Little Balkans heritage to be celebrated

City of Pittsburg, local organizations and businesses to host Little Balkans Weekend on Labor Day weekend

Pittsburg’s 150^th anniversary festivities will include celebrating our community’s Little Balkans heritage. From Sept. 3 through Sept. 6, the City of Pittsburg and the Celebrate Pittsburg (Pitt150) Committee, along with community organizations and Camptown Event Center, will host Little Balkans Weekend to share a weekend full of stories, culture, games and entertainment.

“Celebrating Pittsburg’s 150th year would not be complete without continuing with the Little Balkans festivities and events,” said Kim Froman, City of Pittsburg Director of Housing and Community Development. “This is an opportunity to recognize the Little Balkans Days Festival committee for their tireless efforts to keep our history alive and accessible for future generations.”

Little Balkans Weekend events include Night at the Friendly Tavern, the annual Little Balkans Quilt Guild Show, senior bingo, a street dance at Immigrant Park/Pritchett Pavilion, a pancake breakfast, live music at the Pittsburg Farmers’ Market, the annual Pittsburg Public Library Book Sale, Little Balkans Golf Scramble, and the Little Balkans Pickleball Tournament. The festivities will also happen just north of Pittsburg with the Little Balkans Weekend at Camptown, which will include live music, vendors and children’s activities at Camptown Event Center. Wrapping up the weekend is a special supper based on the cookbook “The Tables That Built Us,” which was created this year to celebrate our area’s cuisine traditions.

Event lineup:

Thursday, Sept. 3

Night at the Friendly Tavern will be at 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. at The Balkan. Limited availability for tickets, which are available for $20 online at https://memorialauditorium.ludus.com/200542773

Thursday, Sept. 3-5

The Pitt150 exhibit “Blueprints of American Grit: McNally and 150 Years of Pittsburg Progress” will be available for viewing during Little Balkans Weekend at Miners Hall Museum, located at 701 S Broadway St, Franklin, KS. View the exhibit and other southeast Kansas history from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sept. 3 through Sept. 5.

Friday, Sept. 4

Chamber Coffee will be at 8 a.m. at Frisco Event Center. Free event.

Little Balkans Quilt Guild Quilt Show will be from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center. Quilt entry date is Aug. 29, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Auditorium. Quilt Entry fee is $5 per quilt. Contact Jill Peak at jpeak88@hotmail.com for more information.

Senior Bingo will be at 1 p.m. at Meadowbrook Mall. Entry fee is $1.

Street Dance will be from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Immigrant Park/Pritchett Pavilion. Food vendors, free children’s activities and free entertainment.

Saturday, Sept. 5

Little Balkans Quilt Guild Quilt Show will be from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium and Convention Center. Quilt entry date is Aug. 29, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Auditorium. Quilt Entry fee is $5 per quilt. Contact Jill Peak at jpeak88@hotmail.com for more information.

Pancake Breakfast will be from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, located at 304 W 3rd St, Pittsburg.

Pittsburg Farmers’ Market will be from 8 a.m. to noon at the Farmers Market Pavilion. Live music and more.

Pittsburg Public Library Book Sale will be at 8 a.m. at Pittsburg Public Library.

Little Balkans Golf Scramble will be at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Four Oaks Golf Course. To register, call Pittsburg Parks and Recreation at 620-231-8070. Entry fee and deadline Sept. 3. Cost is dependent on number of players and carts.

Little Balkans Pickleball Tournament will be at 8 a.m. at the Johnson Family Pickleball Court. Registration deadline is Sept. 3. Register by calling Pittsburg Parks and Recreation at 620-231-8310. Cost: $35 per team.

Little Balkans Weekend at Camptown will be from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. at Camptown Event Center. A full day of fun including live music, children’s activities, food trucks and more. See Camptown’s Facebook event page for the full list of events.

Sunday, Sept. 6

Little Balkans Golf Scramble will be at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Four Oaks Golf Course. To register, call Pittsburg Parks and Recreation at 620-231-8070. Entry fee and deadline Sept. 3. Cost is dependent on number of players and carts.

The Sunday Table will be at noon at TOAST. Recipes were curated by TOAST from the cookbook “The Tables That Built Us” written by Chuckie Hessong with Laughing Rooster Eats. Limited availability for tickets, which are $45 and available for purchase online at https://square.link/u/JiBJCARz

People can stay up to date about upcoming Little Balkans events on City social media pages, website and through news outlets. Those who have any questions about the upcoming Little Balkans Weekend events can reach out to the Celebrate Pittsburg Committee at celebratepittsburg@gmail.com