If you're of Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Lebanese or Greek stock, there's nothing particularly exotic about the annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival.

The sights, smells and tastes of the festival, which turned 50 this year, are merely the sights, smells and tastes of the old country transported to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Fortunately, you don't have to be of Mediterranean or Eastern European descent to enjoy three days of food and fun running through Sunday.

Two dozen ethnic groups are represented under the festival's big tent this year. The Pittsburgh Folk Festival is a refreshing celebration of our differences as well as what we have in common.

So in a spirit of peace and mutual respect, let us hold high plates of halushki and moussaka while Neris dancers and Tamburitzans twirl in the background.

This is Pittsburgh at its best -- feeding bellies and souls at the same time.