The Ukrainian Canadian Congress will host Ottawa’s first annual Ukrainian summer festival to recognize, celebrate, promote and nurture Ukrainian arts, heritage, and culture. Traditional, authentic Ukrainian food, including varenyky (“perogies”) will be served to an estimated minimum of 5,000 Festival patrons from around the world. Those devoted to classics and ancient traditions will also be able to enjoy Lvivske 1715 (Львівське) from the oldest still-functioning brewery in Eastern Europe. Several popular artists and musicians will draw in crowds beyond the Ukrainian community as they entertain non-stop on Saturday and Sunday. The Festival is not only be a celebration of all things Ukrainian, it will look into Ukraine’s historic struggle for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Festival opens Friday July 24, 8:00 pm with a Friday Pub Night at the Ukrainian Orthodox hall (1000 Byron Avenue) with music from Lemon Bucket Orkestra (Canada's favourite, and only, balkan-klezmer-gypsy-party-punk-super-band), and Ottawa’s very own Ukrainia. Tickets are $20.00 available online starting June 1st, through the Festival website, or at the door.
Saturday July 25, 11:00 am - 11:00 pm: Official Festival “Opening Ceremonies” will take place at noon, featuring greetings from several high profile dignitaries and representatives from all three of the major political parties. Thus begins 2 days of fun, free, family entertainment featuring Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Ukrainia, DoVira (Ukrainian jazz-fusion band), Zirka (Canada's favourite Ukrainian party band), Ottawa’s Svitanok Ukrainian Dancers, local choirs, Pop-Up performances, and much more. More artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Sunday July 26, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Entertainment on Sunday is a Community Picnic with a sing-a-long and jam sessions led by festival performers - both activities are central to Ukrainian gatherings. Sunday will also feature a ½ hour interfaith prayer service for peace in Ukraine at 2:00 pm, where all of the main religions of Ukraine will be represented. In addition to hymns by Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, the service will include prayers by faith leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Buddhist communities.
Program at a glance
Ukrainia
Lemon Bucket Orkestra
Lemon Bucket Orkestra,
Ukrainia,
DoVira,
Svitanok Dancers,
Zirka,
many more
Multi-Faith "Prayer for Ukraine”
Community sing-a-long/Jam session with Festival entertainers
dancing
For more information, please visit www.capitalukrainianfestival.com.
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