On January 17th, the Ethnic Dance Theatre, in partnership with the Landmark Center held the first Carpathian Festival in the beautiful Landmark Center in Saint Paul. The participants could explore the folk dance, art, food and traditions of the Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Carpatho-Rusyns, Ukrainians, Romanians, Hungarians and Serbians that inhabit the Carpathian Mountain region.

Despite the extreme cold many people attended the event. The building was full of guests and performers in traditional costume. On the main stage dance ensembles of the ethnic groups represented, performed, then taught dances. This was the most popular program of the festival, along with craft activities for children and sample language lessons and presentations on culture and folklore. On the main floor all the groups showed a little piece of their country and culture. There was egg painting, traditional costume exhibit, crafts and ethnic foods.

The Hungarians were represented well. They held Rubik's cube demonstrations, offered crafts for kids and the dancers of Videki Hungarian Dancers presented folk dances and taught the audience some simple dances on the stage. In the afternoon the Golden-haired sheep was performed in two languages with the involvement of the public. Those attending who were interested in Hungarian culture could come with their questions to the Hungarian table to better understand our country. Photographer, Karoly Hezsely, had photographs of Budapest on sale. At the Carpathian Festival, the Hungarians were represented by the Honorary Consul of Minnesota and President of the Minnesota Hungarians, Csilla Grauzer, the Videki Hungarian Dance Ensemble and the MISI Hungarian School.

The main organizer of the event, Eva Kish, Managing Director of the Ethnic Dance Theatre, said that they were pleased that so many people visited the Festival as it was the first time for the event. “The day was successful, we learned a lot from our first attempt, and we would like to turn it into an annual event. We hope that more and more people will hear about it and come and learn about the beautiful cultures of the Carpathian Mountain region.

Update: Broadcasting from Minnesota - Minnesota Hungarians from the Carpathian Celebration (St.Paul | January 17,2016) - Five Continents, Duna World Channel (between 3:30 and 5:28 min)

http://www.mediaklikk.hu/video/ot-kontinens-2016-01-23-i-adas/