Troika Russian Festival

Troika Russian Festival

Sean Connery may not be around, but for the fifth year, the people at the Church of the Nativity will help the community get a visit from Russia, with love. The Troika Russian Festival will settle down for three days starting May 23 to help give the area a taste of the Eurasian nation's culture.

To help celebrate the popular festival, local musician Stephen Trohoske has helped create a marriage of European and American artists in a new twist for the event. A list of local performers that includes Trohoske, bassist extraordinaire Tony Grey, vocalist Elly Vahey, Erie Philharmonic violinist Louis Nicolia, and numerous others will perform a variety of Russian tunes in English, ranging from pop standards from the '60s, '70s, '80s to Russian new wave. The Barynya Dancers, centered in New York City and hailing from all over Eastern Europe, will return to Troika as well to help provide even more punch – or 'kick,' in this instance – to the event.

"It's a small neighborhood festival that seems to have so much heart," Trohoske says. "I talked to a lot of people that tell me it feels like the kickoff to summer. They know that they can stop down for the vodka bar, the chicken Kiev, the people, the music, the sounds, seeing the sun hit off the Russian church and illuminate… it feels special."

Instead of purchasing a plane ticket and rushing over half the globe, make the leisurely trek to the north end of German Street for a trip to Troika and learn for yourself, just why people love the Russian Fest. 

4 to 10 p.m. Friday May 23, 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 24, and 12 to 10 p.m. Sunday May 25 // 109 German St. // facebook.com/TroikaFestival