Slovenian History, Culture and Cuisine Festival

Posted by Julie Bolos
Oct 2
2 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Men at Work by Albin Zaverl, 2001. Oil on canvas. Accession No. 2016.32.2. — *Men at Work* by Albin Zaverl, 2001. Oil on canvas. Accession No. 2016.32.2.

A Slovenian History, Culture and Cuisine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Depot in Duluth, Minnesota. The Festival is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Branches of the Slovenian Union of America, (SUA) and the St. Louis County Historical Society.

The Festival is dedicated to honor and preserve the Slovenian legacy, heritage and culture. The program is designed to educate and expose people of Slovenian decent and the general public to the history, culture and ethnic cuisine of this important European nation. A special invitation will be sent to local Grade School History teachers to have their class attend the Festival.

Click on the link below to view the program schedule.

The Festival is divided into 2 sections, the first section is free and open to the public. Starting at 10:00 a.m., the program will open with Miro Medved, Honorary Consul, Republic of Slovenia welcoming the attendees and making opening remarks, followed by presentations by Norman Setnicker on the history of Slovenia, Joe Valencic, President of the SUA, Slovenian Culture, Marge Pryately, Professor emeritus will display an exhibit titled, “Farmers, Miners, and Refugees: Slovenian Immigration in Minnesota since 1855” and discuss the Slovenian exhibits located in the Depot Great Hall, the program will close with a 2 hour concert by the internationally known Singing Slovenes. There will be a break in the program so people can view the exhibits in the Great Hall. Exhibits will include a showing of original cultural and mining paintings by Albin Zaverl, an exhibit of items commemorating Bishop Baraga, a Slovenian priest who ministered to thousands of Slovenians and the Ojibwe people. There will also be an exhibit highlighting Monsignor Joseph Buh. Additional exhibits are being planned. There will be a Genealogy Research Facilitator available to help people who are interested in researching their ancestry.

UPDATE: A very special guest, Suzana Češarek, the Consul General for the Republic of Slovenia, will also address the attendees. She will also hold consular hours so Slovenian citizens can apply for personal documents (passports and identity cards). To request an appointment, contact sloconsulate.cleveland@gov.si to make an appointment no later than September 30, 2025.

The second section of the Festival will start at 5:00 p.m. This section of the Festival will require the purchase of a ticket ($30 per person) and is limited to a maximum of 96 people. The focus will be on a Slovenian ethnic food buffet. There will be a roving Button Box musician playing ethnic songs. This time will also allow attendees to view the exhibits and socialize. The evening will close out with a presentation about the 100 Year SUA Convention to be held in 2026 here in Minnesota at the Fortune Bay Casino and Resort located on beautiful Lake Vermillion near Tower, MN. We look forward to seeing you at both of these extraordinary events.