Picnic packed with tradition

To this end, Martin and her four siblings accompanied their parents to many festivals, dinners and p…

To this end, Martin and her four siblings accompanied their parents to many festivals, dinners and picnics sponsored by their Croatian church and other organizations that spoke their language.

“We were immersed in this all during our childhood, so that’s something you don’t forget,” Martin said at a recent picnic sponsored by the Croatian Sons Lodge 170 of the Croatian Fraternal Union in Merrillville. “After I got married, I continued the tradition with my kids and this celebration today is one we never miss.”

Open to the public, the all-day affair at the Croatian Center in Merrillville found hundreds of people socializing, dancing and eating traditional food. On the menu were barbecued lamb, sarma and cevapi dinners. Lamb also was sold by the pound before the organizers ran out by mid-afternoon.

“We come for the lamb every year, it’s delicious,” said Joe Britten of Merrillville. “When you try different foods, like my wife and I do regularly, you can discover some new ones that become your favorites.”

The Brittens also couldn’t pass up the dessert table.

Among the many choices were homemade strudels, pastries and palachinke.

Tanja Overturs of Crown Point is a member of the Croatian Sons Lodge 170, and was in the kitchen when the other lodge ladies made the pastries a few days before the event.

“As they made the 200 strudels, I watched the process very closely so I could learn,” she said. “Then I went home and made an apple strudel of my own. It turned out pretty good, so I hope they ask me to help bake next year. It’s a lot of fun.”

As with the main courses, the desserts also were well received by the crowd — the 200 strudels sold out only two hours after the festival began.

No Croatian get-together would be complete without Tamburitza music.

Three groups performed for visitors, and many people left their tables to keep the dance floor warm.

Local bands Drina and Plavi played for most of the afternoon, and the Hoosier Strings Jr. Tamburitzans followed them with upbeat performances of singing and dancing.

The Hoosier Strings Jr. Tamburitzans group is based at the Croatian Sons Lodge 170 of the Croatian Fraternal Union and is comprised of members ages 4 to 21.

As the entertainers took the stage to play, Diane Luna of Schererville began to remember her father and his tamburitza.

“He didn’t belong to a band, just played at home, so this music brings back many memories,” she said, while eating her cevapi dinner. “My family has been attending this event for many, many years and I always come across a few relatives I haven’t seen in a while.”