Three knocks echo on the doors of Saint John The Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church.
The wooden entrance leads to the 100-year-old sanctuary where preparations are ongoing for the 80th anniversary of the Syracuse Ukrainian Festival. Event director Nick Fruscello said he aims to bring a taste of home to Ukrainian families that have resettled here, especially amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
"We really hope this does give them some solace that there's Ukrainians all around the world that are strong, we are doing this together. We are helping any way we can for the folks that are still there, we are trying to get others here," Fruscello said.
Fruscello said there will be Ukrainian cuisine and dance performances, but the event's biggest feature is unity.
"Camaraderie, I love to see folks come together and allow us to share our culture with the community," Fruscello said.
Fruscello said this is best done through a meaningful meal.
"This is our food, this is our drink. Come and join us, we are a very welcoming people. And its always been that we are opening our doors to the community, we want the community to be here," Fruscella said.
The festival is the church's number one fundraising event and it has not been in-person since the pandemic hit.
The Syracuse Ukrainian Festival will take place at Saint John The Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church from Friday, July 29th to Saturday, July 30th.
