Serb Fest - Butte, America

Join us at Serb Fest, a vibrant celebration of Serbian food, music, culture, and history that kicked off in 2017 and has continued strong, pausing only briefly due to the pandemic in 2020. This free festival promises to immerse visitors in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Serbia. Throughout the day, Farther Russell Radoicich offers tours of the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, a cultural gem of Montana adorned with stunning iconography on its walls and ceilings.

Make sure to arrive hungry, as a wide array of home-cooked Serbian dishes awaits you! If you've never experienced Serbian cuisine, you're in for a treat with specialties like sarma, kielbasa, povitica, barbecued lamb, and pork, topped off with delicious baklava for dessert. You'll leave not just with a satisfied stomach, but also with cherished memories and perhaps even new friends.

During Butte's mining boom, around 20,000 Serbians lived and worked here, leaving a lasting legacy evident today in the Serbian names filling the Butte phone book. The mayor has even designated an official Serb Day holiday to coincide with Serb Fest.

In the late 1800s, Butte's population swelled to about 100,000, with 20,000 Serbian miners among them. In 1897, these miners brought Father Sebastian Dobovich to Butte, marking the beginnings of the Serbian Orthodox Christian community here. Father Dobovich is now revered as a saint among Orthodox Christians.

Today, at Serb Fest, Saint Sebastian's legacy lives on through his descendants who continue to honor their cultural heritage. While Serbian may not be spoken widely at the festival, traditions passed down through generations remain steadfast. The Serbian cuisine you'll enjoy likely comes from cherished family recipes.

The story of Butte's Serbian community is a quintessential American tale, reflective of its rich diversity and welcoming spirit. Don't miss out—join us at Serb Fest on August 3rd to experience it firsthand.