The largest Slavic festival on the eastern plains
Every autumn St. Mary’s opens the grounds for Slavic Fest: a full day of Slovak and Eastern European food cooked by parishioners, folk music and dancing, a beer garden, tours of the church and St. Tikhon’s Chapel, and games for children. It draws families from Calhan, Colorado Springs and across the Eastern Plains, and it is the parish’s largest fundraiser of the year. Every dollar goes to the upkeep of the church on the hill.
This year’s festival is Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, 2026. The full menu, ticket prices and the entertainment lineup are published on the festival’s own site: Slavic Fest, the annual Slovak food and music festival at St. Mary’s Holy Dormition in Calhan, Colorado.
Volunteering
The festival runs on parish hands: pierogi pinching in the weeks before, cooking, serving, parking and cleanup on the day. Sign up after any Sunday Liturgy or write to the parish office.