Holy Trinity celebrates faith, heritage and community at annual Serbian Festival

The rich sounds of live tamburitza music traveled through the crowd on Saturday at the Serbian Festival at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Christian Church. The heartfelt strings and lively rhythms have defined Serbian celebrations for generations.

According to their website, the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Serbian Orthodox parishes in the United States.

It was founded to serve a growing Serbian immigrant community in the early 20th century. At the height of Butte’s mining boom, around 20,000 Serbians lived and worked in Butte.

Photos: Serbian Festival shares heritage through food, music and dance

The annual festival is a celebration of faith, heritage and community.   

The church was open for tours and public viewing throughout the festivities. Visitors took in the murals that adorn the church's ceiling as they filled the aisles and the pews.

A line meandered through the parking lot as people waited to fill a tray with Serbian delicacies. The baklava and povitica were quick to sell out, but attendees had a variety of traditional Serbian food and beverages to choose from. 

The crowd quieted each hour as KUD Rastko, a folkloric dance group from Salt Lake City, performed kolo dances under the large white tent. Kolo is a traditional South Slavic folk dance.

The festival is an opportunity for Holy Trinity to preserve and share its cultural heritage and invite the public to come and experience a little Serbian hospitality.