Be the guest of Philadelphia's Russian-speaking community at Penns' landing Great Plaza (Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut and Walnut streets), on Sunday, September 20th, 2009 noon to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. This  spectacular celebration features the music, artistry and traditions of the tri-state’s third largest ethnic community. Visitors will enjoy works by artists, crafters and artisans, while sampling delicious foods from some of the region’s finest restaurants.

The Mosaic festival is part of the Peco Energy Multicultural Series. The event is cosponsored by a number of well-known businesses, including Independence Blue Cross, Einstein Hospital, Dish Network, COMCAST, State Farm Insurance, Direct TV and Western Union.

“The festival is named “Mosaic” because so many different people and businesses from various walks of life come together on this day,” said Marina Kats, president of the Russian Americans Chamber of Commerce. “Each represents a different piece of the Mosaic.”

About 100,000 people make up the Greater Philadelphia region’s Russian-speaking population, according to the RACC. In Philadelphia, the largest concentrations of Russian Americans live in the Far Northeast section of the city. Significant Russian American communities can also be found in parts of Lower Bucks County, Montgomery County and across the river in South Jersey.

The "Russian Mosaic" festival was founded in 2003 and over the years has grown to become a birthday celebration of sorts for the entire Russian-speaking immigrant community. In addition to the artists selling their wares inside tents on the Great Plaza, a number of non-profit arts groups and local schools will be represented as well.

Last year, visitors enjoyed veritable feasts of Russian, Eastern-European and Middle Eastern cuisine.

“It is truly a wonderful day of education, culture and good, old-fashioned fun,” said Kats. “We invite everyone to come to Penn’s Landing and partake in the best of the Russian-American community.”

For more information about the Mosaic Festival or to learn how you can participate: please call 215-243-8256 or 609-230-9804,  visit www.rachamber.com