YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Simply Slavic Festival is returning to the streets of Downtown Youngstown on June 17 and 18.

The Simply Slavic Festival began in 2011 to educate both the region's large number of Slavic descendants and the community at large about Slavic heritage.

The event features live music, folk dance performances, homemade food, educational exhibits and ethnic vendors.

During the past two years, the festival pivoted to an all-virtual festival. And while it hasn't been easy the festival still connected communities from Northeast Ohio and Wester Pennsylvania to the Slavic countries and beyond.

Additionally, during the past two years, Simply Slavic has awarded three scholarships to students, produces a series of online educational videos with local artists and historians and made a dynamic outreach video for the festival.

Now, Simply Slavic is reaching out the the community for support, as creating a festival like this costs over $50,000 per year, and these costs are increasing now.

Tax-deductible donations will support the festival and the Simply Slavic organization impacting its scholarship offerings, programming and affordability to patrons to connect at Simply Slavic.