For the 99th time, descendants of Lithuania will meet in Schuylkill County to celebrate their roots and heritage.
Lithuanian Days will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at center court in the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville. The annual event is sponsored by the Knights of Lithuania Council 144, "The Anthracite Council."
Lithuanian Days is referred to as the longest consecutive ethnic festival in the United States and in its 99th year continues to add to its schedule.
Larry Domalakes, president of KoL Council 144, said the theme of this year's festival is "Lithuanian food, folklore and folk medicine." A new event on this year's agenda features Lithuanian's "liquid cuisine" - boilo.
A boilo tasting and judging will be held Saturday night at The Screening Room at the Schuylkill Mall Theaters. A special announcement with details for the tasting will be made at 2:10 p.m. Saturday. Domalakes said the tasting will be held after the festival's 5:30 p.m. closing ceremony. The results of the tasting will be announced during Sunday's closing remarks at 5 p.m.
In addition to the boilo, Domalakes said Svyturys, the oldest working brewery in Lithuania, is sending beer samples to the event.
Paul Domalakes, KoL Council 144 treasurer, said the brewery heard of Lithuanian Days in Schuylkill County and wanted to participate. An official from the brewery contacted its distributor in Allentown, which set up the connection.
"I guess Lithuanian Days is going international now," Paul Domalakes said.
Paul Domalakes, who also serves as emcee for the opening ceremony, said special presentations are scheduled for this year's ceremony.
Beginning at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, the Pennsylvania National Guard band will play music including Lithuanian military songs. This is the first time the National Guard is bringing its band, Domalakes said.
The Pennsylvania National Guard is celebrating its 20th anniversary as partner with the Lithuanian military. The partnership is part of the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program. The program connects a U.S. state with a country from the European Theater for security objectives. There are currently 22 partnerships in the program.
Also during the opening ceremonies, the state Historical and Museum Commission marker deeming Schuylkill County as "Little Lithuania, USA" will be unveiled. Spearheaded by James and Dorothy Setcavich, the marker will be on display at the mall throughout Lithuanian Days before it is moved to a permanent location in Shenandoah. The marker was awarded to the county for its high percentage of residents with Lithuanian ancestry.
"You want to see something special, you want to be there for the opening ceremony," Larry Domalakes said.
Other traditional activities include dance groups Zilvinas, Philadelphia, and Malunas, Baltimore, Md., and entertainment by Sensations, Augis and Varpelis.
In relation to the theme, vendors will provide plenty of authentic Lithuanian cuisine including kugelis (potato pudding), kotletai (meatballs) and balandeliai (stuffed cabbage).
Artifacts, arts and crafts and a heritage room will also be on display to teach visitors about past and recent Lithuanian history.
"It's not only important for descendants to know but for people in Schuylkill County," Paul Domalakes said.
Proceeds from the event benefit the many charities in which the Knights contribute, including the Lithuanian Pontifical College in Rome.
"It is a major fundraiser for the philanthropic organizations the Knights are a part of," Larry Domalakes said.
Also, on Sunday, the festival will get a visit from the Lithuanian ambassador to the United States, Zygimantas Pavilionis.
Heading into its 100th celebration, Lithuanian Days continues to grow and share the region's rich heritage.
"It's not the same old thing over and over again. We keep it evolving," Larry Domalakes said.
For more information, visit the Knights of Lithuania Council 144 website at kofl144.weebly.com.