Visit Hungary in East Toledo

8/13/2004

"It's a wide open street festival," event chairman Barbara Lavender says of the open-air party, which takes place from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday on Consaul Street between Front and Caledonia streets.

Weekend highlights include:

w●The annual pre-festival Waiters' Race takes place at 7 p.m. tomorrow on Consaul Street. Wait staff teams from neighborhood taverns and nonprofit groups compete in a relay race, carrying beverages over a four-block course. The Rumpus Room/East Side Raiders have won the race four of the last five years.

w●Opening ceremonies start at noon Sunday at St. Stephen's Church, with the singing of the national anthems of the United States and Hungary, greetings from several elected officials, presentation of the Friend of the Birmingham Neighborhood Award, and a parade led by the Cardinal Stritch High School marching band.

w●Dancing and other performances are scheduled between 1 and 4 p.m. in three locations: the St. Stephen's/Hungarian Club lot, the Calvin United Church of Christ lot, and the V.F.W. Post 4906 lot. Dancing groups include Kodaly Ensemble of Toronto; Csipke Ensemble; Csaladi Ensemble; Echoes of Poland, and Rumblin' Rhythm Cloggers.

w●Uszturu Zenekar, a band that performs Hungarian and Transylvanian village music, will play at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Calvin United Church of Christ, and at 4 p.m. Sunday at the V.F.W. Post 4906.

The Birmingham Ethnic Festival runs from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday on Consaul Street between Front and Caledonia streets. Admission is free. Information: 419-837-6668.