Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 9/25/98
      Contact:                           Carol Dotson   52l

HUNGARIAN CELEBRATION FEATURES FOOD AND MUSIC OCT. 3 

     HAMMOND -- Authentic Hungarian food and music are on the menu for the
Hungarian Settlement Celebration Saturday October 3.
          This cultural celebration is set in Hungarian Settlement, La. is part of
FANFARE, Southeastern Louisiana University s celebration of the Arts. The Hungarian
Settlement Celebration includes an authentic Hungarian dinner of stuffed cabbage rolls,
Hungarian bread, cucumber salad and Hungarian pastries such as Kifli and Kalacs. The
dinner takes place 11 am- 1 pm at the Arpadhon Hungarian Association Building on
Highway 43, one mile south of Albany.
     The Harvest Dance festivities begin at 5 pm and lasts into the night. The Eletfa
Folk Ensemble band from New York will perform on authentic Hungarian instruments.
Also performing are the Vonnie Brown Folk Dancers of Baton Rouge and the Albany
Hungarian Dancers. There s also opportunities for the public to join in the dancing. The
Harvest Dance takes place at the American Legion Hall on Hwy. 43 near Springfield.
Hungarian sausage sandwiches will be sold at the dance. 
     Tickets for the dinner are $6 and must be purchased in advance, while advance
tickets for the dance are $10 for adults, $5 for children 8-12 and free for children 7 and
under. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $15. 
     Also scheduled during the day are tours of area businesses including the Hungarian
Harvest Winery and the Presbyterian Church and cemetery. 
     

                                                           -more-



Hungarian Celebration/ADD ONE
                              
     According to local Hungarian historian and Southeastern professor Victoria
Mocsary, Hungarians first came to Louisiana in the 1890's and worked in the
Brackenridge lumber mill. Workers began buying the cut-over timber land from the
company and were able to have their own farms. 
     When the mill closed in 1916 many turned to farming, with strawberries being the
popular crop, especially during the 1930's and 40's. The area came to be known as
Hungarian Settlement and is considered the largest Hungarian community in Louisiana
and possibly the United States.
     To order tickets to the festivities call 504-567-2087 or 567-9670. To get to
Hungarian Settlement from New Orleans take I-10 to I-55 to I-12 and exit at
Albany/Springfield. From Baton Rouge take 1-12 to the Albany/Springfield exit.  




                                          -SLU-             
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