Serb Fest - Growing Pains

Growing Pains

Evolution and transition is rarely easy. While the first 20+ years of Serb Fest was very clearly a family atmosphere, for nearly a decade, as the group of Jovan Zelenkovich and his non-Serbian male friends grew, there was a tendency for the group to consider Serb Fest somewhat of a "guys weekend"... despite the fact that there were still several girls, Serbian adults, and even young children in attendance. The notion of a "guys weekend" was actually fueled by a rule put in place that "No women would be allowed until the greater of (1) at least 3 wives or (2) wives for 40% of the attending men would be available to attend". This of course was referring only to the group of men that included Jovan and his non-Serbian male friends.

In 2004, Scott Berger took a bold step and suggested that this rule be dissolved and the weekend be upheld solely as family friendly weekend, which would include the welcoming of significant others and of course, when applicable, children. Invitations would be acceptable at the discretion of each man and would be with the understanding that the significant other being invited would (1) be accepting of and embrace the Spirit of Turkey Run and (2) be willing to commit all future Memorial Day Weekends to attending Serb Fest barring a death in the family or similarly understandable event. The suggestion was met by mixed reaction including some of whom felt that the invitation of significant others would put the comradery of the guys in jeopardy. With great debate, the rule was in fact dissolved and in 2005, Julie Walton, longtime girlfriend of Scott Berger, attended Serb Fest. In 2008, an astounding 6 of the 10 male attendees brought wives, girlfriends, or fiances. This would also mark the first year in which one of the non-Serbian males would bring a child to TR.