Merchant Street might not resemble the United Nations, but that won't matter this weekend to the 40,000 people expected to converge at Beaver County's oldest festival -- Ambridge Nationality Days.

The aroma of food from more than 30 nationalities should should tempt visitors' appetites, event organizer Bea Patterson said.

"We've got something for everyone's taste," she said.

Festival staples include familiar foods-- gyros and pierogies.

Hundreds of pierogies have been stuffed and sealed by members of SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, said Kim Capo, organizer of the church's booth that will set up shop at the corner of Sixth and Merchant streets from Friday through Sunday.

"We have had many people from church come down to help," Capo said. "At least 50 to 75 people help out during the weekend, plus the enormous amount of people who make the foods."

Along with pierogies, the Ukrainian church members plan to sell homemade halushki and apple strudel.

Their church is one of six in this year's festival, a far cry from the number of churches that dotted the Merchant Street fair a few years ago, Patterson said.

"Nationality Days didn't represent Ambridge when the churches weren't part of the festival," said Patterson, whose goal is to have all seven churches return to the festival next year.

This year marks the third year in a row the Ukrainian church has been involved with the festival. Like many of Ambridge's churches, the Ukrainian church didn't participate for a number of years.

Capo is glad to see the festival return to its roots with local churches as highlights of the fair.

"Years ago, we used to go when all of the churches were in it," said Capo, of Beaver County. "Then it got to where it was more vendors than churches.

"But it's family-oriented again, and that's good."

Also highlighting the festival for its second year is "Ambridge: A Picture Show," which lets visitors view vintage photographs of Ambridge.

It's a popular show and one that Patterson hopes to continue.

"I love this part of Nationality Days," she said. "The people really enjoyed seeing what our town used to look like."

A number of music groups representing various ethnicities will entertain visitors to the three-day festival. Groups include the SNPJ Button Box Club, Pittsburgh Banjo Club, Hellinic Dancers of Holy Trinity and SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Dancers.

Though organizing the event has proven to be stressful at times, bringing the town's variety of people together to display what Ambridge has to offer is enough of a reward for Patterson.

"It's nice to see the different blend of nationalities that show up," she said. "It's that one time a year where everyone comes together to celebrate Ambridge."