On Saturday and Sunday, June 28–29, 2025, the courtyard of the Holy Trinity Parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA on State Road, 9672, will be filled with the aromas of freshly baked pierogis, the sounds of folk melodies, and the warmth of the Ukrainian soul. The annual Ukrainian Festival, known as "Pierogi Fest," returns to North Royalton, offering not only culinary masterpieces but also a powerful testimony to the resilience of the Ukrainian diaspora in Ohio. Against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the economic revival of Cleveland, this festival is more than just a cultural celebration — it is an anthem of solidarity, faith, and the unbreakable spirit of a community preserving traditions thousands of kilometers from their homeland.
A Taste of Ukraine in the Heart of Ohio
Located in the suburbs of Cleveland, the Holy Trinity Parish, which belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA under the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is a spiritual center for the Ukrainian community of Cuyahoga County. The festival, which attracts up to 10,000 visitors annually, according to the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, transforms the church courtyard into a lively cultural hub. Visitors can taste pierogis with fillings ranging from traditional potato and cheese to exotic cherry and blueberry, which, according to organizers, are a rare feature among Ukrainian festivals. “It’s not just food,” says Maria Kovalchuk, a parish volunteer who has been preparing pierogis for the festival for 15 years. “Each pierogi is a small story about our culture, our struggle, and our joy.”
The culinary offerings are not limited to pierogis. Guests will enjoy cabbage rolls, borscht, and varenyky prepared according to recipes passed down through generations. The grill pavilion will offer sausages and shashlik, and the tent with baked goods from the Ukrainian Cultural Association of Ohio will feature honey cakes and cottage cheese pancakes. Wine tastings from local winemakers Little Italy Wines will add to the festive mood, and children will have rides and attractions, including a climbing wall and pysanky (Easter egg decorating) workshops, which, according to organizers, raised $4,000 in 2024 for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Cultural Mosaic and Spiritual Unity
The festival is not only a gastronomic celebration but also a cultural extravaganza. Following the signing by President Zelensky in August 2024 of a law banning the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Holy Trinity Parish, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has become a symbol of spiritual independence. Volunteers will sell embroidered shirts (vyshyvankas) and blue-yellow ribbons, and all proceeds from the auction, where two embroidered costumes will be raffled, will go to humanitarian aid for refugees from Eastern Ukraine via the UOC USA mission. “We are not just celebrating,” says Nataliya Orishkevych, vice president of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio. “We are showing that Ukraine is alive in our hearts.”
Context and Challenges
The festival takes place at a time when Cleveland is experiencing a cultural and economic revival. Just a month before the event, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport celebrated its 100th anniversary with a display of World War II aircraft, and next door in Brook Park, construction of the new Cleveland Browns stadium is underway. However, the region is not immune to challenges: the recent plane crash in Houlton and FBI warnings about Scattered Spider cyberattacks on the aviation industry serve as reminders of community vulnerability. The festival organizers, working with local authorities, have strengthened security measures, including cybersecurity checks for ticketing platforms.
The Holy Trinity Parish, founded in the 1950s by Ukrainian immigrants fleeing the Soviet regime, remains a spiritual center. With 89 parishes and 14,971 faithful as of 2020, according to U.S. Religion Census, the UOC USA continues to grow, offering services in Ukrainian and English to unite newly arrived immigrants and diaspora descendants. The 2014 festival included a memorial for those killed during the Maidan protests, and this year will honor Ukrainian defenders who died in the war with a moment of silence at 1:00 PM on Sunday.
A Community United
For local residents like Anna Bilan, who attends the festival every year with her three children, it’s an opportunity “to touch Ukraine.” “My children were born in Ohio, but here they feel Ukrainian,” she says, holding a plate of pierogis. For others, like John Kravchuk, whose ancestors arrived in Cleveland in the 1920s, the festival is a chance to pass traditions to the next generation. Free parking near Michael Wight School and public transportation access make the event accessible to all, though organizers recommend arriving early due to limited space.
While Cleveland prepares for another cultural summer—from opera at the Italian Garden to festivals in Parma—"Pierogi Fest" in North Royalton stands out for its heartfelt warmth. In a world where digital threats and geopolitical shocks challenge communities, this festival is a reminder of the power of unity. June 28–29, the Holy Trinity Parish will become not only a place of celebration but also a beacon of hope, where pierogis, songs, and prayers blend into a whole, reminding the world that Ukraine is not just a place on the map but a spirit living in our hearts.
