works created by Shenandoah area residents.
In the parade, area residents represented their nationalities as they marched through downtown Shenandoah.
Countries represented in the parade included Slovakia, Poland, the Ukraine, Venezuela, Mexico, and Lithuania.
As part of the Lithuanian contingent, Charlie Vascavage, Shenandoah, pulled a wagon with pieces of the former St. George church.
The parade also included various musical contingents, including the high school marching bands from Shenandoah Valley and Nativity BVM, as well as a polka band and the Rajah Shriner’s string band. Shaina Graff also sang, standing on the Shenandoah float.
The parade was led by Shenandoah Police and a color guard from the A.P. Damato American Legion.
The parade made its way between stands on North Main Street, concluding at Main and Washington.
Stands in the festival included Huey’s, Bonnie Dogs, Mrs T’s Pierogies, the Shenandoah Valley Class of 2020, and the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society.
Members of the Class of 2020 also roamed the event, seeking donations for their class.
Along with the polka band, JT Thomas, Shenandoah, and Shaina Graff, Lost Creek, performed throughout the day.
The art show featured work from various Shenandoah area residents, including recent high school graduates, plus “special displays” such as reproductions of Leo Ploppert’s works. Four Sentinel photos were also displayed.
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