Ukrainian Festival USA slated for September 21 (09/15/96)

Ukrainian Festival USA slated for September 21

HOLMDEL, N.J. - The 22nd annual Ukrainian Festival USA will be held at the PNC Bank Arts Center (formerly the Garden State Arts Center, exit 116 off of the Garden State Parkway) on Saturday, September 21.

The festival kicks off at 9 a.m. with a soccer tournament. At 10 a.m. the Ukrainian Marketplace opens with hundreds of tables of Ukrainian artifacts, folk art, woodcuts, clay and ceramic pottery, records and tapes, t-shirts and other items. The Food Court will be available to satisfy everyone's hunger with traditional Ukrainian foods.

The 11:30 a.m. mall program will showcase the talents of the tri-state area's younger musical and folk dancing ensembles. There will be many activities also in the children's corner.

The stage program, held in the Arts Center Amphitheater, starts at 3:30 p.m. This year's stage chairpersons, Alex and Lillianna Chudolij, have put together an upbeat and fast-paced program filled with traditional Ukrainian folk songs and dancing performed by some of the finest performers in North America.

This year's show will be hosted by the ever popular star of stage and screen, Edward Evanko of Los Angeles. Mr. Evanko will enchant the audience with his warm personality and singing style.

The 30-member Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Winnipeg will electrify the audience with a variety of folk dances from various regions of Ukraine.

Providing a mix of traditional and contemporary songs will be the Luba & Mykola Ensemble, originally from Lviv.

Dyvocvit, a vocal ensemble comprising six youngsters from Ukraine, is back by popular demand for an encore performance.

Ostap Stahiv, a virtuoso bandura player, will provide both vocal and instrumental selections on Ukraine's national instrument, the bandura.

Completing the array of performers will be the Cheres Folk Ensemble, a five-piece group of musicians who have mastered the art of performing traditional folk music from the Carpathian Mountains.

Following the afternoon stage program, those who wish to continue celebrating can dine at the Starlight Festival Dinner to be held at the Ramada Hotel, Route 10 West in East Hanover, N.J. The dinner will feature a hot buffet and provides the opportunity to meet and mingle with the stars of the program. Tickets for the dinner, at $35 per person, include admission to the festival dance featuring the Burlaky from Canada and the Lviviany. For reservations contact Daria Twardowsky, (908) 5118-0448. Admission to the dance alone is $15.

This year's festival has a lower ticket price that includes all day events as well as the stage program for only $10 at the door. Advance-purchase discounts are available by contacting Jaroslaw Iwachiw, (908) 369-5164.