The first MacGahan festival was organized to celebrate 100th anniversary of the death of Januarius MacGahan in 1978. A small contingent of Bulgarian American men from the Cleveland area came to New Lexington going from door to door on Main Street to seek local support and interest in the proposed celebration. Though there were signs citing New Lexington as being “near the birthplace of Januarius MacGahan “Liberator of Bulgaria” he remained virtually unknown in the county of his birth. The 1978 celebration was successful and it was decided to make it an ...