BERLIN — The Androscoggin Valley celebrates its heritage this Sunday, when Northern Forest Heritage Park opens the gates from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the Cultural Festival and Food & Music Fair.

Admission is free at the park’s recreation logging camp, located on the banks of the Androscoggin River at 942 Main St.. The festival honors the people who came to the region for the opportunities the river and forest presented, and those who stayed as it became their home. Those new immigrants made Berlin the fourth largest city in New Hampshire by 1930.

They came from French-speaking Canada, from Russia, Italy, Norway, Ireland , Germany and other faraway places. They built stone churches that still stand today, they founded businesses, they taught school and played in the symphony orchestras, and they cooked.

They passed their heritage — and their recipes — on to the next generations. On Sunday, local professional chefs, along with NFHP advisory board members Dona Larsen and Rachel Moody, will prepare foods such as authentic bean-hole-beans, which are made onsite, and Canadian ragout, pets de soeur, Russian cabbage rolls, German bratwurst and sauerkraut, Norwegian meat cakes, Canadian meat pies, Cherokee Brunswick stew, French pea soup, Italian Wedding Soup and more.

The dessert menu includes such tasty treats as Norwegian Rice Pudding, German Strawberry Tart, homemade doughnuts, potato candy and more.

Music will be provided by Patrick Ross, well-known North Country fiddler, and Tim Dion, popular Berlin guitarist. River boats rides will be included, and there will be historical displays, farm animals, children’s activities and more.

As a bonus, the day will also feature automobiles from the North Country Classics Car Club.

On June 16 the park hosts River Day/Wingzilla, which features a family float to the park from Nansen Wayside Park and a canoe/kayak race from the Bofinger Conservation Area, and combines all the fun of a family block party with exhibits and activities centered around the river. The event brings back the popular Barbeque Chicken Wing Cook-Off Competition and “Luck of the Draw” Horse Shoe Tournament.

The season continues into the fall, with the Lumberjack Festival & Competition on Sept. 30, Riverfire/Horrorfest on Oct. 20, and Heritage Holidays on Dec. 8. The Logging Camp and charter River Boat Tours are available for private functions.

For more information about the events or park, call 752-7202, email heritage@tccap.org or visit www.northernforestheritage.org