A Ukrainian Summer: where to go, what to do...
Torontonians plan Festival 2000
by Olya Odynsky-Grod
TORONTO - Building upon the success of the past three festivals, Committee Chairman Jurij Klufas reports that bigger and even better plans are well under way for the fourth annual Bloor West Ukrainian Village Festival.
This year's committee has been meeting since November 1999 and is awaiting city approval for a two-day festival.
"We hope to have a Bloor Street closure between Runnymede and Durie on Friday, August 18, in order to host an International Polka Night," said Mr. Klufas.
Saturday, August 19, will feature the traditional parade, kiosks, afternoon entertainment stage, children's area, festival food and beverage garden, as well as the evening cabaret show in an expanded area from Runnymede to Armadale. Marika Lopata is busily preparing all paperwork regarding the street closures and making sure that the committee meets all regulations. We expect to have all permits in place shortly."
Asked what is new for Festival 2000, committee member Lida Kulish replied that "Be Ukrainian for a Day" will be an exciting series of hands-on workshops. Participants will be able to learn how to make varenyky, paint Easter eggs, decorate ceramics and much more.
Also, she said, "We hope to introduce a children's stage to offer an opportunity for younger performers to showcase their talents. This year we hope to expand the children's area to include even more activities and intend to provide more inflatables which were so popular last year."
For the teens: a coffee shop, a climbing wall? "We'll see," said Olya Odynsky-Grod. "It all depends on how many volunteers we can muster." She noted that a fashion show during the dinner hour on Saturday, prior to the cabaret gala, is already in the planning stages as a new addition to the festival line-up.
On top of his duties associated with planning a possible golf tournament, Alex Maksymec is out looking for tents in order to give the festival more shade and ambiance. Petro Lopata is busily updating posters, while Marta Stangret is updating the advertising and promotion data base. Raya Shadursky is part of the advertising and promotion group; and Markian Swec and Slavko Semcesen are pulling together a budget.
Stage, sound and lighting man Eugene Iwasiuk is just shaking his head at the logistics of such a huge undertaking as Festival 2000. Lesia Korobaylo is heading up the information and sales booth once again, but this year with reinforcement from Winnipeger Nadia Maksymiw.
President Marika Szkambara announced that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first settlement of Ukrainians in Toronto. "We hope to feature this event in some way during the festival. We're open to suggestions," she added.
The committee has grown in size to over 20 enthusiastic people, but more volunteers are welcome. Call the festival hotline at (416) 323-4772.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 7, 2000, No. 19, Vol. LXVIII
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