GLENDON — There are few communities that can say the humble pyrogy is part of their identity, but Glendon has been leaning into it for decades.

The Village welcomed residents and visitors Saturday for the 33rd Annual Glendon Pyrogy Festival, filling Pyrogy Park with Ukrainian culture, live entertainment, dancing, family activities and, naturally, plenty of pyrogies.

Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr was among those attending the annual celebration, which he described as an important showcase of the Ukrainian heritage that has helped shape Glendon and the surrounding region.

“This is one of those events people look forward to each year and a great celebration of the Ukrainian heritage that has helped shape Glendon and our region,” Cyr said.

Ukrainian traditions take centre stage

The Glendon Shevchenko Ukrainian Dance Club was among the performers, with its youngest dancers taking to the grass during the festival.

Cyr said seeing younger generations participate was an encouraging sign for the future of those cultural traditions.

“Seeing them out there dancing showed that Glendon’s Ukrainian traditions are in good hands with the next generation,” he said.

The day also included live music, activities and the annual pyrogy eating contest.

And looming over it all was Glendon’s most recognizable resident: the World’s Largest Pyrogy.

The giant roadside landmark has helped make the community’s connection to the Ukrainian staple recognizable far beyond village limits, but Cyr said the annual festival is ultimately about the people who gather beneath it.

“It is hard to imagine a more fitting place to celebrate good food, Ukrainian culture and the strong community spirit that makes rural Alberta such a great place to call home,” he said.

More than three decades of volunteers

Cyr also spent time with Glendon Mayor Brian Papirny, Deputy Mayor Lorie Czuroski and Councillor Daryn Galatiuk during the festival.

He credited the organizers, performers, community groups and generations of volunteers who have kept the annual celebration going for 33 years.

“A celebration doesn’t continue for more than three decades without generations of people stepping up to keep it going,” Cyr said.

There may already be one storyline developing for next year’s festival.

Cyr left before this year’s pyrogy eating contest, but said Papirny has challenged him to compete against the mayor when the festival returns for its 34th year.

“I haven’t agreed to anything yet, so we’ll see what happens when the 34th festival rolls around,” Cyr said.

For now, the eating contest challenge can wait.

Glendon has another successful Pyrogy Festival in the books.