Lake Forest Festival Celebrates Serbian Heritage with Food, Music, and Fundraising
LAKE FOREST, IL – A vibrant celebration of Serbian culture unfolded Saturday as Lake Forest hosted its annual festival, drawing attendees with traditional cuisine, music, and a commitment to supporting both local and international humanitarian efforts. The event, a cornerstone of the community, showcased the rich traditions of Serbia and the broader Balkan region.
The festival served as a fundraiser for the host church’s operations, ministries, and a range of charitable organizations. Proceeds will benefit groups including Feed My Starving Children, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministries, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Our Serbs, and Lifeline Humanitarian Association. Attendees enjoyed a menu featuring slowly roasted organic pork and lamb, cevapchiche (char-grilled ground beef and pork sausages), pork shish kabob skewers, pleskavica (a Serbian-style spicy beef and pork patty with peppers and onions), and traditional stuffed cabbage rolls, all prepared by church volunteers like gabe Popovic.
“Performing these songs is pure joy – it’s music from Serbia and Macedonia and all across the Balkans, music that was sung in the villages of our ancestors,” said Ordana Trbuhovich, a member of the Seoske Dame singing group, who performed at the event. The festival’s appeal extended beyond the Serbian community, with attendees like Dawn Buglio of Libertyville praising the welcoming atmosphere and preservation of cultural heritage.
“These are welcoming people, a gorgeous culture inspired by ancient music and dance, and it’s good to see them keeping their heritage alive,” Buglio said. The annual festival provides a vital link for the local Serbian community to connect with its roots and share its traditions with a wider audience.