Sep 13, 2013 2 min read

So many people are swamped with Christmas preparations in the month or so before Dec. 25 that a Slovak organization is once again getting a jump on the season.

The National Slovak Society, 351 Valley Brook Road, McMurray, plans its second annual Christmas in September festival for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

New this year will be a chance to meet “Roxy,” the Slovensky cuvac ,cpronounced chew-vutch, an indigenous Slovak dog breed that is rare in the United States. The pale, thick-coated canine is used in the mountains of Slovakia as a livestock guard dog. Roxy’s owners brought her to this area from Atlanta, Ga.

No festival would be complete without food, so the organizers will offer a sampling of Slovak delicacies including traditional Christmas mushroom soup and bobalky, small biscuits mixed with poppy seed or sauerkraut.

Festivalgoers will be able to learn the craft of Slovak paper cutting, making simple ornaments for the tree or to give as gifts, and baking oplatky, the Christmas host, as well as learn about traditions leading up to the Christmas holidays. The Junior Pittsburgh Slovakians dance troupe will perform. At the festival there will be a jarmok, or flea market, where a variety of Slovak items will be available.

The Slovak Heritage Museum, which features a new display of Slovak folk instruments, will be open.

“If you crave the nostalgia of holidays past, or want to learn more about Slovak Christmas traditions, come to the National Slovak Society’s Christmas in September,” said Sue Ondrejco, museum curator and festival coordinator.

The Valley Brook Road intersection with Route 19 has been closed since May, but Valley Brook Road is open at East McMurray Road to access the National Slovak Society.

For more information or directions, call 1 -800-488-1890 or email smosr@verizon.net.