Albanian Heritage Festival A Big Hit At Kensico Dam Plaza

VALHALLA, N.Y. -- Thousands of people jammed Kensico Dam Plaza on Sunday for the Albanian Heritage Festival.

Elisa and Denis Qehaja, sixth grade twins, were among the youths from Our Lady of Shkodra Church in Hartsdale preparing to dance at Kensico Dam Plaza before thunderstorms rolled in on Sunday.
Photo Credit: *Jon Craig*

Some of the dozens of children eager to dance at the Albanian Festival on Sunday in Valhalla.
Photo Credit: *Jon Craig*

Some of the dolls on sale Sunday, along with traditional hats and T-shirts displaying the Albanian flag.
Photo Credit: *Jon Craig*

When the music stopped due to heavy rain and lightning, these youngsters took a break to play soccer at Kensico Dam Plaza.
Photo Credit: *Jon Craig*

Hundreds of visitors to the Albanian Festival crowded under a tent to escape the rain on Sunday at Kensico Dam Plaza.
Photo Credit: *Jon Craig*

Jon Craig

06/01/2015 6:00 p.m.

The annual festival featured authentic food, music, volleyball and soccer games, as well as dancing in traditional clothing.

But major thunderstorms and flash flooding cut the celebration short about 3 p.m., four hours before it was scheduled to end.

The event was sponsored by Westchester County Parks and Our Lady of Shkodra Church in Hartsdale. More than 50 children and teenagers from the church were eager to perform their dances, but were unable to due to the storms.

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